Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chloe
God, I’m starving! Is it just me or does sex make you hungry? My stomach gives me away when it growls loud enough for everyone to hear. How embarrassing! I’m so glad that Dr. and Mrs. Reece are getting a table. Of course, it would be loud enough for a certain someone to hear and he loves to tease the hell out of me.
“So, did you work up an appetite…getting ready,” Connor asks with a dirty grin.
And there he goes, I knew he was going to bring it up. It’s amazing that after 5 short weeks, I know him so well.
Giving him a dirty look, I say, “NO! I’m just hungry; I haven’t eaten in a while.”
He doesn’t say anything more and I think he’s going to leave it alone. Ha, was I wrong! He looks over at me with a smirk and says, “You know J’s shower backs up to mine, right? I can see why you’re so hungry; sex will do that to you.”
My face burns; I am so mortified! Well, at least I know the answer to my question.
I look over at Jayson for help and he just has a smug grin on his face. Men! Or in this case, Boys! Since that is what they are acting like!
I slap Jayson on the shoulder and say, “You are supposed to be defending me right now, and not looking like you won the sexual Olympics!!”
By this time, we are all laughing. Still? it is embarrassing that he heard me in the shower.
It occurs to me that Madison is really quiet tonight. We had a great day at the salon, but she hasn’t said much to me since we got back to the Reese’s house. I feel somewhat guilty that I’m neglecting her for Jayson.
Looking over at her while we wait to be seated, I see she has her head down with Connor’s arm around her. It worries me a little; I hope they aren’t having problems. Watching him hold her, it looks like everything is ok. Maybe she is just having an off night. I’m so used to my bestie being the center of everything; it still makes me worry. I make a mental note to talk to her when we get back from the restaurant tonight.
Waiting in the front area of Del Frisco’s, the restaurant, the Reece’s decided to go to; all I can think of is the smells coming out of the building are enough to make me want to run in their kitchen and grab something to eat. As we wait near the entrance for our table, Madison suddenly runs outside to a grassy section and gets sick. Connor is right behind her, trying to help her keep her hair out of it. When I make it to her, she is kneeling in the grass, and looking very pale. I have some wet wipes in my purse so I get them out and wipe her face and neck while Jayson runs back inside for some water.
I hear Connor whispering to her, but it isn’t loud enough for me to know what he is saying. It isn’t my place to know anyway, but I can’t deny I’m worried about my best friend. Connor carries her back to his truck and holds her in his lap. Once Jayson gets back outside with the water, he tells Connor to give him the keys so he can turn it on to get the air going. Madison is sipping the water, but mostly has her face buried in Connor’s neck. I hear him say in a low voice that “they are going to get through this.” Now I’m really worried. I was thinking she had a stomach bug, but he is acting like it is something more serious.
Once she is all cleaned up and yes, I do carry mouthwash and other essentials in my bag since I’m probably mildly OCD. She starts to look more like herself, but I haven’t been able to get near her because Connor is acting like a bear protecting its young.
Finally, I get close enough and whisper, “Maddie, what is going on? Are you sick? You’re scaring me! What do you and Connor have to get through?”
The questions pour out of my mouth without giving her time to answer. She squeezes my hand and says, “Chloe, I’m fine, ok? We can talk later. Let’s get inside of the restaurant before their parents come out here.”
I nod my head, but say, “Fine, but we are talking tonight; I have a feeling something is up and I want to know what it is.”
She smiles weakly at me and we walk towards the restaurant doors. Little did I know, there was something a lot bigger than Madison getting sick waiting for me; something so big it had the capacity to change my life forever.