Chapter 15 #3
Maddox pauses to nod back to me, a smile from ear to ear glowing on his face. “Everyone say hi to Miss Gabi.”
The kids do as asked, and I give a small wave with my half-free hand. “Hi everyone. I promise there are more, I just didn’t have enough hands. I’ll put these down and go get the rest.”
Maddox shakes his head. "Do I have any volunteers who will go to Miss Gabi’s car and bring in the rest of the desserts?"
Hands don’t even need to be raised because at his request, six boys and girls jump from the floor and sprint to help. I start to walk over to the table where all the food is displayed, but before I can make it three steps, Maddox is somehow in front of me, taking the box out of my hands.
“I got it,” he says, and for a second, I think he’s about to kiss my cheek, but he steps away. “Thank you again for bringing these.”
“It was the least I could do,” I say as he puts them down. “Plus, now I’m glad I did.”
He doesn’t know the double meaning of my words as he turns back around to face me. “So, my staff is going to get the kids all fed. Do you want a tour? Or are you hungry? I can get you some pizza.”
I shake my head and give myself one more deep breath for courage—even though I half wish it was a shot of tequila. “Actually, can I talk to you for a second in private?”
Concern comes over his face. “Sure. Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” I say confidently, not wanting him to worry as he takes me into an office and shuts the door.
But as I quickly look around, I realize this has to be his office.
Pictures are carefully placed on shelves and the desk—all of him with different students who I’m assuming are LaunchPoint attendees.
There’s of course a Nashville Fury football, a few trophies, but what pulls me in the most are things that have nothing to do with football.
Schematics on the wall of different projects.
Pictures that you can tell kids colored for him.
But what pulls at my heartstrings the most is a huge certificate that looks like it was drawn by elementary students that says “Person of the Year.”
Sigh…
“That speech… it was amazing. All of this? I’ve only seen a little of it, but you should be really proud of what you’re doing here.”
I see him blush at my praise as he goes to stand against his desk, his biceps inadvertently flexing as he balances himself against the edge.
I don’t know how a man can look this sexy while I’m also reminded everywhere I look of how good of a guy he is.
But no matter the how, it’s what I needed to assure myself that what I’m about to do is the absolutely right decision.
“Thank you. It’s always fun seeing the kids’ reaction when they hear it.”
“I can tell.” I shuffle my feet back and forth, realizing I have no idea how to shift this conversation from his charity to what I want to ask him. Are my next words “want to go out tonight as not best friends?”
“Are you okay?” he asks, taking a step away from the desk and cutting the distance between us. “Your eyes only bounce around like that when you’re thinking really hard, and they’re currently going a mile a minute.”
I look up at him, in more awe of him than I was before. “You notice things like that?”
“I notice everything about you Gabrielle.”
He takes two more steps closer, his eyes not letting my gaze go for even a second. He’s so close his cologne is overtaking my senses. He’s close enough that my heart rate is picking up, though I don’t know if it’s from him and the words he said or the question I want to ask.
Who am I kidding? It’s both.
“Everything?”
He slightly nods while simultaneously gently pushing a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “There’s not a single thing about you I don’t memorize.”
And with those few, but ever so meaningful, words, Maddox Gallagher officially breaks down my final wall.
“Do you have plans tonight?”
My questions takes him slightly off guard. “I… I didn’t have any plans. Why?”
Now or never Gabi. Put on the sequin dress.
“I was wondering… because you’re free… and I’m free… that maybe we could do one of those Best Friend Activity ideas… but maybe not… as best friends?”
It’s not as confident as I wanted it to be. If I’d have timed it, there were at least three seconds of pause between every word… but I did it.
But Maddox is silent. I actually want to put my finger under his nose to see if he’s even breathing. I’m about to when his next words are barely above a whisper.
“Are you saying that you want to go on a date with me?”
The cautious hope in his voice is enough to make me melt. And if I wasn’t confident before about this decision, I am one-hundred-percent now.
“I am. I was thinking that maybe we could get dinner. Then maybe—”
Whatever I was going to offer as an option doesn’t get vocalized because before I know it, Maddox has pulled me in, dipped me low, and is kissing me with everything he has in him.
“Maddox!” I say, a giggle escaping me. “What are you doing?”
“Doing what I’ve been dreaming of doing for the past month.”
Maddox’s lips come to mine again, and now that the shock has worn off, I can take in the moment.
I didn’t know how much I truly remembered from our night together, or if over the last month it’s only become some sort of distorted fantasy wrapped in a memory.
But his kiss feels familiar. His hold feels comfortable.
And if I had any doubt if I was making up how my body felt against his, I can tell myself that I wasn’t imagining anything.
“So is that a yes?” I ask as we pull away, our foreheads still touching.
He laughs and leans back in for one more small peck. “Oh, Gabrielle… that’s the easiest yes I’ve said in my entire life.”