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“Are you drunk?” I query with a smirk, and Madison lowers her face, embarrassed.
“No, not really. Well, I don’t think so,” she replies, the heater blowing her matted hair off her face.
“You don’t think so?” I ask, confused while buckling my seat belt.
Madison shakes her head and shyly replies, “I’m not a big drinker, so when I do drink, it only takes one or two, and I’m pretty much done for the night.”
I turn my blinker on and pull out into traffic, knowing getting home will be a nightmare.
“Ah, a cheap drunk. Every man’s dream date,” I tease, but zip it when I realize what I just said.
Madison scoffs dryly. “Yeah, well, that’s the problem.”
“What is?”
“It’s the dream date that led me to drink.”
“I’m not following,” I reply, my eyes focused on the road.
The leather creaks as Madison moves, and I wonder if she’s regretting her random disclosure. But she surprises me when she says, “I met David’s parents tonight.”
“Oh?” I question, but I know damn well she met his parents, as I overheard her phone conversation.
“Yeah,” she replies, the heaviness clear in her tone.
“How’d it go?” I attempt to appear casual.
“Great,” she responds with a sigh.
“So that’s a good thing, right?” I question, my fingers clenching the steering wheel.
“Yeah, I guess. I mean, they were really nice people and very accepting.”
“But…?”
“But I dunno. They were too nice and too accepting. Oh my God, what is the matter with me?” she cries, slapping her hands over her face.
I reach out with one arm and uncover her face. “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with you. And it’s my job to know these things,” I say, trying to make light of the situation.
“Yes, there is,” she sadly counters with a sniff.
Quickly glancing over, I see tears collecting in her beautiful green eyes. Her sadness breaks my heart, so I decide to set her straight because this self-doubt is painful to watch.
“From where I sit, I don’t see anything but perfection.” It’s out before I can stop myself, and I hope she isn’t freaked out by my honesty. I focus on the road, waiting for her reply.
“Thank you, Dixon,” she whispers after a minute of silence. “If only that were true.”
What is she hiding? We all have a past, but Madison’s is one that rules her future. The doctor in me is itching to find out what and dissect her. But the man in me just wants to hold her and tell her everything will be all right. I don’t understand why I feel that way, but something inside her makes me want to be a better man.
“Where are we going?” she asks. I shake my head, clearing my thoughts.
Shit, I’ve ended up driving in the opposite direction from where Madison lives and unintentionally headed into my neighborhood. The rain is still punishing, and my wipers are working overtime, trying to keep up with the heavy shower.
“To my place,” I say, then quickly explain before I creep her out. “There’s no way I’m leaving you out in the rain with no key to get into your building. I was thinking you could use my phone, as I’ve left my cell at home, and call someone who may have a spare key. Or, I could drop you off someplace?” I suggest, hoping like hell she doesn’t say David’s.
There’s a slight pause before she nods, and I let out the involuntary breath I was holding.
“I’ll call Mary. Although…” She looks at her watch. “She probably won’t be home. I was supposed to meet up with her, but—” She halts, chewing on her bottom lip as she tugs at the seat belt nervously.
