Chapter 7
Madison was standing in front of me, talking to the reporter and I could hear every single word.
She was proud of me? Did she really say that? Why did those unprompted words make me want to stand a little straighter?
I shook my head, cursing out because I knew it was wrong. So. Damn. Wrong.
Saddling up next to her, she jumped a little when she realized I was there. “Dash,” she said in this breathy, kind of hot way.
I thanked the reporter and when she was far enough away, I leaned into Madison.
“Have you been telling people you’re my girlfriend?”
She blushed at my words, and shit, it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. I kept my mouth in a tight line, stopping myself from smiling because I liked it.
Pointing to the camera crew, she said, “Yeah, sorry about that. They came over asking for your family, and I didn’t want them thinking you had no one here.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear and looked to the floor. “I also kind of wanted to be on TV too,” She said in what felt like an after thought.
“What’s Kyle going to think when he sees it?”
Yeah, I wasn’t through mentioning that idiot because I was butt hurt about the entire situation, but I was okay with it. Mainly because in between talking to my new manager and Madison, I’d already sent him a message, warning him to back off.
She waved a hand in front of me. “Ah, Kyle won’t mind. He’s nothing serious. Just a little someone to get my mind off my loneliness.”
A low growl emanated from my chest, but thankfully, the noise in the stadium was so loud, there was no way she could hear it.
Get her mind off her loneliness?
Fuck me.
She was trying to kill me.
“Nice jersey you got there.” She brought her hand forward to lift my new jersey before letting it fall. “You’re officially an Atlanta Anglerfish now.”
“Technically, I have another three years until that’s going to happen. “
Her nose crinkled and she looked around the room. “Wait, are you telling me your place on the team isn’t guaranteed?”
“Technically, it’s a contract to state that they have first dibs on me after they think I’ve developed enough.”
She looked me up and down and let out a snort. “I think you’ve developed just fine.”
My fingers gripped my jersey tighter, and I held back from saying anything, but I wasn’t sure how I felt about this new ‘flirty’ Madison. It was like she suddenly had no filter, and I wondered if she was talking to other guys like that too.
“Thank you.”
“For?” She raised a brow in question.
I pointed at the camera crew “For doing that for me. I appreciate it.”
Her smile grew and she slapped me on the shoulder. “Anything for you, Big Man.”
Her eyes connected with mine, and I did something completely unexpected. I hauled her into my arms, and squeezed her tightly to show just how much I appreciated her.
“Geez, Dash, are you trying to break my back, or something?” She joked, patting me on the back.
Coming out of the tight hold, I didn’t let her get very far. Still close enough that our breath was mingling, I wanted to kiss her. To do what I should have done at that stupid party, and let her know just how beautiful and perfect I thought she was.
But as her eyes flicked between my lips and eyes, I knew I couldn’t.
She was my best friend's little sister, and not only had I not talked to her brother about this crush, but I was leaving. Covey U was only a few weeks away and what was I going to do? Have a long distance relationship with Madison?
No. I couldn’t. She deserved better than that. Better than me. Better than anyone here.
“Dash.” Cades voice broke through the tension and I immediately stepped back, looking at my best friend. “We did it, bro.”
He pulled me into a hug, and I reciprocated, watching Madison from over Cade’s shoulder. She was playing with her hair, looking anywhere but us.
“We are going to be Anglerfish together.”
As I pulled out of the hug, I gave him a scowl. “Don’t say that. It sounds weird.”
“I know. I know. Atlanta have the worst sports names. I mean, seriously, at least we aren’t on the baseball team. The Atlanta Armadillos is definitely worse.”
Cade was talking and I was nodding along, pretending to listen, but I was just watching Madison.
“We’re going to need to get out of here and celebrate.”
“Not tonight, man. I’m going to head home so I can tell my dad in person.”
“Understandable, but you don’t think he’s checking?”
“He’s at work. He won’t have time, and he promised to let me tell him myself.”
“Wish I could be there to see his face. He’s going to be so happy for you. You’ve come a long way in the last eight years since I met you. I’ll never forget watching your tiny ass flailing around on your skates while those idiots pushed you around.”
“Apparently, you’re never going to let me forget it, either.”
Cade elbowed me and pointed. “Gotta make sure you remember when your loyalties lie.” I couldn’t help it, my gaze flicked to Madison, because he was right. My loyalties were with Cade. They always would be. “Still can’t believe this happened for us.”
“Neither can I.”
Cade’s dad squeezed his shoulder, drawing his attention away from me. As I stepped a little to the side, I bumped into Madison, who gave me a brief look before dropping her gaze to her purse and rifling through it.
She pulled out her phone, I couldn’t help but be intrigued. I glanced down and just so happened to have the perfect view of her phone screen. Even when she turned a little to the side for privacy, my height made it easy to see what she was doing.
She pulled up her messages, and that was when I saw her texts.
Kyle: Madison, you’re a really great girl, but I’m sorry. I think we can only be friends.
Mhm. Interesting. He listened, and I proved myself right, yet again. None of these assholes were willing to fight for her, ergo, none of them were worth her time. I couldn’t help but smile because Kyle was officially leaving Madison alone. No one was going to touch my girl.
Fuck. She wasn’t my girl. But at least she wasn’t wasting her time with an idiot like Kyle.
Madison let out the tiniest of whimpers, still staring at her phone screen. I didn’t like it because it sounded too much like she was upset again.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, brushing my arm against hers to get her attention.
She quickly turned her phone screen off and stepped to the side so she could look at me from over her shoulder. Fuck. Her big blue eyes were dark, and her teasing smile had fallen. She was upset. Over another idiot guy, and I’ve already broken my vow never to see it happen again.
Was I always going to be the one that had to stand back and watch her get her heart broken?
“Nothing.” She shook her head. “Just read a spoiler for a new show I’ve been watching.”
Lies. All lies because she clearly didn’t want to admit how she was really feeling.
Henry’s behavior has broken her, and I just made her feel worse because I forced Kyle to stop talking to her. I had mixed feelings. I didn’t want to see Madison upset, but I was also happy that Kyle wasn’t going to go anywhere near her.
“MB. Are you ready to come out and celebrate with us?” Cade asked as her parents smiled at her. I could feel her unease from here, but no one else seemed to notice.
“If you’re tired, I can always take you home?” I offered and gave Madison’s mom a small smile.
“Uh, yeah. I’m pretty tired. I think I need to go home.”
I bit back my smile because I didn’t want anyone to see this as anything other than a offer of a ride home.
“Are you sure you don’t mind dropping her off?” Their dad asked.
“Absolutely fine. Your house is on the way to the firehouse anyway. I’m guessing my dad will still be there.”
“Ever the gentleman. Thank you, Dash.” Cade’s mom pulled me into a hug. “And congratulations. We're all so proud of you,” She said as she patted me on the back.
I hugged her a little tighter than necessary because I felt her words deep in my chest. I hoped I’d made my mom proud too.
By the time I was rolling up to Madison’s house, she was fast asleep in the seat next to me. Somehow, she’d managed to curl herself into a ball and her head was resting in my direction.
Even asleep with her mouth hanging open, I couldn’t help but think she was beautiful.
“Madison,” I said lightly, hoping to coax her out of her sleep gently.
When she didn’t respond, I nudged her shoulder.
Still nothing.
The girl was out like a light, and I considered driving straight to the firehouse and leaving her here.
But that didn’t feel right. So instead, I opened my door, made my way around the car, and opened hers.
Ever-so-gently, I unbuckled her seat belt and slipped my hands under her legs and behind her back. Then, I hauled her into my arms and shut the door with my foot.
The thump of the door shutting, woke her up.
“What the fuck? Where am I?”
“Don’t scream,” I grunted, walking her to her door at pace.
“Dash. Where are we?”
“Your house. I’m walking you in.”
“I have fully functioning legs you know?” There was a hint of amusement in her voice, and I was happy that she was seemingly no longer upset about Kyle.
He didn’t deserve a minute of her unhappiness.
“Has anyone ever told you that you can sleep through a heavy metal concert?”
“Oh, please. Don’t try to make out that you listen to anything other than sad, depressing music in your car. How could I not fall asleep through all that moaning?”
“Good to see you’re fully awake now.”
I bent my knees, ready to deposit her on the floor, but she wrapped her arms around my neck, and pulled herself into me.
“What are you doing?”
“What are you doing?” she retorted.
“I was going to put you down so you could walk the rest of the way.”
“And I’ve never been carried like a princess before, so I’m more than happy for you to take me to my room like this.”
It was a joke. She was just joking, and I pressed my lips together to look unbothered by it. I’d never been to Madison’s room before, and the idea of waltzing in there to put her on her bed was taking my thoughts to places it shouldn’t be going.
“I’ll take you to your front door. That’s it.”
“Deal.”
She rested her head against my chest, and I found myself slowing down because, for some reason, I wasn’t looking forward to putting her down. Maybe her fruity shampoo was going to my head, and I was slowly losing my mind. I wasn’t sure, but I also didn’t care all that much because the stairs were looming in front of me.
“I could stay like this all day,” Madison hummed. I looked down at her, and she had this small, placid smile on her face. I didn’t want to take my eyes off her, but if I wanted to get to the stairs uninjured then I needed to.
She moved a little, forcing my fingers to flex against her thigh.
“Has anyone ever told you that you’ve got big hands?”
“Madison.”
“What?” She opened her eyes, and tilted her head so she could look me in the eyes. “I guess it’s not really something that someone would bother to mention because it makes sense. You’re a goalie, so I guess you need big hands for that too, right? To catch the puck?”
“We wear gloves. I’m not out there catching the puck bare handed.”
She snorted, and when I looked down at her, she quickly looked away.
“Sorry. Just something about the way you say bare handed. I don’t know? It’s just funny.”
She was babbling and although I needed to keep up the fa?ade of hating it, I loved it. Her thought process was cute, and there was something endearing about how open she was with me.
“You’re also a big guy. How tall are you now? Seven foot?”
“I’m six foot six.”
“Close enough,” she mumbled before looking around. We were close to the steps now, and I was preparing myself for letting her go. Not just dropping her off at the steps, but leaving her behind. College was a few weeks away and I wasn’t going to be able to see her anymore. It was a reality that I just started to accept.
“You’re view is so different from up here. Is it weird to see so many scalps in the day?” I didn’t answer because she didn’t give me time. Gasping, she glared at me with the utmost seriousness. “Dash. You’d tell me if I had dandruff, right?”
My brows crossed, but she was looking at me so fiercely, I felt the need to respond with a shake of my head.
She breathed out. “Thank goodness. I don’t think I’d be able to live that down, otherwise.”
“Are you drunk?”
“No.”
“Why are you babbling?” I asked, just as I let her feet drop onto the porch. Her arm stayed wrapped around my neck and when I glanced at her, I couldn’t help but stop. We were so close physically right now, and I didn’t want it to stop.
Her eyes were wide when she said, “I don’t know. I guess I just talk a lot when I’m nervous.”
“What’s making you so nervous?” I almost whispered as I stood beside her, my face still close to hers. If I wanted to, I was close enough to kiss her.
Damn, did I want to. She was right there. Her mouth was parted and her big bottom lip was just asking for it.
But I couldn’t.
I wouldn’t.
“I, uh, don’t know. Maybe it has something to so with being carried home by one of the most gorgeous guys I’ve ever met.”
Did she just say that, or was I delusional?
Swallowing, I stood straight. Away from her lips and any temptation I had.
“You’re home now,” I said and cleared my throat. “I’ll text your brother to let him know.”
“That’s it?” She said, looking hurt.
I averted my gaze to the floor because I couldn’t look at her anymore. Too sweet. Too perfect. Never meant to be mine.
“I’ll see you around.” Even though I was still staring at the floor, I could feel her heated gaze on me, but I chose to ignore it.
A couple of seconds went by before she tutted. “I didn’t realize you were such a coward, Dash.”
With that, she turned on her heel and opened her door.
I stood there, feeling like a chump, slightly confused because I wasn’t sure if she’s just confessed her interest in me too, or if I completely misread the situation.
All I knew now was that I was standing outside my best friend's house, staring at the door because I missed his sister.
What the hell happened to me?
Madison wasn’t for me. She was going to be here for the foreseeable future, and I couldn’t betray Cade like that. Not after the way his parents took me in.
I couldn’t break her heart, and this little obsession had to stop.
Nothing was going to happen.
It never could.
I stuffed my hands in my pockets as I headed to my car. Only three more weeks until I was off to California. I could handle seeing Madison until then. I just couldn’t be left alone with her again because my brain did stupid things when we were alone.
As I opened my car door, I took one final look at Madison’s house, noticing her purple curtain twitch. Was she watching me?
I shook my head because I shouldn’t care about the answer to that.
So instead, I repeated the mantra in my head.
Three more weeks.
Three more weeks, then I was gone.
That should get her off my mind.
To Be Continued….