Page 2 of Deserving Maddie

"Because my life is complicated enough. Gabe is mad at me and fights me at every turn. He hates school. Refuses to do anything besides hide in his room. I'm bringing home work every night so that I make sure to leave the firm on time and eat with my children. Not to mention trying to avoid the principal at Gabe's school because getting him there on time is a challenge and that lecture is getting old. So no, calling Ray and dragging him into my mess does not sound like a good idea. No one deserves to get involved in my type of crazy."

Maddie was winded from her rant. She leaned her head back on the headrest at the next red light and just let herself take a few deep breaths. Kat meant well, but it had been hard enough to convince herself to stay away from Ray. She didn't need the added pressure from her best friend.

"I'm sorry, lady. I didn't mean to upset you. I just want you to be happy. You spent the last few years of your marriage so miserable that, just once, I wanted to see my old friend back."

"I know you do and I want that too but my children need to come first. They are the only happiness in my life. Even with all of Gabe's antics."

A horn blasting behind her reminded Maddie that the light had turned green while she was busy musing. Stepping on the gas, she continued her commute.

"How's my goddaughter holding up?"

"Charley's Charley. Nothing seems to faze her. I know when Anthony was alive, they weren't close, so she's not taking his death as hard, but she's her usual bubbly self. Absolutely loves the school and is always telling me about her new friends. She even asked next weekend to have a sleepover."

"That's my girl. Always a fighter. Just like her mom and aunt Kat."

Some days Maddie didn't feel like a fighter. Some days she wanted to curl up in her bed and not come out. Not because she missed Anthony. Kat was right, she was miserable the last few years of her marriage. The only thing that kept them together was Gabriel. She knew how hard he would take it if they got divorced. But even that reason had thinned over the years.

Maddie turned down the street that her firm was on. It was a small family law firm just outside San Antonio. She had gotten lucky that one of the founding attorneys was close to retirement and looking for a replacement.

"Hey, I'm just pulling up to work, so I have to let you go."

"Okay, lady. Call me tonight. I want to video chat with my favorite niece and nephew."

"They're your only niece and nephew," she chuckled.

Kat was an only child, and despite her very friendly nature, Maddie seemed to be the only person she allowed to get close to her.

"Which makes them my favorite. Now run off to work and call me later. Love you."

"Love you back."

She disconnected the call and once again leaned back onto the headrest. She hadn't lied when she said she didn't want to bring Ray into her complicated life. But that wasn't the only reason she refused to call him. What she didn't tell Kat was that Ray was younger. Probably ten years younger with her luck. To some that would be nothing, but it bothered her. She couldn't quite put her finger on why.

It wasn't like Ray was immature. The opposite, in fact. He portrayed a level of confidence some men double his age couldn't master. And then there were his bedroom skills. He had made her feel things she had never felt before, not even in her seventeen-year marriage.

Guilt consumed her when she snuck out while he was sleeping, without so much as a note. She only had his number because he'd slipped it into her purse sometime during the night. Likely knowing she would disappear before they had the chance to exchange information. He had been right, and that scared her even more. Ray saw more than she wanted him to.

For that reason, he would only ever be a memory that lived rent-free in her mind. She would use those memories on the long cold nights when she pulled out her vibrator and set to pleasuring herself. Eventually, he would forget her existence. But she wouldn't.

Maddie would always remember the man who brought her back alive. Even if it was only for one night. A few short hours that she had the chance to live carefree before the responsibilities of being a widowed mother came crashing back down.

It was with that reminder she picked her head up and set out to start her day. Grabbing her briefcase, she stepped out of her car and entered the law firm that so graciously accepted her when she needed a fresh start away from the everyday burden of her old life.

Chapter 2

Whythehellhadn'the bothered to check her wallet for a name or address when he slipped his number in her purse? One glance and he wouldn't be in his position. It was the same thought he had every day for weeks since Maddie slipped out of his bed while he was sleeping. He had known it was coming, but it still hurt.

"Oh, lover boy?"

Ray Thomas dragged himself back to the obnoxious woman sitting across from him.

"I don't think your husband would appreciate you calling me that."

They both knew Trista didn't particularly care, but it was fun to poke back at the woman who was always harassing him. Beside her, Ember snickered behind her hand.

"Falcon is secure enough in our relationship to know I'm not going anywhere. Besides, he knows just as much about your conquests as I do. He sees the same stream of women taking the Uber of shame."

He regretted buying a house across from Trista and Falcon. One month was all it took to realize that Trista was a nosy neighbor who watched his comings and goings. She coined the term “Uber of shame” because oftentimes, that's who he called to pick up his one-night stands.

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