AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Claire’s tone wasn’t mean when she said, “I don’t know, Maddy. I really don’t. But after being off the market for so long, I want you to choose somebody who’s actually right for you. I don’t want to see you get hurt, because then you’re never coming out of that hermit shell. That’s all. When you’re finally ready to give your heart away, just choose wisely, okay?”
“Of course.” But my heart sank.
It sounded so easy. Of course…it was anything but.
Chapter Fifteen
BOB
It was a beautiful day for golf. I played terribly, but I kept smiling.
“You’re awfully upbeat for someone who just shot a nine on that last hole.” Tim clapped me on the back. “I appreciate you keeping your good humor.”
“Ah, you’re welcome. I am in a good mood. Not even a sucky round of golf can change it.”
Tim pulled down his sunglasses and inspected me. “My buddy Tyler said he thought you were sort of a douche.”
I grimaced at the mention of Tyler. I’d managed to avoid him since last night. “Gee, thanks, Tim.”
He laughed easily. “That was my ill-advised segue into saying that I think you’re cool. Are you seriously into Madison?”
“I like her a lot.” The words tumbled out easily, and I recognized them as the truth.
Tim clapped me on the shoulder. “I hope it works out. I’d be psyched to have a brother-in-law like you. Totally not what I was expecting.”
Tim seemed nice enough, but I wasn’t sure if he was in the process of insulting me or perhaps Maddy. “What do you mean?”
He shrugged. “Maddy’s super uptight is all. She’s always ‘on.’ You know what I mean? Tapping away on her phone, fidgeting, looking like it’s painful for her to leave the office. Don’t get me wrong; I admire her work ethic. The only thing Sienna works on that hard is her abs.” He laughed. “But we worry that Maddy is headed for spinsterdom. She, like, never relaxes. So I figured she’d end up with somebody from that world, a workaholic with a phone in his face masking as a personality. But you’re a cool guy. You can hang. I hope you hang onto her.” His buddies called him over for a beer, and he winked at me. “Thanks for coming today.”
“Yeah. Thanks for inviting me.” But in spite of what Tyler had said and the sun on my face, my mood dipped.
He’d never expected Madison to be with someone like me.
I wondered if Maddy felt the same way. Insecurity had never really been an issue for me, but what had happened with my ex had messed with my head. So as I wondered, I worried.
What if Maddy didn’t feel the same way I did?
My sister texted me three times on my way back to the club.
Marta: What on earth did you ever see in that crazy bitch?
Marta: I think she invited me just to get back at you!
Marta: This is a farce. I’m not even kidding.
Thankfully, I had the cart to myself. I called her right away. “What’s going on?”
“Agh!” Marta’s breaths came out in little puffs, and I could tell she was on her treadmill, power walking her frustration to a manageable level. “Katie’s called me five times already this morning. She wants to make sure that I’m coming today, that you know I’m coming, and that I’m going to take pictures! She actually called to ask me if I’d post a story on Instagram and gave me a special hashtag!”
“That sounds like Katie. She wants to be the center of attention, even on the internet. You shouldn’t be too surprised.”
“Do you know what I think?” She let out another exasperated little puff. “Never mind! I don’t even want to know what I think!”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
I scrubbed a hand across my face. “Marta, Jesus. Just say it.”
