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ChapterNine
Maddie
I beat Rick—just.By a hair.And I was sort of convinced that he let me, but I allowed it.I got in a few very good shots, if I do say so myself.
By the time the three of us headed home, I was merrily tipsy, my arm linked through Jenny’s.I’d had a lovely time in this town.I liked the people.The live cover band,Llamas in Limousines,they were called, killed it on the stage at Molly’s, and Jenny and I had danced and laughed until we were sweaty.
Rick had hung back, watching everyone boogie with an indulgent smile, shooting the shit with Eddie, Molly, and that guy who’d made Jenny hightail it away from the bar.
I was exhausted, and I’d enjoyed myself.
It was a shame I didn’t live here, really.Maybe that was the alcohol talking, or the time I’d spent with Rick.Who wouldn’t want to stick around with a ridiculously charming man like him on offer?
Except he wasn’t on offer.He was Jess’ neighbor, not mine.
I lived an ocean away, and I was fresh from a really quite bad breakup.
I needed to remind myself of that.On an hourly basis, it seemed.Especially when he walked me to my door.
“Well, I’m beat!”Jenny exclaimed from their porch, although she looked far from it.“Good night!”She let herself into the house, leaving Rick and I alone on my front step.
He wasso tall.Why did he have to be so tall?That was one of my weaknesses.
Low light from the porch of a house opposite backlit him, picking out the gold in his hair, distracting me.
“Thanks,” I murmured, searching his hazel gaze.He was way too beautiful.Men weren’t this beautiful in real life.“For this evening.”
“You’re welcome.”He slid his hands into his pockets, and I watched the movement, wishing he’d used them to touch me instead.
“You ever want the opportunity to get beat by me at pool again, let me know.”
He chuckled.“Never heard that pride comes before a fall?”
“Heard it, lived it, but I’m still not above gloating at winning.”
He let out an amused huff.“I had a really good time with you, Maddie.G’night.”A muscle ticked in his jaw and I wondered if he was going to kiss me, and then he stepped back, the moonlight bathing his face in silver, and the moment passed.
What had I been thinking?Of course he didn’t want to kiss me.
I was deep in lust and imagining things that weren’t there.He was being neighborly.I should have been grateful that he’d stepped back, really, and saved me from myself.
But I wasn’t.At all.
* * *
I didn’t have a hangover the next day, and I woke early, so the pint of water I’d downed before bed must have worked.
I made a big cup of coffee, and I tackled my work emails.I replied to requests for orders, telling customers when I’d be back.I answered questions about recipes on my blog, and I planned for the next video I’d upload.
I didn’t answer any of the numerous questions about Seb.That could wait for a little while, but I was going to have to address it atsomepoint.I regretted having him in some of the videos now, but his presence had given my online life another dimension, and, I reasoned, I’d planned a future with him.
How did I condense all that had happened into a few sentences?Could I?How did I do it without putting something I’d regret online?
I shelved that decision for now.
Nothing you gave to the internet ever really disappeared, not if you knew how to look for it, and I would bet some trolls did.
I was lucky not to have been victimized by any, but I had industry friends who’d had awful experiences.
