Everyone nodded in agreement. Madi faced him and stared at his lips. He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers.
“Oh, brother…” Kendra turned around to face forward. “I think I liked it better when she hated you.”
“I hope she doesn’t hate me,” Jake said, watching her reaction, her fingers still pushed to his lips.
“She doesn’t hate you,” Madi replied with a smile.
“Can you drive any faster?” Kendra asked.
Rob chuckled lightly. “Holy shit!” Kendra shouted. “I’ve seen you smileandheard you laugh today. You must have broken multiple personality rules.”
“Personality rules?” Rob questioned.
“Yeah. Like showing you might have one.”
Jake laughed from the back seat, and Madi smiled, but only because his laugh and the sound of his voice lit up her dark world once again.
Jake and Madi walked arm in arm up the stairs and toward her room. Madi paused as someone stopped to stare at him with a gaped mouth. She reached behind his head to lift his hood, trying to cover him up.
“I don’t care,” he said as he pulled away from her.
“You don’t?” she questioned.
“I have nothing to hide.”
“Aren’t you worried someone will find out?” she asked.
“Nope. I hope they do.” Jake glanced over his shoulder as Kendra, with Rob behind, walked up the stairs.
“Stop staring at my ass,” Kendra said as she turned to Rob.
Once again, he said nothing. He darted around her and up the stairs, in front of Madi and Jake, to make sure everything was safe.
It was a Tuesday night and the halls were quiet. When they reached her door, Madi waited and stared at Jake, wondering if he was leaving. Kendra sprouted forward, hugging her as she said, “I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going back to my room. I’m sick of your floor.”
Madi smiled and kissed her cheek. “I love you, Ken.”
“Yeah, yeah… Don’t get Buzz too jealous.”
Madi laughed and Kendra strutted away, flicking Rob off from behind her as she walked.
The three of them stared after her. “I think she likes you,” Jake said as he elbowed Rob.
“I’m going to make a sweep of the area and check in with my team.”
“Thank you, Rob,” Madi said with a smile. He nodded his head and walked toward the door.
Jake glanced down at Madi and rubbed his thumb across her cheek. “You look exhausted.”
“I am,” she replied. “It’s been worse than a nightmare.”
“Yes, it has,” he replied with a nod of his head before peering over her, toward the chairs in hall. “You get some sleep. I’ll be here as long as you need me.”
Madi shifted uncomfortably as she followed his gaze to the chairs. “You’re staying here?”
“As long as they’ll let me. Rob has a room downstairs in the basement.”
“He does? How does he have a room?”
