5. Jen
FIVE
Jen
“Evelyn,” I call her name and smile as I pop a bite of muffin into my mouth. I can already tell she’s up to some shit as she ties on her apron.
I came in earlier than usual this morning. I couldn’t sleep. Seeing Maddox at the restaurant while I was on a date did a number on me after the way he acted. Even for him, it was weird, and honestly, I’m a bit confused by his behavior lately. Rather than dwell on it, I decided to come in and get to baking. It always distracts me from my thoughts; well, that, a book, and an excellent murder podcast. I’m a simple girl, really.
“Yeah?” Evelyn answers, and I practically choke to death when she finally turns in my direction.
I shake my head, a smile tipping my lips. My best friend is nuts, and I love every second I get to spend with her and the girls.
“You’re not wearing that.” I point the rest of my muffin at her.
Our customers would flip out.
“What?” Evelyn asks with an innocence that she does not possess. She looks down, acting like she’s confused. “My apron? What’s wrong with it?”
I cackle again as I take it all in, but then she about makes me wet my pants when she starts posing and says in the creepiest voice I’ve ever heard as she pretends to put on lipstick. “Would you fuck me? I’d fuck me. I’d fuck me so hard.”
This girl is insane! And one of the best people on this Earth. I feel bad that I haven’t been forthright with her, Glory, or Christina, but I’ll tell them soon.
“Stop it. That’s so creepy. You’re a freak.”
“You don’t like this apron?” Evelyn asks as she waves her hand over the hairy male torso covering the front of the apron. “Yeah, this may be too much, huh?”
“Just a little,” I replied, holding my thumb and my forefinger barely apart, but our laughter was cut short by a knock on the door.
We both freeze momentarily and look at each other.
“Somebody must really need some coffee.”
Evelyn heads to the front door, and from my vantage point, I can see it is Atticus. Those two look cute together. The thought makes me smile, finish my muffin, wash my hands, and grab a cooling yellow cake. This order is a simple yellow cake with buttercream icing. I agree that sometimes the simplest things are the best—nothing like the messy, complicated situation that is currently my life. I knew better than to keep carrying on with Maddox, and I did it anyway.
The vagina wants what the vagina wants or something like that, right?
I decide to head up front and offer to make some breakfast for Evelyn and Atticus. It’s still early and a while before we open. I suspect after Atticus turned my friend into a patch-wearing pirate, they could use some food and time alone. Except when I reach the front, I freeze.
Maddox stands before me, looking like the rock god that he is. We aren’t even open. The birds aren’t even awake yet, and my guess is that he was out all night doing things that mega-huge rock stars do. I don’t even want to think about that.
“Jen, Maddox wanted to—”
Before Evelyn can get the sentence out, I raise my eyebrows at her and mouth no, trying to convey everything I haven’t told her yet. I should have told her he is the last person I want to see right now.
“Talk to you?” Evelyn is speaking, but I can see her brain processing everything. Every moment that Maddox and I both just seem to vanish must play in her mind as the realization that I have been making this rock star my booty call sinks in. Does anyone even say booty call anymore? I storm my way toward Maddox as I awkwardly smile at Evelyn, push by her, snatch Maddox by the hand, and lead him toward the front door.
“We need to talk,” Maddox exclaims as we exit the door.
I wince at his tone while I lead him off to where there are no windows for anyone, namely Evelyn, to see this conversation take place. I wouldn’t doubt if that woman couldn’t read lips. She does have several hidden talents.
I turn to face him once I pass the windows.
“You don’t think Evelyn will wonder why you’re coming to the bakery this early asking to see me, and then we leave? This isn’t obvious at all, and it reeks of a booty call.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I lean my back against the wall, and maybe I ogle Maddox as he stops and stands an arm’s length in front of me.
“Booty call?” He throws his head back and laughs.
I watch his Adam’s apple bob in the muscled tan column of his throat. Everything this man does is sexy, from his smile to his dimples and perfect inky-dark hair. Those unusually colored green eyes remind me of moss in a hidden forest. Fuck, I could get lost in them for days, but I digress. None of that matters if the man doesn’t want anything more than sex with me. It was nice; fuck, it was great for a time, but I want more. I want a partner. Someone who will be there to go through the highs and lows of life with me. Maddox isn’t built for that. He’s built for sin, and I have been a sinner with him for too long.
“You’ll think of something to cover this up, I’m sure. Maybe you should tell her the truth.” He mirrors my stance and crosses his arms over his chest before he cocks a brow in defiance.
“What truth? What’s to tell?”
Nothing, as far as I’m concerned; he’s only here because he saw me out with John, and that made him jealous. He didn’t like that he might have to share his plaything.
That’s all he sees me as, anyway. That’s all this has ever been, a hook-up, a friend with benefits, a fuck buddy. That was okay at first, but I want more for myself now. And, well, Maddox doesn’t want to be in the running.
“Tell her you’re mine.”
The words sound perfect, but I know him. I know how he likes to talk like I mean something to him. It’s a game, part of his act. He flirts with every woman; he can’t help himself.Hell, I bet he was flirting with Evelyn in front of Atticus just now. It’s who the man is.
“I’ll get right on that.” I roll my eyes, and Maddox scoffs before closing the distance between us. I could reach out and touch him. Run my fingers over the lines of the tattoo on his neck.
Or my tongue.
Chemistry has never been our problem.
“How was your date with John ?” He says John’s name like it leaves a bad taste in his mouth.
“Good, actually.” It really was. We had a good time and talked about many different subjects. The conversation was easy; we had a lot in common.
“Did you fuck him?”
“That’s none of your business.”Of course, I didn’t and would be honest about that under normal circumstances. But I can’t tell this man I haven’t been with anyone since we met. It sounds almost as pathetic as it is.
Maddox laughs sarcastically. “You are my business, Jen. I’m not sure why that’s so hard for you to understand. If it involves you, I’m fucking involved.”
“Oh my God, is that Maddox Case?”
I whip my head to the right as a gaggle of young women comes barreling down the sidewalk and aimed toward us.
“It is him!”
The high-pitched shrill nearly splits my eardrum, but then phones come out, and flashes blast us as I raise my hand, shielding my eyes. Their chatter grows louder as they begin to surround Maddox. They are relentlessly chatting him up, snapping selfies with him, and touching him all over.
I’m in shock, but not Madd; he handles it like the seasoned pro he is. He takes a few steps back from me, his green eyes locked on mine. Those damn dimples of his are on display as he smiles for his fans, but that look he’s giving me says if we hadn’t been interrupted, he would have fucked me right here on the sidewalk. And God, does that sound ever so good. But I take the opportunity to head back into the bakery.
The days of my being readily available for the unavailable are over. No matter how fine his tattooed ass is.