Maddox
Playing with my phone, going through the texts I haven’t been able to delete, scanning the pictures he sent looking for details that can tell me if he lied to me the other day.
‘Fuck, he’s a pain in the ass. But he’s MY pain in the ass, damnit,’ I think, shifting in my seat. I can still feel him and damn if I hadn’t missed that burn.
The bell on the door brings me back to the present, turning the screen on my phone off, I glance towards the door.
The sight I’m met with has my mouth going dry.
Suddenly I can’t think, let alone speak.
There he stands, in running shorts and a tank top, wet in all the right places.
He uses the bottom of his shirt to wipe the sweat off his face as he pops out one of his earbuds.
Biting my knuckle to keep from groaning as my eyes feast on the six-pack I didn’t get to take in yesterday is suddenly tempting me to round this counter and ride him into the floor. ‘Fuck me…snap out of it, get him outta here,’ I think as my mind goes back online.
“The fuck you doin’ here?” I growl.
At the sound of my voice, Kai’s snapping his head towards me. The surprised look on his face has me relaxing as he stutters out a response, “I-I didn’t know you would be here, I just needed a bottle of water,” he says, heading to the coolers at the back and grabbing the closest bottle of water.
He walks back up to the counter, a little swagger in his step, setting the bottle down, “Like what you see, Mikhailov?” he asks with a smirk as he leans against the counter.
I roll my eyes at him, looking around making sure we are alone.
“Fuck you, take your water and go..” I snap out, my eyes trained on the chest I want to fall against as his strong arms hold me tight against that chiseled body.
18 months is a long time to go without touch, and yesterday was such a goddamn tease.
He chuckles and throws money on the counter, he tosses out a “See ya,” and pops the earbud back in as he walks out the door, never glancing back.
I see him pause outside the door, my eyes lock on his throat, tracking sweat droplets racing across his Adam’s apple, wondering how that skin tastes as he chugs the cool water.
He catches me staring through the window as he turns to throw the empty bottle in the trash, flipping me off as he turns his back on me and walks away.
I’m pulled from watching him walk away by my phone chiming with a notification.
I check it, and find a voicemail from the clinic.
‘When the fuck did they call?’ I think as I check the message.
Listening closely I let my eyes drift back towards where I last saw Kai.
The voicemail was the results from the fast labs, all negative.
It wasn’t all the results, but the main ones are clean, I still have a few more coming in the next few days, but I’m sure they will be clear too.
‘So either he was telling the truth or he used protection,’ I think, feeling a cautious flood of hope flow through me, tangled with the feeling of being unsure of who to believe about the whole manwhore situation.
∞∞∞
The rest of the night goes by slowly, my mind jumping back and forth between thoughts of Kai, and beating myself up for letting my thoughts go there.
It’s otherwise uneventful till Mack strolls in at 11:45.
As much as I want to snap out a “you’re late”, I bite my tongue.
Since I’ve been home, things have been pretty calm and I don’t want that to change.
“Don’t get too comfy in that shift, boy.
” He snarls, walking towards me, “I’ll have ya doin’ these bullshit ones as soon as I can,” Mack says, crowding me as he sets his shit down.
I go to move past him, he grabs my arm and squeezes, getting in my face and glaring, waiting for me to say something.
His fist balls up at his side and he squeezes harder.
Biting back a whimper, and fighting not to flinch, I look up at him, meeting the hate in his eyes. “Get your ass home and make sure Mel’s still there,” he grunts, shoving me towards the door.
I stumble, but manage to keep upright, turning to walk backwards to keep him in my sights so he can’t attack me from behind. Nodding as I rub the spot where he held me in a vice-like grip. “Yes, Sir,” I spit between gritted teeth.
Backing out of the door, I turn and speed-walk away, only slowing when I’ve rounded the corner.
My arm is throbbing the whole way home. ‘I thought I was stronger with all that lifting in juvie, but I guess it doesn’t matter when he’s coked out and so much bigger than me,’ I think as I reach my front porch.
Walking through the house, I check that Mel’s home like the bastard told me too. Seeing her asleep in her bed, I head to shower. Afterwards, I flop back on my bed, wanting to be anywhere but here.
‘Too bad I can’t just show up at Kai’s. Probably wouldn’t be smart since I was told to come straight home and he probably has a tail on me,’ I think, falling into a fitful sleep. I dream of sweaty six packs and muscle-toned arms.
~~~~
I sleep till noon the next day. Padding into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I look up and find Niky sitting at the table. I roll my eyes and say nothing, it’s too early to deal with Mack’s mini-me.
‘Just get coffee and leave the room. Ignore him, Maddox,’ I think as I pour a cup and turn to leave the kitchen. I’m almost home free when his words freeze me in my tracks..
“How long d’ya think you can keep ‘im off Mack’s radar?” Niky asks between bites of the vomit-looking concoction in front of him.
Concern runs through me as I turn to face him, “The fuck are you talkin’ about?” I snap, shaking inside. As he continues talking I inhale slowly, trying to calm myself.
Niky snorts, “You know who. And I know who, too. So, you’re gonna help me out when I need it. Cover my shifts when I say, OR, I’ll let Mack in on your little secret,” he spews as a creepy smile covers his face.
I look at him over the rim of my cup as I take a drink of my coffee, my eyes taking in his demeanor, weighing how much he actually knows or if he’s just taking a stab in the dark and hoping he lands something.
He’s not flinching away from my assessing stare, but Mikhailov’s are good at bluffing.
‘Two can play this game, fucker,’ I think, deciding to call his bluff.
“Good thing there’s nothin’ to tell, fucknut. But you keep thinkin’ that.” I say, casual, not letting the facade slip for even a moment. I turn and leave the kitchen, keeping the swagger in my walk, until I reach my room. I just get my door closed when my legs give out.
As I lean against the door, my breath stuttering out as I keep replaying the conversation. ‘Does he really know or does he only think he knows? Fuck me! I really need a way out,’ I think, finally getting my breathing under control.
Shaking the thoughts away, I get dressed and head out.
I take the long way around and walk past the school.
I stop when I see Mel, the redheaded chick, and Kai sitting at one of the tables outside.
The girls are sitting on either side of Kai’s legs where he’s spread out, sitting on top of the table, his long legs bent at the knee, his elbows resting on them.
They’re laughing and look so carefree. I’m mesmerized by the sight, so I glance around, making sure I can’t be seen, as I settle in to enjoy the view for a moment.
‘He looks so happy. I can’t take that from him.
So free. So relaxed,’ I think. Then I see the asswipe from yesterday walking up to him, and I want to leave, ‘I don’t wanna see this.
’ I can’t move, it’s like my limbs won’t obey me screaming at them to move.
I’m frozen to the spot as I watch whatever is about to play out in front of me.
Fuckhead walks up, says something to him and Kai shakes his head before turning back to the girls, ignoring his presence.
The guy didn’t take the dismissal and approaches again.
This time Kai ignores him, but the other redhead gets up from the table and steps between them.
She’s in his face, pushing him backwards and saying something.
‘I really wish I could hear what the fuck she’s sayin’. ’
Whatever she says must get through because he finally takes the hint and walks away, his shoulders dropped.
‘I really need to learn her name. It’d be easier to send her a gift basket or some shit like that.
’ A bell rings in the distance, and I watch as they gather their things.
As they disappear into the building I remember that I had somewhere to be.
Turning away from the place that holds the person I’m itching to see again I continue in the direction I was headed.
As I made my way to the Palace for my shift, my mind replayed everything I had seen at the school. It made me wonder about what Kai had said the other day. ‘Did he push him away because I’m home or because he really wasn’t doin’ anythin’ with anyone? Maybe both?’ I think as I reach the Pump Palace.
Ollie was behind the counter when I walked in, “Yo,” he says, greeting me as he gathers his stuff. “Not too busy of a day. Just a heads up, someone may be stoppin’ by today,” he tells me as, moving from behind the counter.
“Someone? Stoppin’ by? Whatcha mean by that?
It’s a store, people stop by all the time,” I ask, rollin’ my eyes, as I move to grab a pop.
I stare him down as I crack it open. Seeing the look on his face, I catch his meaning.
“I don’t need a sitter, I was told to be here.
I’m fuckin’ here,” I snap, irritation flaring.
Ollie looks at me and cocks his head before speaking again, “Calm down there killer, from the seem'-yá. They pop in to check on Dad. It’s not always about you, ya know,” he says, rolling his eyes, stepping around me as I head behind the counter.