Chapter 10
Delaney
The next two nights are long while I work the evening shift and juggle my homework.
I’m still reeling over what happened though. I don’t know how to process the chain of events that brought Maddox racing in while Micah devolved into a version of himself that I didn’t recognize.
Peter showing up when he did, created more tension and I’m hoping he didn’t tell Mom. That would be the icing on the fucked-up cake.
She has reached out a couple of times, but I’ve been ignoring her calls.
As for the blowout with Joey, we’ve successfully been ignoring each other but the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife.
While I still wonder what he meant about saving my ass and if his reference to saints was in direct relation to MC, it doesn’t really matter. I just need to keep my head down and get through this because that’s the only option until something better comes along.
I’m wiping down tables after a particularly brutal rush when, lucky me, Peter enters the diner. With a silent groan, I smile stiffly and ask, “You want a table?”
“Uh, no,” he says. “Just a coffee please.”
Hm. We both know he hates coffee. As long as I’ve known him, he buys energy drinks for the shot of caffeine he needs.
I’m not sure why he’s bothering at all except maybe he’s giving me an excuse to talk to him while on shift. Although I appreciate the gesture, I’m not about to bare my soul over the counter with Jack making food in the back.
After pouring a cup of the coffee that he’s not going to drink in a to-go cup because I don’t want to encourage him to stay, I set it on the counter and mumble, “That’s two-fifty.”
While searching my gaze, he pulls out a few crumpled dollar bills and lays them on the counter.
Reaching for them, I pause when he says, “You know I love you, right?”
Why? Why is he here?
This is not…I don’t…ugh.
Snatching up the money, I concentrate on ringing up the sale as I whisper, “Yeah.”
I don’t want to cry here. I don’t want to cry at all.
Dammit.
“Then you know,” he says, “you can tell me anything and we’ll work it out together.”
I don’t know what to say. I know he’s overcome by grief. We all are but he can’t take back what he said and sometimes words are more powerful than actions.
Is he asking me about Mom? Or that day? Or does he assume that I have a secret of my own that sent me running from home?
If it was the former, I can’t help him. He’ll see the truth for himself eventually.
As for the latter, well, I didn’t have any secrets from my parents.
Paralyzed with indecision, I stare over his shoulder until he sighs and says, “Call if you need anything.”
With a rigid nod, I watch him leave before pushing through the doors to the back and leaning against the wall.
I’m so torn.
Deep down, I know that they love me but how can I just ignore the fact that they’re not only lying to me but themselves?
This is bigger than me and although I’m grateful Peter has shown his love, I can’t just ignore the giant elephant in the room.
All this circles my brain as I finish out my shift and gather my belongings.
As soon as I’m out the door, the tears I've been pushing back for hours rush in and for the seven billionth time, I wipe my eyes as I round the mini-mart and stumble to a stop.
The sleek chrome of the motorcycle shines by the light of the streetlamp as I take in the man who I’ve barely met but inspires all kinds of havoc in my system.
His black hair tumbles over his forehead and my fingers itch to touch the silky strands when Maddox looks up from where he’s leaning all sexy like against his bike and his mouth curves into a wicked smirk.
It should be criminal to look that good and pressing my hand against my swirling tummy, I ask, “What are you doing here?”
I suppose it’s a stupid question because it’s the same auto body shop, he disappeared into after the altercation the other day but it’s all I’ve got as he stands and cocks his head.
My skin tingles when his eyes drop down to my shoes and make their way back to my face.
Resisting the urge to smooth my hair or something equally stupid, I still wish that I had taken time to put on makeup or wear something other than my torn up baggy jeans.
When those beautiful dark eyes finally meet mine again, they twinkle as he says, “Well, if it isn’t the pretty little cheerleader.”
Once again, I can’t tell if he’s mocking me, but his smile fades when he looks beyond my shoulder and says, “Where you going?”
“Home.”
His brows furrow and we stand in silence while I summon a brain cell or two.
Who is he really? The guy with the sexy smirk and teasing persona or the man who shoved Micah against a wall like he weighed nothing.
“You seen Joshy again?” he asks.
“Huh? No,” I mutter because it’s a weird question and I don’t want to talk about Josh with Maddox.
I don’t want to talk about Josh at all.
“Hm,” he finally says before holding out his hand. “Ready for a little adventure?”
A what? With me?
Biting my lip to hide my smile, I ask, “Where?”
When he winks, I rock back on my heels. That fucking wink kills me.
“You’ll see,” he rasps, and I shiver, goosebumps dancing across my skin.
This hot as fuck man wants to take me somewhere on his bike. Holy shit. How can I say no?
With a little thrill, I take his hand. His eyes light up as he pulls me in and our chests brush before he says, “Safety first, princess.”
After that, he reaches behind him and produces a helmet. Meanwhile I study his face, all screwed up in concentration while he helps me strap it on.
My pulse thumps when he gives a little tug and points to where I need to set my feet. When I nod, he mounts the bike and takes my hand to help me get on behind him.
I can’t freaking believe it! I’m on the back of a biker’s motorcycle.
“Hold on tight,” he says, tugging on my arms and I smile when my chest brushes his back.
Although it’s the middle of November, he’s warm enough for both of us and I tip my head back to look at the stars as he revs the engine only to squeal when he peels from the lot.
His shoulders shake from his laughter and warmth spreads through my limbs as I shout, “Where are we going?”
Squeezing my hands wrapped around his waist, he moves them a little farther up his chest and says, “You’ll see.”
I feel a little thrill when I flex my fingers and his muscles contract. It’s empowering to know that I can make him feel the way he does me with just a smile.
The drive clears my head and although I’m pleasantly buzzed from the ride, I’m also more relaxed than I’ve been in quite some time.
A few miles outside the downtown area, we pass a small park, and I gaze at the broken down jungle gym, my good mood fading.
Mom used to take me to that park once or twice a year, but she never actually let me leave the vehicle. Instead, I played with whatever toy she suggested I bring along while we sat there for no apparent reason at all.
Sometimes she would read from a book while I watched her fingers dancing across the pages. Other times she was quiet, almost contemplative and I would search for a way to bring her back to me.
Where did she go when she got that lost look on her face?
This was our norm until one day, she did exit long enough to speak to a man who approached the car. My memories are too fragile to remember his face, but I do recall the tension lining her body as she waved her arms in the air.
This is just one of the many things that I never understood about my mother, and I find that more and more I want to know the events that made her who she is today.
When we pull up to an overlook adjacent to the lake, I snap from my thoughts.
Maddox helps me dismount before following. While he fiddles with something in one of the bags attached to his bike, I swing the helmet in my hand.
When curiosity inspires me to look over his shoulder, he taps me on the nose and says, “No peeking.”
Once again, I hide my smile as he sets the helmet on his bike, tucks the blanket he pulled from the bag under his arm and grabs my hand before pulling me down a trail.
Although my heart beats in anticipation, I’m still uneasy out here alone with him in the dark and when I slow, he turns back, his dark eyes glittering as he says, “You okay, princess?”
I search his gaze and the trees surrounding us before whispering, “Where are we going?”
Sensing my unease, he squeezes my fingers and says, “Just a little farther. Okay?”
I don’t want to ruin this, whatever it is, so I nod and suck in a breath when he smiles.
As soon as he turns, I touch my swirling tummy and shake my head. Don’t catch feelings, Delaney.
I’m not stupid enough to believe this can go anywhere but there’s a part of me, I admit, that’s disappointed at the thought.
I expect him to stop once we’re past the tree line, but he keeps going until we’re far enough away that the sound of passing cars is muffled by the thick branches.
When we enter a small clearing, Maddox shakes the blanket out before laying it on the ground.
Surrounded by nothing but trees and sky, it feels like we’re in our own little cocoon and I take his hand with a shy smile when he reaches out to me.
That devastating dimple comes out to play once we’re sitting on the blanket and I hold my breath as he touches a lock of my hair before pushing it gently behind my ear.
My skin hums at the contact and I silently order my pounding heart to calm the fuck down when he leans toward me.
His mouth never touches mine however and when I feel his lips graze my ear, I shiver as he says, “Look up.”
Huh?
Momentarily disoriented, I frown when I spy the twinkle in his eyes, but it fades as he tips my chin, and I find the sky.
Without the light from the city to blight the stars, they shine boldly, and I smile as I say, “Oh.”
Humming under his breath, Maddox wraps his arm around my shoulder, and I silently sigh when he winks and lays back, pulling me gently to follow.