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Chapter 16 - Ethan: Confusion
I should have run after her. I should have told her to stop, but I stayed rooted in my spot. It was best to let her go. She didn’t need me in her life. My presence in her life would only harm her more.
She deserved someone who could love her wholeheartedly not someone who could only offer pieces of themselves.
I walked downstairs and found Marcus in the kitchen sipping on coffee. At least now, he had actual clothes on.
“Why didn’t you tell me that Maddison lives next door?”
“I didn’t think it was important. You know her?”
He set down his coffee. He looked at me like I had just lost my mind.
“You are kidding, right? You don’t remember her? She was in grade school with us way back when.”
I still had no idea what he was talking about. As far as I knew, Maddison was new to town.
“Come on, E. Maddison, Maddison Rosteldale?”
What was he talking about?
“That’s not her. Her name is Maddison Vandlewoods, not Rosteldale.”
“Then she must have changed her name or something, but I know Maddie when I see her.” He looked out the kitchen window toward her house. “I wonder why she changed it. Do you think she's married? I didn't see a ring on her finger."
“Didn’t you and Maddie used to go at it like cats and dogs?”
A knowing smile graced his face. “Yep. She drove me up the wall, but damn did that girl get me going.”
I rolled my eyes. I moved around the kitchen, fixing myself a bowl of cereal. I felt Marcus’ gaze on me the entire time. When I turned to face him, he didn’t even have the decency to look away.
“Can I help you?”
“Did you bang Grayson’s baby sister?”
If I had been eating something, I was sure that I would have choked.
“What?”
“Judging from the way you reacted, then it’s true. You screwed Lil Masters?”
I turned away from him. “Stop saying that.”
“Ethan, it's only me here. You know you can tell me anything, right?”
“There is nothing to tell, Marcus.”
“Really? So why did Lily run out of here like you had just murdered her dog?” He rounded the island and made his way to where I stood. “You know Grayson would understand if you just told him.”
“Tell him what, Marcus? ‘Hey man, I slept with your sister, but I don’t want to be with her, but I do care about her, though. How is your Saturday going?’”
The kitchen fell silent, and Marcus and I looked at each other for a moment. Then he threw his head back and let out a loud laugh.
“You, my friend”—he pointed at me—“have put yourself between a rock and a shit place. How do you sleep with the girl and then not want to be with the girl? This ain’t just some random on the streets. This is Lily we are talking about. Baby Lily. We literally watched her graduate from training wheels to a big girl bike.”
“I know.” I ran a frustrated hand through my hair. “Don’t you think I know? I just don’t know what to do.”
“Do you care about her?”
