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“I know how much you like magnets. I forgot to give this one to you a couple of weeks ago.”
Madeline looked at the magnet and then at Kent. He was staring at her, uncomfortably staring at her. Jamie took my debit card and ran it, handing it back to me, giving me a look that is screamingdo something, you idiot.
Oh, I plan to.I wiggled my eyebrows.
“You’re all set. We’ll see you, Milo, in a few weeks, and Holly in six months.” Jamie smiled at me, jerking her head toward Madeline.
I nodded to her and turned back to Madeline. I knew what was running through my head, and I knew it was a dumb idea, but I also wanted to remind her that she was more than what Kent made her feel. She was more than a magnet. She was definitely more than whatever he left her for. I stepped closer. Her eyes moved from Kent to me quickly, almost as if she were asking for help.
I should have been like any normal friend, give her a hug goodbye and say I'll text her later. Instead, I moved with new instincts, new feelings and emotions, acting on that spark. I grabbed the nape of her neck and pulled her toward me, kissing her with every fiber of my being. Right there in the middle of the waiting room. She made a small hum in shock but relaxed into the kiss, placing her hands on my shoulders, drinking me in. I broke the kiss, kissed her gently once more, and wiggled my eyebrows at her.
Her eyes were drunk on me, and she exhaled.
“I'll see you at home?” I asked, as if what I just did was normal for us.
She inhaled and nodded quickly. She blinked and looked down at Holly, who had the largest smile and the widest eyes of any eight-year-old I had ever seen. I kissed her once more and grabbed Holly’s hand, who was still trying her hardest to contain her excitement.
“See you soon.” I turned, coming face to face with Kent. “Oh, yeah…forgot you were there. Bye, Kent.” I tapped his shoulder and left the office…a grin on my face and flutters in my stomach.
Chapter Nineteen
-Madeline-
Ihid my face in my palms as I sat at Milo’s kitchen peninsula. Milo was cooking dinner for Holly and me, laughing as he shook his head. Holly had been screaming ever since I got to his apartment. My plan was to march in and tell him he was ridiculous and that he shouldn’t have done that, but the second I saw his eyes and smile, I couldn’t help but kiss him again.
“I thought we agreed to not tell Holly,” I mumbled into my hands.
Milo laughed. “I didn’t expect Kent to come and give you a magnet.” He turned the chicken over in the pan and then let it rest, coming over to pull my hands from my face. “He let the cat out of the bag, so I ran with it. It seemed like a good idea at the time. Besides, Holly seems very excited. It was all she could talk about on the way home.”
“Yeah, well...” I glared at him, wanting to tell him it wasn't a good idea, but I just smiled. “It was nice, thank you.”
He gave me a crooked grin. “What happened to the magnet?”
“Oh,” I grumbled, “I made Kent take it back. I told him I tossed all the other ones and that I’ve always hated magnets.” I pulled my hands close to my chest and began to pick at my fingernails. Maybe one day I’d take Holly to a salon to get manicures. Until then, they’d be the hands of an overworked hygienist. “He didn’t seem to like that fact too much. He left a few pamphlets on some sales, but he took off not long after you left.”
He raised his eyebrows and pushed himself off the counter, returning to the chicken. “Well, good. I hope I made him uncomfortable.”
“Is that the only reason why you kissed me?” I asked, my jaw dropping, forcing myself not to smile.
He shook his head. “No, I wanted to kiss you because you looked sexy as hell, and I couldn’t help myself. Kent being there to witness that amazing kiss was just a bonus.”
“I did not looksexy as hell,” I repeated. “But…” I softened my voice, stood from my chair and walked behind Milo, wrapping my arms around his waist to rest my cheek on his shoulder blade. He was taller than me by the perfect amount. Kent towered over me, something he enjoyed and I hated. Milo was the perfect height to my small 5’3 frame. “It was an amazing kiss,” I whispered.
He turned in my arms and wrapped his arms around my waist, giving me a gentle, fleeting kiss on my lips. “It was, wasn't it?”
“Are you guys going to be kissing all the time now?” Holly’s voice appeared from her bedroom and into the small kitchen, forcing her way to the stove. “Mommy and Don don’t kiss that much.”
I pushed away from Milo and gave him a quizzical look “Don?”
“Yeah, don’t ask,” he grumbled, turning back to the stove.
“We weren’t going to tell you yet.” I looked down at Holly, who had helped herself to a Sprite from the fridge. “We were going to wait.”
“Why?” Holly pinched her brow. “I love that you are dating. It was my idea. Makes us feel likea real family again, just…” She stepped away. “Keep the kissing to a minimum.”
Once she was out of earshot, I turned to Milo. I leaned against the counter and folded my arms across my chest. “That’s exactly why we shouldn't have told her. She said we are arealfamily,” I whispered. “I don’t want to break her heart.”
Milo chuckled. “We won’t break her heart. I’ll talk to her. I’ll tell her we are taking things slow, and if it doesn't work out, nothing will change. Holly will always be in your life, and you will always be in hers.”
