A hand brushed her shoulder, and she found herself facing Maddie. She couldn’t speak for fear of losing the last of her composure.
“Adam did tell me that he realized the divorce was a mistake, but I told him I could only ever see him as a friend.” Maddie swallowed and stepped closer. “I told him we could only ever be friends because I’m already in love with someone else.”
The tears that Natalie had valiantly been holding back slipped free in her surprise, her lips parting as she tried to make sense of her lover’s words. “Maddie.”
Maddie’s eyes slid closed as the remaining distance between their bodies became nonexistent, the forgotten keys dropping as she slipped her hands under Natalie’s t-shirt to feel smooth, warm skin.
Natalie had never thought a kiss from Maddie could taste sweeter.
“I love you, Natalie.”
She was coaxed back into another kiss, and then another until all she could think of was that she loved Maddie more than anything.
Someone shouted in the backyard, bringing Natalie back to reality. It was a wonder that Maddie had kissed her in such a public place, but Natalie’s protective instincts were on alert.
“Not here,” she murmured. She straightened and looked around before entering the dim garage, urgently tugging Maddie along by the hand.
They made it as far as one of the work tables, Natalie backing Maddie blindly up to it as they exchanged messy kisses. Natalie’s hands became determined as she unbuttoned and unzipped Maddie’s jeans. Her fingers raked up and down along the bare skin of Maddie’s sides before dipping back down.
Maddie gasped as her jeans and underwear were pulled low around her knees, leaning back to brace herself against the table to maintain her balance. Natalie kissed the side of Maddie’s neck and teasingly ran her fingers along the sensitive inner skin of her thighs—but not too high.
“Natalie. Please.”
Natalie groaned as she slid two fingers through Maddie’s arousal-slickened folds, pausing only briefly before sliding up and into her lover.
Maddie’s hands gripped her shoulders, soft, heavy breaths escaping her with each of Natalie’s thrusts. Natalie found the pulse point at her neck and grazed her teeth over it, smiling when Maddie’s hands rose up to grip her head.
Just as Maddie began to tighten around her fingers, the lights were suddenly on.
“Mom?”
“Maddie?”
The chorus of two voices—one deep and masculine, the other lighter and feminine—made Natalie freeze. She was still inside Maddie, and she could only imagine the wide, horrified gaze being sent over her shoulder.
With a silent apology, she pulled her fingers free and leaned down to find the waistline of Maddie’s drooping jeans. Maddie’s eyes were closed as she swiftly pulled them back up. Natalie’s hands were trembling.
“What the fucking hell, Natalie? With my mom? I thought you were hooking up with Tiva.” Brittney’s voice was dangerously high-pitched, and Natalie could imagine the anger sparking in her eyes. “Mom, how could you?”
Adam hadn’t said anything beyond his initial outburst of surprise.
Maddie was ashen and unmoving. Gathering courage, Natalie turned protectively in front of her, one arm out to the side as she stubbornly raised her chin.
It was clear that Brittney wasn’t sure who she was angrier with, and Adam still seemed to be struggling to process the last few moments.
“Brittney, look,” Natalie began.
“No! You shut the hell up. I don’t even… Mom, say something!” Brittney’s anger seemed barely contained, her fists clenched at her sides.
Maddie remained silent.
A half-second later, Natalie felt Maddie’s face burrow against her shoulder. As anxious as she felt, that simple motion steadied her stomach.
Brittney glared at them both, her lip curling with contempt. “You both disgust me.” Blonde hair swirled as Brittney turned sharply on her heel. She paused only briefly near her father, squeezing his arm and saying something neither Maddie or Natalie could hear.
The garage remained quiet as Adam’s gaze stayed affixed between them both, a gamut of emotions passing over his face. Finally, hurt prevailed.
“Natalie, I hired you to help me with my car, not…” Adam’s words trailed off, his throat working as he lost the ability to speak. His mouth opened as if to say more, but no sound escaped.
When he started to silently cry, Natalie’s mind flashed back to Christmas Eve, and how emotional he’d been. That evening he’d gone on about how much his family meant to him and how much he didn’t want to lose Maddie.
Natalie had never wanted to hurt him. “Adam—”
He shook his head, unable to look her in the eye. He stared at Maddie for what seemed an eternity.
As if sensing his attention, Maddie began to move. Natalie hoped Adam wasn’t close enough to hear the distinct sound of her zipper going up.
Maddie moved hesitantly around Natalie and sent Adam a forlorn look. “I’m sorry you had to find out this way.”
Adam smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges. Tears continued to slip down a face. With a wordless nod, he turned on his heel and left the garage.
Natalie wasn’t sure what to expect once she and Maddie were alone again.
At first, Maddie didn’t move. “I can’t lose you too,” she said just before she wound her arms around Natalie’s torso.
Natalie immediately accepted the hug, securely enveloping Maddie in her arms and wishing she could do more.
Things would be alright as long as they were together.
Right?
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The grocery store was busy when Maddie got off from the clinic. Though she didn’t really feel up to the crowd, options were limited in Sage Falls. She’d already put off going for several days, even while feeling unable to touch the leftovers from Brittney’s party.
She braced a hand on her forehead, wondering why she was feeling so light-headed. She’d had breakfast, hadn’t she? First she’d tried calling Brittney again, and then after…
Hm. Maybe she hadn’t.
With a sigh she pushed into the store. Though she preferred going to the farmer’s market on the weekend for her produce, she’d missed that. About to pull out a cart, she changed her mind and grabbed a basket. Natalie wouldn’t be by for several days and it’s not like anyone else would be coming by.
As she put her first selections into her basket, she checked her phone. There were still no new messages, text or otherwise. How long could Brittney completely ignore her?
A muscle in her cheek spasmed. Maddie put the phone away and began putting random things into the basket, not really wanting to think of silly things like meal plans.
Once or twice, she’d even tried contacting Adam. He’d remained silent, too. She wasn’t even sure what she would say to him. She’d just wanted some way to feel connected to Brittney.
Maddie hadn’t said it out loud, but she was terrified Brittney would never speak to her again. When she’d imagined finally telling Brittney about Natalie—well, she hadn’t really imagined ever doing it. It had been a vague notion, somewhere far down a blurry road.
Someone bumped into her. She didn’t bother looking.
As she dropped an eggplant into her basket, someone bumped into her again.
With a frown, she turned.
“Excuse me, Dr. Garret,” the teenage boy said.
Maddie frowned and tilted her head. There was something about his grin that unsettled her. “It’s fine.”
She went about her shopping, an uncomfortable sense of being watched lingering everywhere she went. Had that same group of teenagers been following her around? She was being paranoid. The store was just small.
With a hurried step, she grabbed a half gallon of milk and headed to the check-out.
She attempted a smile at Gilly, her usual cashier. Gilly didn’t smile back, the deep wrinkles on her face seeming severe without it.
&n
bsp; “Anything else, Dr. Garret?” the older woman flatly inquired.
“No,” Maddie said slowly, “thank you.”
Gilly clicked her tongue and finished ringing her up, sharply handing over the receipt. Maddie collected her bags self-consciously.
It wasn’t until she was walking to her car that she understood what was wrong.
“Hey, Doc.” A slick-haired boy in dark jeans and a black band shirt pushed up from the wall.
Maddie pursed her lips. “Johnny.”
He grinned and looked her over. “I heard your girlfriend isn’t in town. If you get lonely, don’t be afraid to give me a call.”
A sick feeling twisted in her gut. She didn’t bother responding to him, instead hurrying to her car and climbing inside. She shoved her grocery bags onto the passenger seat.
She debated for several moments before dialing. As soon as the call connected, she closed her eyes. “Natalie? Sorry, I just needed to hear your voice.”
*****
Bodies swiftly moved around her; impatient students with far too much on their minds that were more than ready to flee the lecture. She moved at a slower pace, lacking both the energy and willpower to escape as easily as her classmates.
Natalie sighed and readjusted the books in her backpack. It had been two weeks since Brittney’s disastrous birthday party, and things were more difficult than ever. Most of her friends weren’t speaking to her, Tiva being the only exception.
Even Reeve had been hurt by the revelation that she’d been seeing Maddie, but more because she’d kept it secret than anything else. It had been a long time since she’d kept any big secrets from him. Sometimes they still talked. It just felt different.
Her friends were the least of her problems. To say Maddie was having a difficult time would be putting it lightly. In addition to dealing with Adam and Brittney no longer speaking to her, Maddie also had to deal with a wave of gossip in Sage Falls.
Natalie couldn’t do anything about it, and she’d been trying. She’d been driving out to Sage Falls nearly every day, but she still felt Maddie slowly drifting into a depression.
“Natalie!” Professor Baptiste called out.
When had she walked over to this part of campus? The realization that she’d walked several minutes without a memory of the trip was a little frightening. Her lack of sleep over the last several weeks wasn’t helping her sense of awareness.
Professor Baptiste was staring at her, so she forced a smile on her face. “Hey.”
He studied her before motioning to his lecture hall. “It’s actually good that you came by now. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.”
She couldn’t think of a reason to say no, more because she was too tired to think than she had nothing to do, so she followed him inside. He surprised her by sitting down in one of the front row seats, gesturing to a chair beside him when she remained standing.
She tugged her backpack free and sat down.
He smiled at her, his face serene. “Do you remember last semester when I was so impressed with your final project?”
“Uh, yeah?” Her brow furrowed.
“Did I ever mention to you where my friend works?” Professor Baptiste tilted his head.
“No. Okay, sorry, can you just get to the point instead of asking random questions?” Though he’d always been one of her favorite instructors, Natalie didn’t have the energy for a protracted conversation.
Professor Baptiste smiled. “My friend works for E.A.R.T.H. International, and she’s very interested in your potential. I’ve been talking about you a lot over the years.”
Natalie was certain she looked as shocked as she felt. E.A.R.T.H. International was one of the largest tech developers in the world, their products ranging from household appliances to mechanisms used in actual space shuttles. She imagined the only cooler place to work would be NASA.
She tried not to get excited. “So what does that mean?”
“It means that, if you want, a paid internship is waiting for you this summer. You’d have to leave a few days after finals, so she needs your answer as soon as possible.” Professor Baptiste was sitting forward in his chair and seem surprised when her excitement suddenly dimmed.
“That sounds great,” Natalie began slowly, “but aren’t they based out of Seattle?”
“That’s true but, Natalie, an internship with them means job opportunities for you will open up around the globe. The connections you make there will be invaluable.” When her expression didn’t change, his serene look changed to one of concern.
He pursed his lips. “They have an affordable housing program for out-of-state relocations, so you won’t need to worry about that. I don’t need to tell you what an amazing opportunity this is. I also don’t want to pressure you, but I do think you should think about it. You are an exceptional student and I think you’ll do great there.”
“Yeah, thanks,” she said, abruptly standing and collecting her bag. She should feel grateful, thrilled for what the internship could mean.
She moved woodenly around campus, finally slumping down to sit when she found herself on an empty patch of grass. The internship was a dream come true, one she knew nearly any of her peers would kill for.
Last year she wouldn’t have hesitated to accept the offer, but it wasn’t last year. Her thoughts turned to Maddie. Maddie, who was already in a delicate state.
Maybe she could have both Maddie and the internship. She snorted at the thought. Maddie had just gotten out of a relationship with a partner who was never around. They’d both been looking forward to the summer, and hopefully more time together.
At the same time, where would that leave her own career? Her opportunities at home had dried up—if they’d even existed to begin with.
She’d already looked into what her post-degree opportunities would look like, and most companies weren’t hiring. The economy still wasn’t what it had been, and if she didn’t do something soon, she might end up working at a place like Jimmy's for the foreseeable future.
It wouldn’t be Jimmy's, that was for sure. Her schedule had been rearranged yet again, and it looked like she’d have to find a new place of employment. She couldn’t afford school and her apartment when her scheduled hours were so inconsistent.
Her head swam with too many thoughts, so she forced herself to her feet. She’d have to think it over. She was leaving for Sage Falls again that day, and she was hoping to get a little more sleep since she’d be there for the weekend.
Her phone went off, and she managed to muster a smile when she spotted Maddie’s name.
*****
Maddie sighed in relief when Juniper walked out with her to-go order. Juniper’s usual smile was in place as she handed the bag over. “You need any extra napkins or anything?”
“No. Thank you, Juniper.” Maddie smiled back, pleased that for the first time in a while it didn’t feel fake. At least someone in town could act normal. She gathered the bag in one hand and turned, sparing a glare toward a table full of leering teenage boys.
“Johnny Dean.” The name was said under her breath like a foul curse. It seemed like everyone in town had gotten wind of her relationship with Natalie. Though she didn’t normally care what anyone thought of her, she hadn’t been quite herself since Brittney’s birthday party. When their small comments caught her off guard, she kept remembering Adam and Brittney’s shock and anger.
The bell jingled merrily on her way out, and she felt better once outside the confines of the restaurant. It was a beautiful day, and the sun felt nice on her skin. She’d stepped out to pick up dinner since she hadn’t felt up to cooking, but the fact that she was willing to leave the house for something other than work was an improvement in itself.
As she made the return trip home, she tried to ignore the guilt that had begun trickling into her stomach.
Natalie was due to arrive soon.
As amazing as Natalie made her feel, Adam and Brittney’s horrified faces were still vivid in
her head.
When she was around Natalie, she could forget most of the other difficult things in her life. She could still remember the perfection of their first kiss.
But it was hard not to feel some shame when her own daughter wouldn’t speak to her. Before entering into the relationship with Natalie, she’d known Brittney had a crush on Natalie. Her mouth thinned into a line as the beginning of a headache started. She pinched the bridge of her nose in an effort to stem its arrival. As a woman, she understood her own need in pursuing a relationship with Natalie. When she thought of Brittney, however…
Perhaps it wouldn’t have been so bad if Brittney had found out in any other way. Thoughts like that were the reason she’d taken to walking more—the exercise helped clear her mind, gave her time to sort through her feelings.
Sometimes it felt like her walks were the only thing keeping her from slipping into an endless depression when Natalie wasn’t around.
She smiled when she turned down her driveway and spotted Natalie’s parked car. The foul mood that had nearly eclipsed everything else dissipated into nothingness. She lengthened her stride, reaching the front door with a smile on her face.
The house was quiet as she entered it.
“Natalie?” she called out as she set her keys down on the entryway table. There was no response. She bit her lip and began checking around. The kitchen was her first destination, followed by the living room.
She grinned when she found Natalie stretched out on the couch, fast asleep with her laptop still open and resting on her legs. Maddie silently moved forward to set the bag of food down, then sat near Natalie’s hip.
She smiled and carefully removed the laptop, closing it and placing it on the coffee table before turning back to observe Natalie’s peaceful face.
The bags under her lover’s eyes were just a little softer, and she hesitated to wake Natalie up. It was still too early to really sleep and Natalie was in danger of disrupting her already erratic sleep schedule.
Maddie reached for Natalie’s hand, rubbing it gently and bringing it up to her lips for a kiss when Natalie began to stir.
Meeting Mrs Garret Page 31