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“I assumed.”
“But I can tell by the way he’s hurting right now that he’s serious about you. And if you’re just as serious about him, then go put the man out of his misery. Then we can celebrate with a glass of wine.”
Relief floods my chest as my lips break out into an effortless smile, one I haven’t felt eager to display in days. “I would love that. Although, I’m more of a champagne girl, myself.”
She grins. “Maybe you and I will be better friends than I thought.”
By now, my smile must be blinding her. “Thank you. I hope to see you again very soon.”
With a nod, I take off down her driveway, fire up my rental car again, and find the address of the high school in my GPS. Soon I’m driving as fast as I can legally go, racing the sun going down in the distance.
I’m coming, Maddox. I’m almost where I need to be—in your arms.
* * *
Walking across a football field at night still does something to me. The way the lights blind me if I look directly at them. The way the grass smells after a long, hot day. The way the bleachers that are usually full of screaming fans stand eerily empty and cold but echoes of cheers can still be heard if I listen closely.
Those sounds and smells hold some of my most precious memories, but tonight, I hope they can hold one more.
I see him before he hears me. He’s throwing a football into a net, practicing his release and stance. His body is so powerful and exquisite that I take just a few more moments to admire it before I break the silence around us.
“Why can’t you hear rabbits making love?”
He drops the ball as he spins and finds me standing there about ten feet away from him. “Holy shit. You scared me.”
“Just consider it payback for all the times you did the same to me.”
He wants to smile. I can see the corners of his mouth lift, but he fights them down. “I guess I deserve that.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“What was it?”
“Why can’t you hear rabbits making love?”
“I don’t know. Why, Penelope?”
“Because they have cotton balls.”
His smile spreads wide and bright this time, and suddenly he’s moving toward me, pulling me to him by my waist. “Are you here? Are you really fucking here?” he asks as our foreheads connect and my emotions get the better of me.
I don’t want to cry anymore, but I can’t help it. Seeing him right now, feeling his arms around me again, I am so grateful I went back home and laid my past to rest. So I break down again, but this time, he’s holding me up.
Chapter21
Maddox
Ilean back, looking down at her just to make sure that this is real, and the woman I see standing in front of me looks like she’s been cutting onions for hours.
“You—you haven’t been answering your phone. I tried calling you so many times.”
“I know, but I needed space. I needed time.” A tear slips from the corner of her eye, making me question what has her this emotional right now.
“Liam tried to call you, too, after we found out you weren’t going to Texas with me. He went off on me over the phone because he couldn’t get a hold of you, but I had nothing to offer him until I spoke with Amelia.”
“Well, forgive me for taking a few personal days, all right? Charles knew. I made sure all my t’s were crossed before I took off. But the last thing I wanted was to answer my phone for anyone that day, Maddox.” More tears fall as she looks away from me.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?”
