Chapter Twenty-Five
Maddie
The following days are spent hiding from four handsome guys, acting like a sad little ninja anytime I hear their door open or close, ducking behind the couch as though I’ve unlocked the door for them to waltz right on in.
I haven’t.
It’s remained locked anytime I’ve been home, and I’ve never felt the absence of four people more than I have over the past few days.
I’ve forced myself to wake early enough that the birds are barely chirping, catching more hours of sleep in my office before the working day starts, and I’ve been coming home late enough that there’s no way any of them would still be awake.
I’ve barely replied to the group chat, the sinking feeling in my stomach anytime I see one of their names flash up on my phone screen steering me away from typing out any messages that could require further communication, and I’ve given instructions to Freya to turn any visitors away at Static.
I have gone above and beyond to avoid my four neighbors, and I’m exhausted by every minute of it.
The time spent on my phone has been minimal, and the hours I’ve spent at home have been short and sweet, but what time I have spent here has not only been tiring, but utterly brain-numbing and pitiful.
Despite the loneliness, I’ve strong-willed my sad self into keeping my own company, wallowing and feeling pathetically sorry for myself.
I haven’t seen the guys, I haven’t seen my besties, and I haven’t seen my parents.
Socialization has been narrowed down to my work colleagues and assistants, all of whom have been a little cautious around me after I had a staring match with the coffee machine that I won.
Apparently, three different people tried to talk me away from it, but I was in deep with my competition with the machine as my mind ran over every encounter I’ve had with the guys, only ever seeing them taking care of me and being sweet.
I mean, it’s really no wonder I misunderstood Caiden’s little declaration, but it doesn’t suck any less.
And it certainly doesn’t make me feel any less stupid for it.
For that, I have become a recluse. Not even the polar bears and penguins have kept me company, and I would have welcomed them with an icy vagina and a handful of spicy lube if it meant I didn’t eat dinner alone again.
Sadly, I simply haven’t been able to bring myself to face the four men who have occupied my mind since the moment they walked in on me folded in a tub covered in lube, strawberries, and noodles.
Unfortunately, the weekend has crept up on me, Friday going by in a flash of photography and a whole lot of work I’ve stuffed into my schedule to keep myself busy.
Who knew having crushes on four dudes who don’t like me back would make me this pathetic?
I’ve learned new things about myself over the past few days, and I don’t like any of them.
I don’t like that, in the two months I’ve spent with my neighbors, I’ve grown so attached that I can’t spend time in my own apartment alone without feeling sad anymore.
I don’t like that I miss them all. I miss their company and constant chatter, our chill nights in front of the TV, eating dinner with them all.
My apartment is severely lacking in laughter, cozy vibes, and a comfort I’ve grown so used to that I feel as though I’m missing a limb or four now that I’ve iced them out.
Sighing heavily, I continue to scroll through social media, rotting away on my cell instead of going through the emails and messages I’m yet to check.
The idea of seeing anything more from Toby has me reluctant to even think of the word email, even though I know I’ll need to check them at some point.
Instead, I like several of the girls’ posts as I’ve continued doing despite the radio silence, clock-watch as the hours tick by after the working day is done, and guzzle down chips from a share bag that I will empty all on my lonesome by the end of my doomscrolling session.
A session that has lasted three hours already, several knocks on the door going ignored, and the headache behind my eyes growing by the finger scroll.
Another knock tugs at my attention, so I lower my cell and rub at my eyelid, careful not to smudge my eyeliner, and call out, “Yeah?”
I startle a little, because my voice sounds hoarse and not at all like me, and it’s only then that I realize just how silent this particular radio has been. Have I even spoken in the last two days?
I’m thinking hard about it when Zeke opens the door and peers inside the office, concerned eyes landing on me.
He frowns and nudges the door open a little wider, and I face him but don’t really look at him, genuinely thinking back to the last word I even spoke and completely drawing a blank. What the hell?
“Are you good, boss? You’ve been kind of out of it lately. Everything okay?” Zeke asks gently, almost sweetly, and I realize right then and there that I absolutely need to get my shit together if Zeke, my blunt and sassy assistant, is trying to be sweet.
Pursing my lips, I nod. “All good here.”
“Are you sure?” he questions, finally stepping into my office and shutting the door behind himself.
“Because I had to drag you away from the coffee machine earlier because you were staring at it like it said it loved you and then ghosted you for twenty years. Before that, you were standing at the reception desk and Freya had a full-on conversation all by herself. She only noticed you weren’t listening and were staring off into the distance when she asked you what you were doing for lunch and you answered, and I quote, ‘I’m a dumbass.
’ You’ve been doing stuff like that a lot lately, your mood seems like it’s in the pits of hell, and you’re barely eating.
Your only source of nutrition has been chips and dip for three lunches and two dinners now, boss. What gives?”
I look down at the half-eaten bag of chips and cringe, because he’s right.
It’s like I’m going through a heartbreak without the relationship.
Chips have become my best friend, coffee has become the nectar that is keeping me walking upright, and I’m pretty sure my best friends are in the early stages of a kidnapping plot I would consider completely warranted.
“Everything is fine, I swear,” I assure Zeke, offering my best smile that feels as forced as it probably looks. “Just a weird headspace at the moment. I’ll be fine.”
He eyes me for a long moment before finally nodding with a soft sigh. “Okay, I won’t push it. But if you ever need someone to talk to, you know you can talk to me, right?”
My smile turns genuine, my appreciation for him growing every day I spend with him. “I know. Thanks, Zeke. Are you heading out now?”
“Mhm,” he answers, gesturing with his head to the clock on the wall.
“You should probably do the same. You’ve been working crazy hours this week, so go home and take care of yourself.
Eat something that isn’t triangle-shaped or made of corn.
Fill your stomach with a proper meal, rejuvenate over the weekend, and come back funky fresh and ready to rock and roll, okay? ”
“Sir, yes, sir,” I respond, saluting him dutifully.
Zeke cracks a smile and points menacingly at me. “Home. Now. Before I call that hottie from before to come get you.”
I frown. “Which one?”
“Exactly. There are enough of them these days that I have choices. Now pack your things and get gone already,” he volleys, and I’m laughing when he leaves, the first genuine and lighthearted sound I’ve made since I realized just how much of a handful I am.
Deciding to actually listen to my trusty assistant, I clip the chips closed and shut my laptop, gathering my purse and camera bag. I leave Static feeling a little lighter than before, locking all of the doors and setting the security alarm before climbing into my Jeep and driving home.
During the drive home, I don’t even think about the possibility of running into my neighbors, simply aiming to lock myself away at home, eat something that doesn’t come out of a bag, and have a long bubble bath before sinking my head into the pillows and sleeping off a crappy week.
So it’s no surprise, really, that I freeze in shock the moment I catch sight of Baxter and Rayne standing at the reception desk in the lobby, both looking a little worried and in a deep conversation with Callie.
Suddenly feeling hella awkward, those lingering thoughts still plaguing my mind, I’m not really sure if tonight is the night to face the music and talk to them again.
I mean, they didn’t do anything wrong, and it’s my own issues that are screwing with my head.
At this point, it almost feels like I’m punishing us all by shutting them out, and I do miss them something fierce.
Just as I start to convince myself to pull up my big-girl panties and shake myself out of the funk I’ve dumped myself in, I hear the sliding doors behind me open before a herd of footsteps hurries toward me.
The sound draws Baxter and Rayne’s attention, and they look like they sigh a breath of relief when they turn to face me.
Well, that’s right before both sets of pretty eyes widen with alarm.
Oh, hell.
It’s Callie’s warm smile that indicates who’s hauling ass after me, her hand raised to wave at the shitheads I can hear rushing toward me like expensively dressed zombies, their heels clacking against the floor as the soundtrack to the horror movie my life is about to become.