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I climb onto his lap, and he robs me of every piece of my soul. I think I have him, and I know he definitely has me. But when I thread my fingers through his, he feels the ring there, and everything just stops.
When he pulls away, any traces of the Madden I knew are gone as he inflicts a fatal wound without mercy.
“I don’t want you anymore, Bianca. Get the fuck out of my life.”
Chapter 79
Madden
“Hey.” Tori blushes as I catch her sneaking out of Kieran’s room. “Are the girls awake yet?”
“Not yet.”
There’s a long, awkward silence as we stand in the hallway, and I realize she doesn’t know what to say, so I fill the gap.
“I was just going to make some coffee. You want a cup?”
“That would be great.”
She follows me into the kitchen and sits at the table, watching me as I work.
“Is this totally weird?” she asks. “If it is, I’m sorry. I didn’t plan for this to happen. I have a hard time connecting with people anymore, but there’s just something about Kieran.”
“He’s a solid guy.” I glance back at her. “He won’t ever treat you bad. Honestly, I think it’s great. I hope it works out for the two of you.”
She laughs, shaking her head like she can’t quite wish for that much.
“I don’t know if he’s looking for anything serious,” she says. “We just met, and I have a daughter I need to think about. Oh, and there’s the small matter of him being famous and getting any girl he wants.”
“Tori.” I turn to face her so she knows I’m not mincing words. “Any guy would be lucky to have you, so don’t go making yourself a list of reasons this can’t work before you give it a chance. Kieran isn’t the kind of guy to fuck around with your feelings or have random hookups because someone knows his name. He likes you. So just roll with it and don’t settle for anything less than what you deserve from anyone. Because then I’ll definitely have something to say about it.”
She blinks rapidly, holding back her emotions. “God, Madden. You really know how to make a girl cry.”
I try to laugh, but it still feels like I’m dead inside, so instead, I focus on the business of making coffee. I’m barely functioning because I didn’t sleep at all last night. Bianca’s words have been rattling around my brain on repeat. She sounded so certain when she told me she couldn’t do this, it’s hard not to believe it’s the final nail in our coffin. As I laid in my bed, replaying every fucking obstacle life has thrown our way, I had to accept that this might be it.
For years, we’ve fought and tortured each other and failed in so many ways. There have been too many secrets kept, too many betrayals, misplaced anger, and even misplaced trust. And this connection that always felt fated, yet so fragile, feels like it’s finally snapped. I’m left dangling in the wind, waiting for someone who’s never going to return.
When I try to imagine our lives going forward in parallel directions, but not together, it makes me sick. She’s having my baby. No matter what, we’ll be bound by that connection. But how will we raise a child together when she can’t even talk to me?
Tori’s gasp from the kitchen table startles me from my thoughts, and when I drag my gaze back to her, she’s holding a trembling hand to her mouth.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
She blinks up at me, her eyes awash with horror. “It’s… Adam.”
Those are the only words she manages to get out, but when she turns her phone toward me, I can see the headline clearly. It looks like the news has finally broken, and I officially feel like an asshole for not warning her first. I didn’t know how she was going to take it, and part of me wanted to protect her from it for as long as I could. But now, she’s about to learn every horrifying detail.
“Madden?” She looks up at me in question.
I sit down at the table with her and release an unsteady breath. “I’m sorry, Tori.”
“How is she?” I ask Birdie as soon as she picks up the phone.
“She’s okay,” she answers quietly.
It’s the same response she’s given me every hour I’ve called her. Even though we knew this day would come, we weren’t prepared for it. Someone from the police department called Birdie shortly before the news broke to let her know it was happening, and I sent Dr. Woods over as soon as I heard. She’s been with Bianca ever since, talking her through any emotions that might surface.
I want to be there, but Bianca rejected the idea immediately, and this is as much as I can do.
