Chapter 7
Delaney
The following morning, Draven dropped me home with promises to call. I was both relieved and disappointed to find Maddox long gone.
It took a few days, but I’ve let go of the dirty images seeing and feeling Maddox produced, at least in the light of day. At night…all bets are off.
I’m still avoiding Micah, although my phone carrier should be giving me kickbacks for the sheer number of texts that he’s sent.
Luckily, we don’t have any classes together, but football season is over and with more time on his hands, I know I can’t outrun him forever.
I haven’t heard from Mom, which means she’s respecting my wish to back off.
After my last class, I’m sure that won’t last though because I failed an important test and now if I want to graduate, I have to do extra credit.
I’m not ashamed to say that tears prick my eyes at the thought. I’m running on empty and adding to my plate feels particularly cruel.
So, when my phone buzzes in my pocket, I’m grateful to turn my thoughts, although I’m expecting it to be Micah, which is why I skid to a stop when I find a voicemail from Mom.
Hey sweetie, I was hoping we could talk. I guess maybe you’re busy. I, um, miss you, little bird. Can you call me? Here’s the number. Um…555-0124. Call me, okay?
Little bird.
I asked my mom once why she called me that and her lips curved into a soft smile, before she said, “Because you were my hope when I had none. Your existence breathed life into me like a beautiful song and it’s what kept me going after the worst moment of my life.”
Swallowing past the lump in my throat, my fingers hover over the keys before eventually I tuck the phone away and continue my trek.
My soul burns because I know she’s hurting but what can I possibly say?
I hurt too. I lost someone too and spending all my time worrying about her hasn’t made a damn difference.
Still, I miss them. I had a good life. Peter has always treated me as his own and this is why it’s so hard to reconcile how much the people that I love have changed.
Either way, as the days pass everything gets harder to deal with, especially when I dig into my hard-earned stash of money and grab a box of tampons off the shelf.
I’ve never had to worry about paying for shit like this before but my dad sure as shit doesn’t care if I bleed through my panties.
Since I know I’m going to be cranky and bloated for the next few days, I stop at the candy aisle and peruse the options. I shouldn’t be wasting my money on this, but I deserve a little slice of happiness amongst cramps, don’t I?
Engrossed in the candy selection and checking the prices for sales, I pause with my fingers hovering over the chocolate covered peanuts when a large dark shadow forms over my shoulder.
Kill me now. It’s Maddox and his lips curl into a smirk as he says, “Hey there, princess.”
I guess I’m struck dumb because I don’t move until he taps my chin and I snap my mouth closed before mumbling, “Um, hey.”
While I fumble with the basket in my hands, praying to every deity in existence that he doesn’t look inside because the jumbo box of feminine products alongside a slew of chocolate bars is hard to hide, he says, “You, okay?”
Blink. Blink again. Nod.
As much as I enjoy just looking at the freak of godly nature, he really needs to move on—like now.
My pleas go unanswered though because he advances as I back away until I hit the candy behind me and one of the bars slips from the slot, ricochets off the other bins, and drops conveniently into the basket that I’m holding close to my side.
Of course, I must be damned because his eyes follow that fucking candy bar down to the basket. I’m still hoping he’ll give it a cursory glance when his brows rise, and he reaches past me.
Our gazes lock and I hold my breath when his arm brushes my shoulder, and he plucks a candy bar off the shelf.
Fighting back a shiver, I follow his eyes while he examines the bar before dropping the caramel chocolate goodness in my basket.
“Hm,” he says, and the low rumble sends heat cascading along my skin. Turning so that his lips brush my ear, he leans in and says, “You should have that, too. For the cramps.”
Speechless, I can only stare as he presses a finger against my jaw and pushes it closed.
After that, he winks and walks away.
I’d be lying if I said I didn’t check out his ass in his jeans but when he pauses at the end of the aisle and I look up, my mortification is complete because he chuckles and shakes his head.
Once he’s gone, I lean my forehead against the display and mumble, “Why god. Fucking why?”
Later that evening, I’m at the diner. My feet ache in my sensible black tennis shoes. My back twinges every time I walk, and a dull pain has flared in the back of my skull.
Notwithstanding the cramps that rolled through an hour ago, I’ve been obsessing over my encounter with Maddox.
He’s so freaking hot that he scrambles my brain but at the same time despite his obvious teasing, he was surprisingly open about period stuff.
Maybe that’s because he has a sister, but Micah does too, and he acts like I have the fucking plague whenever I’m on the rag.
The first half of my shift is busy, and I’m so focused on my duties I don't have time to complain about my aching feet.
By nine o’clock though, it’s cleared up and I work from booth to booth, cleaning up the tables of dirty dishes left behind.
When the distinct roar of a motorcycle rumbles through the windows I look up.
Following the sound, I glance outside as none other than Maddox and another man dismount their bikes in the lot.
His black hair glints under the streetlamp and I follow the line of his jaw to his wicked lips before dropping my eyes to his chest.
Micah is built. He has to be to play ball, but his husky frame cannot compare to Maddox, who’s lean build and sleek muscles brutally stretch the material of his shirt.
While I practically drool, Darcy, my coworker and the woman who trained me, stops at my shoulder and says, “Thank fuck. It’s time to have a little fun.”
Fun? I have no idea what she means and I’m trying to calm my raging nerves as the two approach and I back away hastily.
Spinning to the counter, I eye it in a daze while the bell dings behind me and I rasp over my shoulder, “Take a seat. Be right there.”
From the corner of my eyes, I watch them sit in a booth in my section.
Despite the flutter in my belly, I remember his harsh words when Maddox found me at their compound. I mean, the fuck hot kiss after was amazing but I can’t let myself forget that he thinks I don’t belong in his world.
It would be foolish to fall into his teasing when I know that at the end of the day, it’s just that. It can never be more.
Not only that, but I have to face off against him and try to act cool after our exchange in the candy aisle, something I clearly struggle with around this guy.
Ugh.
After grabbing two menus, I place them on the table, glancing up when Maddox’s friend says, “Coffee.”
This one is older but hot damn, I think my synapses fry when I meet his beautiful caramel eyes.
He belongs on the cover of a magazine for rugged manly outdoor shit or something.
“Same,” Maddox says.
“O-Okay,” I stutter, moving my gaze away from the man’s lush lips, only to stare at the column of his throat. Shit, even his throat is sexy.
Mustering a smile, I look away, my cheeks heating. His long fingers tap the table as I back away and Maddox growls, “Romeo.”
Romeo turns away with a grin and I can breathe once again. He’s too freaking perfect to look at but strangely it’s Maddox’s brooding facade that creates a flock of butterflies whooping it up in my stomach.
The name definitely fits the man though because Romeo must break hearts everywhere he goes.
Once I’m behind the counter, I glance back surreptitiously, noting their heads bowed together as they speak.
They’re the last two patrons and we’ve got about an hour to go before I can close out.
When Darcy emerges from the back, I pause by her side, watching while she fluffs her hair. What is she doing?
Before I can comment, she swipes the steaming hot coffee from my hands, unapologetic when some splashes onto my fingers before marching to my table.
What? Really?
“Boys,” she says with a breathy laugh, and I drop my gaze when Maddox looks up.
Instead, I study the blue and pink swirls in the counter as she says, “Anything else?”
Into the silence, I grudgingly glance his way, to find Maddox studying me with a rather peculiar expression.
His companion pulls the coffee forward and sniffs from the lip while Maddox watches me before he finally looks away with a small smirk.
Ugh.
Darcy can have them, I decide, grabbing the rag under the counter and scrubbing at a stubborn stain.
I may be avoiding the man but that doesn’t mean I’m not waiting to see how this is going to go down with Darcy…color me curious.
Romeo says something that I can’t hear, and Darcy returns with a bemused smile. Stopping beside me, she leans into my shoulder and says, “I’d like to be sandwiched between those two.”
My mouth sours at her statement and I shake my head, fighting off visions of Maddox touching her skin. That morphs to images of him touching me and I stifle a groan as I move toward the salt and pepper shakers.
Get a grip, Delaney.
Maddox is a man, not a boy. He doesn’t snivel over his allowance and complain about homework.
Other than the allowance I no longer have, that picture is me which translates to—he’s out of my league.
While Darcy disappears into the back, I continue my close out prep, achingly aware once more of Maddox’s dark eyes on me.
After a few minutes, Darcy comes through the swinging doors, carrying two pieces of pie and I glower when she sets them down before the two guys.
I can’t see Romeo’s expression, but my throat burns when Maddox raises a brow and aims that sexy smirk in her direction.
She touches her neck, which emphasizes her large breasts and leans over, giving him a healthy view of her cleavage.