Page 94 of You Broke Me First

I stared through the darkness at the ceiling. The only sound in the room was Addison's shallow breathing. I thought she'd fallen asleep.

"Maddox," she whispered, her tone so soft it got the attention of my dick.

"Hmm," I hummed.

"Why did you do it?" My head twisted, and I cocked a brow like she could see me in the darkness. She couldn't, just like I couldn't make out her facial expression. "Why did you make that bet in high school?"

Sucking in a deep breath, I blew it out slowly. "Because I was a stupid kid, and it's sad, but I didn't realize how amazing you were until I got to know you. I still, to this day, wish I'd never made that bet. I wish I'd never taken those pictures."

"You should have told me. I thought we were friends."

"Yeah." I sighed. "If I could go back, I would, and I would change a lot of stupid things I did."

"Would you change meeting me?"

"What?" I snapped, rolling to my side to face her even though I couldn't see her. "Addison, the only thing I would change about us is all the stupid things I did to push you away." I reached out to touch her face, sliding my hand against the warm skin of her cheek, and a smile spread across my face when she leaned into my touch. "I would change everything I did to hurt you. I would change that I didn't come after you the night you left. The night I made you choose between me and your future. Also, stupid."

"Why didn't you?" she asked. "We could have tried to make it work."

"That night, all I heard was 'I'm leaving you,'" I said, still remembering exactly how I'd felt in that moment. "And now, thinking back, that wasn't what you said at all, but that was all I heard, and I fucked up." My hand slid down her bare shoulder. "Why didn't you come back for graduation?"

"Because I got the job offer for my own segment," she said. "And I was so excited that I didn't even realize what it was until later, not that it would have changed anything. I still would have taken it."

"I think Maddy was disappointed you didn't come back."

"She knew I wasn't coming back," she said. The bed shook as she shifted.

"Wait." I scowled. "You were still talking to Maddy?"

"Yeah." I could hear her smile. "She moved in with me two days after graduation and stayed with me until her apartment was ready. We are still friends."

"No shit." I laughed.

"When was the last time you talked to her?"

"Graduation day," I said, recalling the exact conversation I had with Maddy. "I asked her if you were here. She told me you weren't coming, and that was it." I stared off into the darkness as my chest tightened. "I still blame Maddy for those pictures getting out, and I wonder how different everything might have been if they hadn't."

I had no idea she and Maddy were still friends. I knew I should let go of the grudge I'd held over Maddy's head for the last six years, but it was hard even though I knew I really only had myself to blame.

"Maddox, I know you said you didn't want to be friends, but can we just try and see how it goes? No strings attached, no broken promises, no expectations, just friends."

I thought about the questions for several long minutes. I knew that I could never just be friends with Addison Wright. She was the one who got away, the only girl I ever loved, but I also knew this would be the last time I saw her if she walked away again, and that thought was more painful than only having a friendship with her.

"Let's start over." I smiled. "And see what happens."

She paused for so long that I thought she might have fallen asleep before she finally spoke again.

"I'm Addison Wright," she said. "I love books and art, but I have a soft spot for sports, mostly football. When I was a kid, I used to watch this boy from the bleachers. He was the cutest boy I'd ever seen, and that's where my love for football started."

I decided to play along. "How old were you?"

"I was seven," she said in a low whisper.

Seven.

She was seven.

Was she still talking about me?

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