5. Madeline
Madeline
Walking around the bend down to the creek. As expected, Rome was standing at the bank, staring at the water.
“It’s rather cold this morning.” I reached for the tree, my platform boots slipping. Holding in any comment about sliding to my death. Considering the circumstances, after all.
He looked over his shoulder. Clear annoyance in his eyes. Well, he would have to get over it. Only my own death would stop me from pestering him on her anniversary.
Watching the muscle in his jaw tighten, pretending to ignore me as I slipped again. Oh. Fuck it. I picked the wrong boots.
“Maddy, I’m fine.”
Staring at his broad back. I could think of many ways to describe him. Fine wouldn’t be one of them.
Standing at the tree, holding on for dear life to a branch. While glaring at the mud, which was threatening to ruin my light teal dress.
“Maddy. I’m fine.” He glanced back at me.
“I know.”
“I’m not going to do anything.”
I nodded.
Frustrated, he turned to look at the river. “Do you have nothing better to do on a Sunday morning? Where is Vince? Shouldn’t you be asleep with him?”
I shrugged, smiling. “Actually, now you mentioned it, I’m rather hungry. Take me out for breakfast?”
He turned to glare at me. “I’m not going to kill myself, Maddy. I’ve accepted it, I’m fine.”
“Of course you’re not going to kill yourself.”
“Isn’t that why you’re here?”
“Oh, gosh no. If I thought you were going to do that, I would drag Vince down here with me every year.”
If he jumped in the river, I could not save him.
His expression dropped slightly. “Then why are you here?”
He didn’t make her get into the car, and he couldn’t have stopped her from losing control. He blamed himself for an accident.
“So you aren’t here by yourself.” Perhaps my actions over the years weren’t as obvious as I hoped. “And you know me. I’m a sucker for an early morning.” I forced a very fake smile.
The corner of his lips twitched up. “Don’t let go of that branch until I’m up there. If you fall, I’ll never hear the end of it.”
“Oh please. I’m not that bad. Sure, I love this dress. But even I understand context.”
Watching him climb up the bank, before standing beside me.
“I was talking about Vince.” Steadying an arm around me, as we walked back to the road.
“That’s fair. He does tend to overreact at times.”
“He is going to take your wedding hard.” Letting go of me as we walked along the concrete road.
“He’ll be okay.”
Rome shoved his hands in his pockets. “It’s going to be weird not having you around all the time.”
Holding my smile back. Moments ago, he was annoyed to see me.
“Can you call the driver down now? Or am I going to have to walk the full compound?”
His lips twitched into a full grin. “Only if you admit you’ll miss us, too.”
“You do realize I’m not dying, right?” Probably the wrong choice of words. “Sorry, bad taste.” Clearing my throat. “And of course I’ll miss you all, but again, I’m still around. Vince and I will still be friends.”
“I never understood why you went along with it, you know.” Rome paused, looking at me. “In his head, he thinks it’s a friendship. But you’ve always known better, right?”
“You’ve heard him. I’m not his type, and he doesn’t see me like that.”
Watching the car pull around the bend, of course, he had already organized a pickup.
“I’m sorry Maddy.”
“For?”
“How fucked up Vince is. Our family. Maybe things could have been different.”
I shrugged. Maybe this was just how it was supposed to be. There was no point on focusing on what can’t be changed.
So much for him behaving last night. “Big night?” I smiled as Vince walked into the kitchen, looking extremely hung over. Even after a shower, he didn’t seem a bit better.
“Come back to bed with me.” he moved my hair to the other side, kissing my neck. He was so needy when he was hungover. “ Please , come back to bed with me.”
“You eat this, and I will,” I slapped his hand away and turned around to face him. “Not out of the pan. I already told you. I’m not going anywhere today.”
“Good,” he cupped my face, “I’ve missed you.”
“I thought I was annoying,” I smiled, as he lifted me up, putting me on the island.
“No, I said that stupid show was annoying.”
“Which I was watching.”
“It takes your attention for hours.”
“Oh, how did you cope without my undivided attention?”
“I didn’t cope,” his fingers moving to the back of my dress. I knew damn well what he was doing.
“Wait,” I kissed his cheek, “I need to—” I stopped mid sentence as I watched him turn the stove off, move the frypan and put the bacon on another plate.
What a surprise, just like normal, within seconds, he was eating it.
“Absolutely not.” I shook my head as he started to cut it up. I was not eating that. “Do you have any idea how many calories is in that? Because I do.” I closed my mouth tightly.
I should have known what he was up to when he got the knife and fork. “Come on Madeline, for me.”
Knowing he wouldn’t drop it until I gave in to him. I opened my mouth. Immediately, his grin got bigger, as I took it.
Within minutes, he was carrying me to his bedroom. He always complained that I got distracted. To be fair, he was right. I normally did.
I took my dress off and climbed into bed beside him. The curtains started to close, and he handed me his phone.
Online shopping.
I sighed, completely contented, as he fell back to sleep, hugging me. While I charged the credit card he had saved under My Loves .