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One
Madison
Crossingthemountainridgeinto Eggplant Canyon, I can’t believe I’m moving back to my dad’s house on the eve of my first job. But when a last-minute position to teach kindergarten was offered, I spent the morning packing my tiny apartment, made the six-hour drive, and now I’m ready to tuck myself into bed.
I want to be well-rested for the mandatory district training day tomorrow.
The house is dark as I make the familiar turn into the driveway. My dad texted to let me know that he got called into the hospital. Nothing new there.
Carrying a couple suitcases with my essentials inside, I don’t bother to call my boyfriend, who was my next-door neighbor growing up. I haven’t been able to get hold of him for the last few days, but I chalked it up to him being busy with his med school application. The disconnect is symbolic of how well our long-distance relationship has worked out while we attended different universities. Dating was so much easier when we just walked across the grass to see each other.
If he listened to the series of four voice messages I left, he would know that I had a sudden change of plans. It’s not that I expected him to drop everything and come back to see me since he’s only an hour away, I just wanted to share my excitement.
As I open the curtains in my bedroom to enjoy the moonlight over the mountains, I’m certain he didn’t listen.
Otherwise, he would have at least had the decency to close his blinds…I hope.
My phone falls from my hand. I don’t bother to pick it up.
My heart breaks as everything I thought I knew about the cute, ambitious, and respectful boy next door, who I’ve saved my virginity for, bangs some chick.
He was the one to say we shouldn’t have sex until we’re married. That’s not something you just forget. Is it something against me personally? We were supposed to have a future. How long has this been going on?
Dreams shatter far easier than they’re built. I can’t tear my eyes off the naked tangle of their bodies. How long have I been a fool?
Brett, my suddenlyex-boyfriend, hadn’t wanted to risk either of our careers with an unplanned pregnancy.
My dad had talked to him about the rigors of med school and how it was really hard to raise a child while going through it. Waiting made sense. Watch out for our futures. A little ridiculous since all I wanted to do was be a mom, but my dad insisted I plan on a career since relationships can go wrong.
Like right now.
My heart splits in two.
The fatigue from my long day channels into anger.
All of my pent-up sexual frustration has been for naught. What’s his endgame? I would have fucked him. I’d begged actually. Not a proud moment, but I had. And he’d had the nerve to tell me I should be able to control my urges better.
Fucking hell, I’d thought I was an over-sexed freak for all of my naughty thoughts he refused to entertain. And for the ones he didn’t know about, like the ones that involved his dad.
It looks like we both had secrets, but mine didn’t hurt anyone.
I force myself to look away. This is over. And I’m going to make sure he doesn’t have any wiggle room to sweet talk his way out of it.
I rush downstairs and out of my house, across the grass to his front door, and don’t bother knocking.
“Madison?” Brett’s father, Jayce, calls out as I storm past his office, which is just off the entry. I don’t have to look to know that he’s at his desk, he almost always is. Concern has replaced the swoon-worthiness of the wealthy CEO’s usual deep voice. I don’t care. If he, in any way, taught his son to be a cheater, he’s as despicable as his spawn.
As I stride through their living room, I question how I was able to forget his dad could be home. Apparently, I’m drunk on the toxic cocktail of exhaustion, anger, and tunnel vision, and it’s served with a blanket of shame. I never forget about his dad—the lingering glances I sometimes catch him sneaking, the tension in his jaw every time I gave Brett a peck on the cheek, or my imaginary belief that he made himself scarce when I was around because he secretly wanted me too—which are all more reasons I thought something was wrong with me.
I would never cheat on my boyfriend. Especially not with his dad.
But if anyone had read my mind… Every time Jayce called me Madison, never the nickname Madi that everyone else used, it made me feel so sexy, so desirable. Not the girl-next-door his son dated, but the woman…never mind. It’s my given name, not a seduction. More proof that I’m not wired quite right.
I quicken my pace to get up the stairs when I hear Jayce behind me.
“Wait…I thought you two broke up.” So he does know what Brett’s doing.
“We are now.” My blanket of shame is starting to suffocate me. It’s hard enough to find out my boyfriend is a loser, much less reveal it in front of my secret crush. But my freight train of anger is in motion.
