Chapter 11 Maddox
MADDOX
Itake pleasure in the small things in life.
A beautiful woman. These days, ones named Gabi.
A juicy steak served medium rare.
Your music app always playing the right song when set to shuffle.
An opposing quarterback throwing the ball thinking he has his target, only for me to jump in front out of nowhere, picking it off and running it to my end zone.
But more than any of those things, what to me is the simplest and most perfect thing in this life, is a sweet treat.
Specifically a bear claw. But I’m not picky.
And if that treat happens to come from my new favorite bakery that I haven’t tried yet, but am standing outside of, then so be it.
It took all I had to not be her first customer of the day.
I could’ve. I was awake. My body always has a hard time adjusting from the in-season schedule to my offseason one.
During the football season, my days are so regimented—which for me includes when I wake up—that when it’s suddenly over, I usually need a few weeks to adjust.
Today wasn’t a case of me waking up at my normal six in the morning. No, this came from me not being able to sleep a wink last night.
I couldn’t stop thinking about her or our conversation. Even though it was all over text, I swear I could hear her voice. The playfulness in some parts. The vulnerability in others. Her sass and wit. The seriousness when she told me that we couldn’t ever be more than friends.
Which is when my inner voice chimed in trying to come up with a plan to be what she needs, while also holding out hope that one day she’ll change her mind.
I was up two hours earlier than normal—and that was after me talking myself out of going to the bakery and bringing her coffee. However, that meant that my morning routine of working out, eating breakfast, answering emails, and a meeting with my agent, were all done well before noon.
After realizing being there when her doors opened was a bit much, I decided that maybe I’d go around lunch and bring her something to eat. That felt more nonchalant. Except I don’t know what she likes to eat, and I wanted it to be a surprise, so I retreated from that thought.
I was scrambling. I cleaned my condo to keep busy, hoping that the movement would spark an idea. I tried to play a video game, but got bored with that in three seconds.
Then it hit me: I need a hobby. And not just any hobby. Baking.
I mean, it’s perfect. I’ve wanted something to do to keep my hands and mind busy this off season.
What if I learn to bake? And not fumble around on YouTube or study every second of a baking television show, but I get my favorite baker to teach me the ways.
If she happens to fall in love with me during this process? So be it.
I’m a fucking genius.
I look up to the baby blue and white sign that reads “Sugar and Sweets” before looking through the huge front window.
It’s not a big building, but I can tell from the outside it’s the perfect size to have a quaint bakery that seats plenty.
I can see there are a few college students packing up their things to leave, and two elderly women sitting at a table.
It’s not long before Gabi approaches the two women, setting down two plates, before taking a step back.
I don't know what they said to Gabi, but she’s holding her stomach as she laughs.
I’m glad I didn’t go in right away. I needed a second to get my wits about me.
If I hadn’t, there was a very good chance I was going to walk in, see her, forget our conversation last night, and kiss the hell out of her.
Which I know I can't do. I won't do. So I'm going to stand out here for another minute and figure out how the hell I’m going to be friends with a woman I’m fucking crazy about.
“You can do this Gallagher,” I whisper to myself. “Don't come on too strong. Be her friend. Ask her to be your baking teacher. Get a bear claw. That's all you're here to do.”
With those parting words and one more breath I crack my neck for good luck and slowly make my way inside the bakery.
“My oh my, who do we have here?”
“A hot piece of ass, that’s who.”
Excuse me… what did they just say?
I stop in my tracks, barely two steps inside the door, because I’m all sorts of flustered.
This is not how I expected my grand entrance to be.
I try to scramble to figure out what to say, or how to react, to the two older women who are clearly staring at my dick right now, when one word snaps me out of my stupor.
“Maddox?”
My name is barely a whisper on Gabi’s lips. Lips I want to kiss. Lips I still remember tasting like champagne and perfection. But they’re loud enough to bring me back to the present, and really take a look at my girl.
My friend. Shit, yes, my friend.
“Hi, Gabrielle.”
Neither of us move as we take each other in.
I needed those few minutes outside to prepare myself, but I still wasn’t ready to see her.
Her hair is pulled up in a crazy type of pony tail.
She has on barely any makeup and is wearing an adorable blue and white apron that matches the sign out front.
Her smile is small but beautiful, and I hope a little bit it’s because she’s happy to see me.
Just friends. You’re going to be friends. So don’t stare at her chest in the v-neck T-shirt.
“Oh I know what’s going on here,” one of the older women says. “They’ve banged.”
Like glass shattering, those two words snap me out of my daze. “Um… we… ”
“Oh they for sure have,” the other woman says, standing up and walking next to me. “You’re a cute little young thing aren’t you? Good job Gabi. I like ’em younger too.”
What the hell is happening?
“Phyllis, please,” Gabi says, snapping into action and coming to pull me away from the woman apparently named Phyllis. “This is Maddox. He’s my friend.”
“Naked friend,” the other says, outstretching her hand. “I’m Kitty. Nice to meet you Maddox.”
I return the gesture as I try to get my wits back, because these two are throwing me for a loop. “Nice to meet you Kitty. And yes, I’m a friend of Gabi’s.”
“Sure you are,” she says, adding in a wink for good measure. “If you’re her friend, then why have we never seen you here before?”
“We’re here every day,” Phyllis says as she sits back down. “And yet, this is your first time here?”
When I decided to come in to surprise Gabi, I ran through a few different scenarios of how this was going to go. None of them were me facing off against a blue-hair interrogation. But I’m Maddox Gallagher. I go up against some of the best athletes in the world. I can handle these two.
Maybe. Probably. Except Phyllis keeps winking at me and I’m pretty sure Kitty’s hand is on my arm.
“It is,” I say, doing my best to turn on the charm. “Gabi and I recently met. But I’ve heard her baking is top notch.”
“It is,” Phyllis says.
“Well then I need some recommendations. What’s good?”
“She’s a fan of the cinnamon rolls,” Kitty says. “As for me? I’m partial to the bear claws.”
“A woman after my own heart,” I say, adding in my own wink.
If they’re going to flirt with me, then I’m going to flirt and charm them right back.
Especially because I have a feeling that if I can win them over, that’s only going to help my cause.
“They’re my favorite. You didn’t eat them all, did you? ”
“Oh I couldn’t if I tried,” she says. “Wait! You say you two just met?”
I look up to Gabi and her suddenly very red cheeks and unblinking eyes.
“We did. About two weeks ago now?”
“Well isn’t that funny,” Kitty says. “That’s about the time she put bear claws on the menu…”
I look to my “friend,” whose eyes are about to pop out of her head. As for me? I’m smiling ear to ear. “Is that so, Gabrielle?”
“It is,” Phyllis answers for her. “Says she was inspired.”
“You call her Gabrielle? That’s beautiful,” Kitty says.
“Beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” I say to my two new best friends. “Now, how about that bear claw?”
My face is in full smirk mode when Gabi grabs me by my T-shirt.
“We’ll be back. Please don’t burn the place down,” she says, literally dragging me by my shirt through a swinging door and into the kitchen. “What was that!”
“What?” I ask, playing innocent. “I was making friends with your customers. Who seem like a fucking hoot. I think Kitty was trying to feel me up.”
“She probably was,” she says, clearly flustered. “What are you doing here?”
“I wanted a bear claw.”
She puts her hands on her hips, her eyes turning serious. “Maddox…”
“Gabrielle…”
Oh… is this now our thing? A stubborn standoff? It happened in Vegas. And over text. I like it. It’s hot. Especially because I want to kiss the stubborn look off her face.
I can’t. But I want to.
“Maddox, I know you said you wanted to be my friend.”
“I do.”
“But that doesn’t mean you have to come into my bakery.”
“Why wouldn’t I?” I ask. “For one, I’m a big proponent of supporting local businesses.
Also, Linc and Ainsley weren’t lying that I have the biggest sweet tooth on the team.
And I was out running errands today, and I thought a bear claw sounded delicious.
So here I am. Now, where is that almond goodness? ”
I pretend to start looking around after slightly fibbing my reasons for being here, when I feel Gabi’s hand on my arm. “You’re really okay with being friends? This isn’t some sort of ploy to get me to go out with you?”
I shake my head, turning to fully face her.
“Would I be lying if I said I didn’t like you anymore?
Yes. If I said I shut off the feelings immediately, I think everyone would know I was full of shit.
And if you told me right now you changed your mind, I’d be walking out to that dining room, kicking Phyllis and Kitty out on their behinds, and kissing you until you couldn’t breathe. ”
Her cheeks are flushing again at my words, but I ignore the urge to cup her face.
Instead I take a breath of my own, wanting her to know how serious I am.
“I have a feeling that you need a friend. I know Shelby and Hannah don’t live here, and going through what you’re going through, I’m sure it can get a little lonely.
And if I can help you with that, for whatever you need, I’m here to help you.
A shoulder to cry on; someone to vent to; someone to get you drunk because you’ve had it; someone to run errands with because you don’t want to be alone; I’m your guy. I’ll be whatever you want me to be.”
Gabi doesn’t say anything for a second, truly assessing if I’m serious or not.
“And what do you get in return?” she asks. “I’m pretty sure you’re not hurting in the friend department.”
“You’re right, I do have a lot of friends,” I say. “But I had a feeling you’d want to offer me something in return, so I have an idea.”
This makes her eyebrow raise. “And what’s that?”
“I need a hobby.”
“A hobby?”
“Yes. A hobby. The offseason can get boring and mundane. So, I was thinking, maybe I could learn to bake? And that you could teach me.”
By the way her eyes bug out of her head, I don’t think she ever thought that’s what I was going to say. “You want me to teach you how to bake?”
“Exactly,” I say. “Nothing fancy. Cookies, cupcakes. Oh! I’ve always wanted to know how to make a tarte.”
“A tarte?”
“Yes. Specifically apple. I love all things apple.”
Her eyes are rapidly blinking now. “You’re serious aren’t you?”
“About sweet treats? Always. So, when do we start, Teach?”