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Savannah perked up. She was obviously trying to break the ice, but this situation was already too frosty. “That’s good to hear! Maddox, why didn’t you tell us?”
He tensed, his fork clanking against the plate. “I did.”
Her smile dissolved. “Oh.”
I realized one thing in that moment. Savannah wasn’t ignoring Maddox’s existence, although it appeared like that on the outside. But now that I really looked at her, I realized she was scared of her son. Maddox intimidated her, and knowing him, he made himself less approachable around his parents.
Maybe I was wrong. Savannah was trying, but it was too little… too late.
“We’re done here,” Maddox announced. He stood up, roughly pushing his chair back and dragging me with him.
“Maddox,” Brad called out after his son, his voice threatening and so… cold. “You will show respect.”
Maddox wasn’t listening. We were already marching away. He didn’t stop, even after we were the through the gates of his house. We walked for an hour, side by side. There was an unspoken understanding between us as we walked in silence until we reached Berkshire.
Today was Saturday, so the building was closed. I snuck a glance up at Maddox. He was breathing hard, his lips curled back, and his eyes dark.
He held so much anger inside him, so much disappointment. I could feel it, deep in my bones. Maddox felt betrayed, hurt and deceived. He held more pain than he showed to the world.
I gave his hand a squeeze. “You have to train your mind to be stronger than your emotions or else you’ll lose yourself every time,” I said softly.
His eyes locked with me, and the intensity of his gaze caused my stomach to flip. “Why are you here?” There was a sudden harshness in his voice that had me flinching.
My lips parted, confused. “What?”
“Here,” he gritted out. “With me. Why? Why didn’t you walk away?”
“Because you’re my friend,” I simply replied. Because I care.
Maddox released a shuddering breath as if he needed that confirmation. So young and so angry. If only I could make him smile again.
A sudden spark of an idea had me silently gasping. Of course, I could make him smile. I knew exactly how.
I let go of his hand and pointed at the building next to Berkshire Academy, opened every day, even the weekends. The library.
“I dare you,” I started.
“For fuck’s sake.”
“I dare you to go in there, no clothes except your boxers.”
He paused, watching me with his mouth agape. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Naked?”
I nodded, fighting back a smile. “Only your boxers.”
Oh, this was going to be a sight to see.
“They’ll call the police,” Maddox said, still looking at me as if I had lost my mind.
“That’s the point, Poodle.”
He blinked, still looking surprised. “Holy shit, I corrupted you,” he gasped.
My lips quirked up. “Do you dare, Coulter?”
Maddox smirked, a playful and sinful as fuck smirk. “I accept this dare.”
He quickly pulled his clothes off his body and handed them to me. He was partially… naked. His Calvin Klein boxers hung low around his hips, the crevice of his ass visible and my throat was suddenly parched. Fully clothed Maddox was… sexy.
Partially naked Maddox was… gulp
We were just friends, but damn it, I was a hormonal teenager who wasn’t scared to appreciate a fine specimen like Maddox Coulter.
“Stop looking at my ass, Garcia.”
“Stop prancing around me naked, Coulter.”
He sneaked a glance over his shoulder. “I’ve a feeling this was your way of getting me naked. Are you feeling tempted, Sweet Cheeks?”
“Tempted to kick your ass to Mars, yes.”
He grinned. “Liar.”
Fine, I was a liar.
“Damn, it’s cold!” His teeth were chattering as he rubbed his hands up and down his arms.
I stuck my tongue out and waved toward the library. “Off you go.”
He jogged toward the entrance. “Do a little twerk,” I yelled after him.
His warm laughter was heard through the cold breeze. I stalked after him and waited at the entrance, watching Maddox’s spectacle through the large glass windows. He pranced around the library, completely at ease and with a cocky smirk. He was completely comfortable in his skin. The people stared, speechless and in shock. A girl had her phone out, probably filming him. Some laughed, others looked outraged.
Maddox paused in front of the old librarian, who was blushing and sputtering, bent down and did a half twerk against the granny before running off.
I couldn’t hold my laughter in anymore. My stomach cramped, and I wheezed as he sprinted out of the library, the librarians and security guard at his heels.
“Run!” he hollered at me, his smile wide and infectious.
I took off, and we ran.
We didn’t stop until we lost them. Hiding behind the dumpster, I tried to catch my breath.
“Fuck, you’re crazy,” he gasped through his laughter.
I elbowed him, grinning. “We make a good team, don’t we?”
