5. Maddie
Maddie
Son?
I can’t think with his nearness, with his hands still on me.
“Did you say son?” I repeat the word out loud just to make sure.
The man – whose name I still don’t know – lowers his hand from my face.
I feel myself leaning forward, missing his touch. But his hand doesn’t go far, only moving it until he’s loosely gripping my wrist. His other hand still cupped around mine on the glass.
“I did,” he answers.
“I don’t understand.”
I don’t. I really don’t.
He heaves out a breath, “He’s a good kid but…”
His words trail off and I focus on one word.
“Kid?” I ask, an uncomfortable feeling filling my gut. “He said he was 25. He’s not… Oh god, he’s not underage is he?”
One of those thick brows raises, “25?” The way he lets out an exasperated sigh has me thinking this isn’t the first time he’s sighed over his kid . “Brian’s not underage. But he’s not fucking 25 either.” His hands slide away from mine as he leans back in his seat. “He’s 20.”
“20?!” I squeak, glancing down at the drink in front of me.
“Afraid so. ”
“That’s…” I lift my glass and take a healthy swallow, hardly tasting the alcohol. “That’s messed up.”
A sound that might qualify as a laugh drags out of his chest, “You can say that again.”
When I look back up at him, his head is tipped forward and he’s pinching the bridge of his nose.
I take another quick drink then set my glass back down.
I can’t believe Brian lied about his age. I also can’t believe that he’d want to date me, a woman so much older than himself.
I eye the silver stud in front of me and recognize the hypocrisy of my thoughts. Me dating a guy 11 years younger seems weird as hell, but me dating this guy… well, that seems hot as hell. And if I had to guess, I’d say Brian’s dad is more than 11 years my senior.
“So…” I start to bite my lip but stop when his head tips up, his eyes flashing to mine. “Your, um, son sent you here to cancel our date?” My face scrunches as I ask the question. It sounds ridiculous, but I don’t know why else he’d be here.
He slowly shakes his head, “He was pissed after I took his phone and car away from him so he took off to stay at one of his friends’ houses.
And while I was trying to decide if I wanted to sell his phone or smash it, a reminder popped up on his screen about meeting you here tonight.
” A muscle ticks in the side of his jaw.
“That boy can’t remember shit on his own, so I figured he’d probably forget to show up.
” He glances around, proving his point. “And it didn’t seem fair to leave a lady here, waiting alone, considering I was the one who took his phone away. ”
Well, that was hardly the reason I was expecting. “What’d he do to make you mad?”
The big man sighs. “He was supposed to be taking this summer college course to make up for one he failed last semester but turns out he’s been fucking off all day instead. Wasting his time and my money and pissing me the fuck off.”
I press my lips together to keep from grinning. This guy has gone into full Daddy Bear mode and it’s amazing. If we weren’t in public, and magic was real, I’d morph my clothes into a schoolgirl outfit and climb into his lap. I’ve been skipping classes, too .
A small peep of laughter breaks free at that mental image and I slap a hand over my mouth.
His eyes narrow, “You think that’s funny.”
I almost reply with No, Sir but thankfully my hand is still over my mouth so I just shake my head.
The edge of his mouth pulls up. “Brian didn’t think it was funny either. Especially when I handed him an old flip phone. I wanted him punished, not totally stranded.”
This time I don’t hold back the laugh, “How did you find one that still works?”
He lifts one giant shoulder, “Had to bribe the guy to activate it, but it was worth it.”
His dry tone makes the whole story that much more ridiculous, and I shake my head.
“Does a 20-year-old even know how to use a flip phone?”
“He’s smart, when he’s not acting like a dumbass, so I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”
I hum my acceptance, and we watch each other for a moment.
I tried to keep my expectations low before coming here. Tonight was really meant for me to rip off the dating Band-Aid and try putting myself out there for the first time in forever.
I figured it’d be okay- maybe fun, maybe dull- but I did not figure that my date would bail and that his dad would show up in his absence.
And I certainly didn’t count on the dad being so goddamn attractive.
But I guess that’s the perk of being in your 30’s.
I can play cougar and date some guy in his 20’s, or I can level up to the next generation.
Which reminds me…
“I have two questions.” I hold up a pair of fingers.
“Alright,” his chin dips.
“Can I see your ID?”
Without answering, or asking why, he shifts in his chair and pulls his wallet out of his back pocket.
I don’t actually know Brian’s last name, or if he’d share the same last name as his dad, so this won’t exactly prove his story. But information is power. Plus I need to know this man’s name and somehow asking what’s your name is harder to say than give me your ID .
He pulls his license out and I flip my hand over, so it’s palm up on the table.
He nods to my phone, “You gonna send a picture of it to one of your friends?”
I was planning to just look at it, but that’s a way better idea.
“Yes.” It’s not a lie since I decide to do just that.
He sets the cool plastic in my hand, letting his fingertips brush mine as he pulls away.
Tingles zip up my arm, down my spine, and straight to my core.
Clenching my thighs, I look down at the name in front of me.
Axel.
Good grief, even his name is sexy.
I glance back up at him and confirm that this name is absolutely perfect for him. It’s as if he was born into this world destined to be an oversized sexy-as-hell man.
Dragging my eyes back down, I take in the rest of the information. Axel Davis, age – I do a quick calculation – 52, organ donor, resides two towns over from where I live in Darling Lake, and is 6 feet 6 inches tall.
I glance back up at him.
I’ve been sitting the whole time so the difference is a little more subtle, but I could tell he was big.
So, the height doesn’t shock me even though that means he’s nearly a foot and half taller than me.
He’s also 21 years older than me. And none of that changes the fact that I’m dying to scream his name while he pins me to a mattress. With his…
Is it getting warmer in here?
Subtly blowing out a breath, I pick up my phone, snap a photo and text it to Elouise with a sentence telling her that if she doesn’t hear from me tomorrow to hunt down this guy, not Brian.
Finished, I hold out the license for him to take back, “It’s nice to meet you, Axel.”
I blush as I speak his name out loud for the first time, and I swear his eyes sharpen on me.
“The pleasure’s all mine.” His fingers brush against mine again as he grabs his ID and I have no doubt that he’s doing it on purpose. “What was your second question, Maddie?”
“Hmm?” I pick up my glass, then set it down again. “Oh, right. What did the reminder in Brian’s phone say?”
I don’t have a good reason for asking, just curiosity.
He smirks, “It said, first date with Maddie - Dark Haired Babe - at The Bar .”
“Oh.” I can feel the surprise on my face at being called a Babe by a 20-year-old.
“I might be pissed at him right now, but he got the description right.”
My cheeks feel like they’re on fire, “Thank you.”
Is it weird to say thank you for that? I shouldn’t have said thank you.
Axel holds my gaze, “You’re welcome.”
This time I don’t set my drink back down when I pick it up, instead I opt to take a long pull through the straw.
I don’t want Axel to leave, but I’m not quite sure how to ask him to stay without sounding desperate.
Or creepy, considering I was here to meet with his freaking son.
But it’s not like I’d been dating Brian and then decided to switch to his dad.
I haven’t even met Brian. And based on the fact that he was going to stand me up, I don’t much care for Brian.
Not to mention if he had come, he isn’t even old enough to buy me a drink.
Saving me from my internal dialogue, the server appears next to our table. “How you guys doin’ over here? Would ya like a drink?”
Her question is directed at Axel, but he’s looking at me when he responds, “Would you like another one, Baby?”
Baby.
Fuck me.
Every single one of his words sounds like honied gravel and the deepness of them vibrates through my body, settling in my panties.
I definitely don’t need another drink, but I really want Axel to stay. And since a little extra liquid courage can’t hurt, I nod my head.
Axel breaks eye contact, looking towards the waitress, and my lungs finally expand. The way he looks at me, listens to me, is so much more than anything I’m used to. I feel like I haven’t breathed fully since he sat down across from me.
Chill, Maddie.
You need to freaking chill.
Except I can’t chill because he’s staying. Axel, the tall, dark, and so-handsome-I’d-swear-he-was-fictional man is staying.
The server starts to walk away, and as Axel turns his head back to face me, I catch the wide-eyed look that the waitress throws my way – a look that says holy shit that man is hot . I raise my brows in a oh my god I know look before she turns away and heads to the bar.
I spin my glass slowly between my fingers. “Thank you for coming here to let me know about- you know…” I pick up my drink and take another sip. “I hope it didn’t mess up your plans.”
“Plans?” There’s a hint of amusement in his voice.
I’m being forward. Way more forward than I’d usually ever be. But there’s a crinkle of humor next to his eyes and it’s making me feel brave.
“Yeah, plans. The things people often make for Friday night. With friends. Or… girlfriends.” Every part of me wants to look away, but I keep my gaze locked on Axel when I say that last word.