I don’t have time to process this revelation before Maddox is sitting down on the floor next to Brooklyn’s toddler bed. He leans over the plastic side of the bed to snuggle up with my daughter in what looks like the most uncomfortable position ever. He rubs his hand repeatedly over her sweaty forehead and mumbles softly in her ear. I watch this beautiful picture unfold before my eyes and fight the urge to cry the tears that are rising to the surface. He’s willingly stepping in and giving my daughter what shewants in her time of need.
After a few minutes, Brooklyn is fast asleep, so we sneak back out of her room and head to mine. As I’m sliding back into bed, Maddox glances at the clock. He approaches me, but doesn’t get in. “It’s almost five. I’m on at six so I need to head home to shower and get ready.”
“Okay. Thank you for helping me with Brooklyn. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
He leans down and kisses my lips. “It was no problem. I’ll do anything I can to help you and Brooklyn. You know that, right?” he asks as he gazes deep into my eyes.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“Go back to sleep. I’ll reset your alarm for six thirty.”
“Okay. Thanks, Maddox.”
“Anything for you,” he says before giving me another kiss on the lips. He dresses quickly but doesn’t bother me to retrieve his T-shirt I’m still wearing. Before he heads out the door, he gives me one final kiss.
“You don’t have a shirt on,” I mumble, running my hands up his hard chest and tracing the beautiful, intricate tattoo on his pectoral.
“I have a jacket at the front door. I’ll throw that on.” I start to sit up to give him back his shirt, but he stops my hands, holding them in his. “No, you keep wearing it. I love how it looks on you. So fucking sexy.” He gives me a drop-dead sexy smile that makes me wet with need all over again.
“I’ll talk to you soon,” he says one last time, and then he’s gone. I listen to him walk through my house, making faint noises in the kitchen, which I assume means he’s prepping the coffee for me again, and then finally out the front door. It’s immediately quiet, and I’m left alone again. It’s been a pretty exhausting night between Brooklyn’s sickness and sex with Maddox, so it doesn’t take too long before sleep finally finds me again.
Chapter 24
Avery
Fall is definitely upon us. The cool brisk winds are blowing as Halloween draws near. A couple of weeks ago, Brooklyn suffered an upper respiratory infection and had to be put on antibiotics to help her fully kick it. It was a rough three days for her and even more so for me. I only worked half days that week. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family, who helped come to the house and watch her so I could get some hours in at work. She still has this persistent little cough, but her pediatrician says it could be allergies and the weather. So, for now, we’re just keeping an eye on it.
Being sick hadn’t dampened Brooklyn’s spirits at all. In fact, with the exception of the first night she had the fever, you could barely tell she was sick. She laughed and played like she normally does, carrying on as if it’s any other day. Several times we had to get on her to take it easy for fear that she wouldn’t get the rest her little body needed. Have you ever tried to get a three-year-old to settle down and not play so hard? That jobalone left me tired and exhausted at the end of the day.
Maddox helped in the evenings after he got off work, careful to arrive after Brooklyn went to bed to avoid her asking questions or saying something to my parents or one of my brothers. We’ve fallen into a comfortable routine in the past few weeks. He comes over, we discuss our day and watch TV, and then head off to bed where we usually fall asleep exhausted from making love.
Last night Maddox went out with Jake to Jack’s Pub. He told me he didn’t really want to, but he hadn’t been out with Jake in two weeks, and Jake was starting to get curious and asking too many questions. So he met him there and had a few drinks. If I’m being completely honest with myself, I wasn’t in the greatest shape last night. I felt nervous and afraid. And, well, jealous. I know what used to happen at the end of those nights he went out with Jake. He always found himself in someone’s bed. As hard as I tried to not let it get to me, I still kept worrying that he might not be faithful to me. Let’s face it, Maddox is hot. And he could have anyone he wants. So, what’s he doing with me?
I sat on my couch all night last night pondering those exact questions over and over, practically making myself completely crazy, untilmy phone dinged around eleven with a text.
Maddox: I miss you. I’d rather be there with you.
I smiled at the message on my screen as I fired back a reply.
Me:I miss you too.
I forced myself to stop with that reply. I didn’t want to go all clingy, crazy girlfriend on him.I trust him, I told myself repeatedly.
Maddox:Can I stop by on my way home?
Me: Yes
Maddox:Be there shortly
He wanted to come by my house. He wanted to be with me, not some girl he picked up in the bar. The realization I probably more than cared for Maddox hit me hard like a semi. I was falling in love with him. And while that was exciting, I was also scared to death. The last person I loved wrecked me and left me to pick up the pieces. Will Maddox end up doing the same thing?
When he got to the house, I was a nervous wreck. I had just discovered feelings that I wasn’t ready to deal with. I definitely couldn’t tell him what I was feeling. I knew going into this Maddox didn’t do love or happily ever afters.So where will that leave us? Where will it leave me when this is all said and done?
When we finally fell into my bed, I felt a connection with him like I never felt before. I don’t know if it was from my recently discovered feelings, or if maybe he had something going on too, but we connected deeply last night, eyes locked on each other the whole time we made love. Every touch was soul-deep. Every sound from our lips was earth-shattering. Every kiss a story full of emotion. Being with him last night was tender and beautiful and scary all at the same time.
It was perfect.
Today, Will is picking Brooklyn and me up to go to The Pumpkin Patch on the edge of town. Halloween is next week, and we have yet to get our pumpkins. Will has been sitting in the driveway for a few minutes, waiting on me to finish getting ready so we can be on our way. He’s already loaded up the car with toys and has Brooklyn secured in her seat. The only thing missing is me.
