Chapter 14 – Leo
Splish Splash
Leo
I THINK THIS is the cutest Cupcake I’ve ever seen. Vicious, but cute.
I’ve never had a pet. My parents weren’t big on animals—probably because it would have been one more thing my mom would have had to take care of—and since I’ve been an adult on my own, it’s never really occurred to me to consider getting one.
But I don’t think I’d mind having a crazy little psychopath like Cupcake. I definitely can’t imagine myself with a cookie-cutter golden doodle—even though they are cute—to lead around the neighborhood on a leash. I would want something filled with personality.
And maybe a little piss and vinegar.
After only a few seconds of butt scratches, Cupcake decides she wants as close to me as she can get and begins trying to wiggle her way up onto my bent leg.
Taking a chance—and risking the skin of my palm—I gently scoop her up.
When she doesn’t try to murder me, I tuck her into the crook of one arm and straighten, using my free hand to stroke along the top of her head. “You’re a good girl, aren’t you?”
“What in the heck?”
I look up from Cupcake’s smiling doggy face to find an older woman with graying hair coming into the room. Maddie’s abuela uses a walker, but her steps are quick and sure.
“That dog doesn’t like anyone until she knows them for at least a year.” Maddie’s grandmother heads for where I stand holding her pet. “You must be good with animals.”
“I’ve never had a pet, so maybe she’s just taking pity on me. Knows I would be heartbroken if she hated me for a year.”
It sounds like I’m kidding, but I probably would take it personally. I try to be the kind of guy everyone likes. Easy-going and laid-back. Fun and entertaining.
Except for Drake. I don’t give a fuck if that guy likes me.
But I very much want Abuela to like me, and I’m pretty sure if Cupcake hated me, Abuela would feel a little more cautious about letting me spend time with her beloved granddaughter.
Abuela’s jaw drops open, eyes widening. “You never had a pet?” She scoffs. “How do you live without the constant threat of someone pooping on your floor?”
I laugh way too fucking loud at that. I knew I was gonna like Maddie’s grandmother based on the stories she’s told me, and Abuela is definitely living up to the hype. “I guess I’ve been missing out.”
“Speaking of pooping on the floor.” Abuela focuses on Maddie. “Muneca, could you take Cupcake out to do her business before we have lunch?”
As I came in, I saw that all these condos have fenced-in backyard areas, so I don’t for a second believe Cupcake needs to be chaperoned to do her business.
It’s more likely Abuela wants to get me alone, and I don’t mind.
If anything, I like knowing Maddie has someone genuinely looking out for her best interests.
Someone besides me.
“Umm.” Maddie’s eyes snap from her grandmother to me and then back to her grandmother again. “Sure.” She attempts to take Cupcake from my arm, and the tiny dog bares her teeth, growling for all she’s worth.
“Hey now.” I gently tap her on the end of the nose. “Don’t be sassy to her.” I lean forward to set the tiny dog onto the floor. “If you’re going to give anyone shit, give it to me.”
Cupcake gives Maddie a dirty look as she scoops her up and carries her to the back door, but doesn’t growl again, so I’m going to assume she got my drift. Once Maddie’s out of the house, I turn to Abuela and say, “Better start asking questions. She’ll probably be back soon.”
Abuela lifts her brows. “You’re awfully eager to get the third degree.”
I shrug. “I don’t mind. I get why you’d want to grill me.”
My eyes drift to where Maddie’s now out of my sight, and I get a little antsy. Surely Drake wouldn’t be stupid enough to try to get to her right after court…
“Maddie was raised to be quiet. She wants to be loud, but I don’t know that she has it in her.” Abuela meets my eyes. “So I want to be sure everyone around her will be loud when she struggles to raise her voice.”
“I don’t mind being loud.”
Abuela gives me a sly smile. “I know. I heard.” She winks. “Come help me in the kitchen, guapo.”
I follow Abuela through her small dining room into the attached kitchen. My mouth begins to water at the smells coming from the pots and pans on her stove.
“I’m not sure how useful I’ll be. I don’t know if Maddie told you, but I don’t have a lot of experience with making food taste good.”
I wasn’t surprised when Maddie was shocked at my bare bones seasoning. I know I’m not the world’s greatest cook, but I was only feeding myself. After a hard day of practice or conditioning, I just wanted to get something in my gut as fast as possible.
But I’m ready and willing to learn, and after the Christmas morning breakfast Maddie made, I know her grandmother has a lot to teach me.
Abuela makes a considering noise as she lifts the lid on a pan of simmering chicken. “No grandma to teach you to cook?”
I did have a fantastic grandma. One who was an awesome cook. But as a kid, I wasn’t so interested in spending time in the kitchen when I could be outside burning off my never-ending supply of energy.
Giving Abuela a sheepish grin, I admit, “I didn’t understand the importance of feeding myself until it was too late.”
“Pshh.” She waves a hand my direction. “It’s only too late if you’re dead.” She turns to me, expression serious as hell. “But so you know, if you hurt my granddaughter, it will be too late because I’ll beat you to death with my walker.”
“Understood.” I don’t argue. Don’t make promises she probably won’t believe anyway. The only way I can show this woman how serious I am is by showing up.
And then showing up again. And then doing it some more.
Abuela seems satisfied with my response and goes back to fiddling with her food.
“I wish I could get my hands on that no-good ex-husband of hers.” She wrinkles her nose.
“I knew he was bad from the start, but her parents pushed her to marry him because he made a good living. Maddie only married him because she didn’t know how to tell them to kiss her ass.
” She gives me a pointed look before dropping her eyes to the cutting board and knife in front of me.
Taking the hint, I pick up the knife and start chopping the leafy stuff piled on the board, figuring she’ll stop me if I mess up.
“It’s hard to go against your parents. Even as an adult.” I can’t help but defend Maddie. I know her grandmother isn’t saying Maddie did something wrong, but I don’t like the way it makes her sound.
Like she’s weak. She’s not.
“Seems like you know that from experience.” Abuela eyes me as she lifts the lid on a steaming pot of rice. “You have a hard time going against your parents, guapo?”
“About some things, yes.” I turn as Maddie and Cupcake come inside. I smile as her eyes come right to me. “But other things, not at all.”
“ARE YOU OKAY?” I study Maddie as she walks toward me from where her car is parked in my driveway.
It occurs to me her car is sitting out here for everyone to see.
I know Drake won’t be able to look my house up, but if he’s committed enough to finding her, he might drive around looking for her car.
So I add moving my home gym to one of my empty bedrooms to my to-do list. That’s probably where it should have gone in the first place, but I got lazy and didn’t feel like fighting everything inside.
Turning back to where Maddie stands, I take in her pale skin and pinched expression. “You don’t look like you feel good.”
I know today has been both a good and bad day. Good because Drake was given four weeks in jail for violating the protection order that Maddie has against him, so things should be relatively quiet for the next month. Bad, because she had to go to court and look at his stupid fucking face again.
And she had to do it without me. Thankfully, her new attorney was able to go, and the group of old ladies from Sweet Side Apartments showed up, but I still feel like Maddie doesn’t have enough people supporting her.
And, based on a couple things her abuela said today, I don’t think I’m the only one who feels that way.
“I’m fine.” Maddie winces a little. “It’s just cramps.”
I wasn’t expecting her to be having a physical issue—I was expecting something of a more mental nature. But that’s not the part of her admission that surprises me the most. “Just cramps?”
I have a sister. I’ve seen firsthand how fucking awful cramps can be. I remember Alexis crying in misery while my mom laid her on a heating pad and fed her anti-inflammatories. It was horrifying to witness, so I can only imagine how terrible it is to experience.
Maddie shrugs. “They’re only bad for the first couple of days, then they mellow out.”
Leading her into the house, I go straight to the bathroom adjacent to our—my bedroom. “Have you taken anything for them?”
Maddie watches me in confusion as I dig through the medicine cabinet. “No. I didn’t have anything on me. I wasn’t even thinking about it when I left this morning.”
So she’s been suffering all fucking day and didn’t say anything?
I have a career that frequently involves injury, and when I’m sore, you can bet your ass everybody fucking knows. I don’t shut up about it.
I know Maddie isn’t the type to put her pain on other people, and that’s fine. But I’m not other people. I want her to know she can put it on me.
So I can take care of it for her.
Pulling out a bottle of gel tabs, I twist the cap off and tip three into my palm. “Here.” I hold them out, waiting for her to take them before I say, “Stay put. I’m going to get you some water to wash them down.”
Rushing into the kitchen, I grab a chilled bottle from the fridge, cracking it open as I make my way back to where Maddie stands, looking just as perplexed as she did when I left.