Maddox

by Lisa Helen Gray

  I glance to Landon with nothing else left to lose. “What would you do?”

  “I wouldn’t have fucked it up.”

  I arch an eyebrow. “Do you need me to run through yours and Paisley’s love affair.”

  He sighs, pushing off my truck. “Figure out what you truly want, what she means to you, what you picture for your future. Don’t let her go. Once you’ve figure that out, you’ll know exactly what to do.” He shoves his hands in his leather jacket. “Now, are we finished with the heart to heart, because it’s making me uncomfortable.”

  “When did you get so romantic?” Dad questions, smirking at Landon.

  Max claps Landon on the shoulder. “Gets it from his dad.”

  The music next door gets louder, and I swear I hear Dad’s knuckles crack when he clenches his fists. “Can we please do something about those neighbours.”

  Max rubs his hands together. “I have the perfect thing in my car.”

  “It better not be glitter,” I murmur, pushing away my thoughts of Amelia. Maybe this will help clear my head.

  “I need you guys to distract them. I’m going to plant some things inside their home. They’ll be gone by the end of the week.”

  “How—” Dad begins.

  “You don’t want to know,” I tell him, following Max down the path to his car that’s parked up a bit from mine.

  He pushes the boot up, grinning like a mad man. I gape into the back of the boot. “Why do you have all this in here?” I question.

  Inside is a bucket of waterbombs, four guns, and a bag filled with things I don’t want to know about.

  “Why do you have handcuffs, Dad?” Landon asks as he lifts a pair out of the bag. He drops them quickly, frowning. “Never mind.”

  “They aren’t my main set, don’t worry,” Max murmurs, bending further into the car and grabbing another bag. He pulls it to the edge of the car before reaching in for something else. He comes back with a black jacket. While he shoves it on, I pick up a gun, holding the handmade device in wonder. They have never let us play with these before; said they were too strong.

  “I’m not going to ask why you have all this just lying around in your boot,” Dad murmurs, reaching for a gun.

  Max hands us each a bag. “Be careful with those. They have my new concoction in. They have glue inside, which will be a bitch for them to get off.”

  “How is that going to burst?” Landon asks.

  Max just looks at his son like he’s stupid. “Because I’m a genius. It’s all about the right pressure when blowing them up.”

  “If you say so,” I retort, carefully putting the bag over my shoulder.

  Max stares at the bag a moment longer. “Maybe don’t burst one on yourselves. Although the glue eventually comes off, it can take days for the smell to wash away.”

  “Max,” Dad warns.

  Max nods like he’s silently agreeing with himself. “Malik, you take the back. Landon, go hide in those bushes over there. You, Madz, climb up that tree. It’s the best vantage point.”

  Before any of us can argue, he’s gone. I turn to my dad, clutching the gun higher in my arms. “Shall we just go?”

  “Move it,” Max hisses from somewhere.

  Dad groans. “Let’s just get this over with. You know how he gets if he doesn’t get what he wants.”

  My mind flashes back to the time we went abroad. There was a storm, and Max, not being able to go swimming, lost it. He went down into the cafeteria, and I’m not sure what happened, but the next minute we were having to relocate to another hotel.

  I give Dad a nod before jogging off to my designated spot. Landon stops midway to his spot to give me a leg-up. Just as I’m swinging my leg over the thickest branch, Landon is diving behind some bushes, his dark hair popping up from the branches.

  “This is so fucking stupid,” I whisper to myself.

  Another five minutes pass, and I begin to think nothing is going to happen. Just as I’m about to pull my phone out to call Dad, screams erupt from inside the house, the music turning down a notch.

  “Who was that?” someone yells.

  A girl begins to squeal. “Oh my God, something touched me.”

  “Fuck! The television just switched on.”

  The music suddenly stops, and I swear, you can hear a pin drop it’s gone that silent. “Where did the new music player go?”

  “Alexa?” Kayne calls out, and I chuckle to myself, wondering if he’s waiting for a reply.

  My fingers tense around the trigger, and I lift the gun a little, aiming it towards the door. As soon as the door flies open, I begin to shoot, pelting the glue bombs at anyone who leaves the house. When the filter is empty, I load more inside, grinning when Landon takes up my leave, shooting at them.

  “Back inside, back inside,” Cassie screams. “Go out the back.”

  “They are so fucked,” I whisper.

  “Oh my God, who is doing this,” a woman yells, and I hear tears in her voice. “They’ve ruined my spliff.”

  “Can you smell that?” Kayne calls out, sounding close to the front of the house.

  “I have had it with that fucking neighbour,” Cassie screams.

  “There’s a ghost in here,” a lad declares.

  “There are no fucking ghosts in here. It’s that fucking neighbour,” Cassie cries out. “Oh my God, what is that?”

  A throat clears below the tree, and I startle, slipping from my perch. I quickly grab the branch, hanging off it, my eyes widening when I see the two cops below. One female, one male.

  “Evening,” I greet, smirking.

  “Maddox,” PC Marker greets.

  I squint through the darkness, and groan when I see it’s really him. “Oh shit!”

  “Get down, Maddox.”

  “I swear, this wasn’t my idea,” I defend, landing on the balls of my feet.

  “We came about a noise complaint,” he tells me once I’ve straightened my jacket. “Instead, we find you up the tree and your cousin in the bush shooting at the house we were called out to.”

  “And you decide today, of all days, to come and actually follow through with the noise complaint?” I mutter sarcastically.

  “Arrest him!” Cassie screeches, charging out of the house.

  “He should be arresting you,” I bite out.

  “You’ve destroyed my home,” she declares, and I inwardly groan. It was hardly a palace to begin with.

  “What is that smell?” the female officer asks, covering up her nose.

  “It was him,” Cassie accuses.

  I smirk at the female officer. “You can sniff me if you want, baby. I promise I smell nothing like that.”

  “You—”

  “Step back,” PC Marker warns before turning back to me. “We are going to need to take statements.”

  “That’s fine,” I tell him, tugging the bag behind me out of sight.

  PC Marker notices and narrows his gaze. “Show me what’s in the bag.”

  “You really don’t want to know,” I warn him, wincing when Cassie’s screeching gets higher. Luckily, her son has a brain cell because he holds her back from attacking me.

  PC Marker reaches for the bag, gripping the handle. I pull it towards me, and in a game of tug of war, PC Marker wins. The bag smacks against his chest, and two of the balloons explode all over him.

  “Fuck,” I hiss.

  His jaw tight, eyes narrowed into slits, he takes a step towards me. “Turn around!”

  “Fucking Max,” I grouch.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  AMELIA

  I hop into the living room, struggling to get my shoe on at the same time. I hiss out a breath when I trip over the changing bag, thankfully landing on the sofa and not on the floor.

  This was not the way I hoped this morning would go.

  “Jasmine, get your shoes on,” I yell.

  “I am,” she yells back, before she comes storming into the living room.

  I scan her attire and inwar
dly groan. “Jasmine, I said to put something warm on. Nanny wants to take you out.”

  “I want to wear this,” she tells me, twirling in her Elsa dress.

  I close my eyes, fighting back tears. I’m running late, and I’m exhausted, not only from the commotion going on outside last night, but because I kept replaying Maddox’s words over in my head. I couldn’t get a wink of sleep and spent the entire night tossing and turning. At around six this morning, I dozed off after feeding Asher and slept through my alarm.

  I don’t have time to get her changed.

  “Get your coat,” I order.

  Her bottom lip trembles. “Are you mad, Mummy?”

  I let out a breath before turning to her, forcing a smile. “No, baby. Mummy is just really late,” I tell her.

  I quickly grab the changing bag, my keys, and handbag before bending down for the car seat Asher is strapped into.

  “I’m ready,” Jasmine declares, shoving her arms through the sleeves of her coat.

  “Let’s go.”

  The sky is clear, and the birds are chirping into the morning breeze as we race out the door. The keys slip out of my hand as I reach back to shut the door. “Fuck!” I hiss out quietly.

  “Don’t speak to me!” Maddox yells, and I straighten up, swinging around to face the street.

  He’s just getting out of his mum’s car, but it isn’t me or her his comment is directed at. It’s his uncle, who is sitting on the back of his truck.

  I’m frozen, my feet glued in place at seeing him. My heart constricts at the sight of his rugged yet handsome appearance.

  It has only been one night, and I miss him.

  But I’m angry with him more.

  Max jumps down from the truck, grimacing. “It’s not my fault you got caught.”

  “You didn’t exactly take responsibility either,” Maddox snaps. “They were rough.”

  “Don’t be such a baby,” Max retorts.

  Maddox throws his hands up. “I’m going to get you back for this.”

  “Look, I’m—”

  “No, Uncle Max. No.”

  “Max, if you get my son arrested again, I will personally make your life a living hell; starting with cutting off your home baked goods,” Harlow snaps from inside the car.

  “You wouldn’t?” Max gasps out.

  “I would,” she replies, before turning to her son. “I’ll see you later for dinner.”

  He gives her a chin lift as she drives off, leaving dust in the wind. I jerk into action when our gazes meet. He tenses, taking a step towards me.

  I quickly heft Asher up my arm, making my way to the car.

  “Maddox,” Jasmine calls, racing towards him.

  “Jasmine,” I call out.

  She ignores me, waiting for Maddox to meet her on this side of the road. I finish strapping Asher in, double checking he’s secure before closing the door.

  “Jasmine,” I call out.

  Jasmine puffs out a breath before tilting her head up to Maddox. “Do you like my dress?” she asks him.

  “You look like a princess, Jaz,” he replies, his voice low, and the pain I can hear, hurts.

  I close my eyes, breathing through my nose when it begins to sting with tears. “Jasmine,” I croak out. “We’re late.”

  “Amelia,” Maddox calls.

  “Jasmine,” I demand, pulling open my car door. I can’t look at him right now, let alone talk to him. It’s killing me inside.

  My feelings for him were crushed the minute he was selfish enough to use them against me. He doesn’t want me romantically. He just wants the idea of me.

  And that hurts the most. That I’m not enough. That I’m just a consolation prize.

  “C’mon, Jaz, we’re late,” I tell her, helping her into the back of the car.

  “Mummy? Are you mad at Maddox?”

  “Jasmine,” I groan, clipping in her belt.

  “But, Mum—” she whines.

  “Please, Jasmine,” I plead.

  She takes one look at my face and relaxes back into her seat, her tiny little face scrunched up in a frown.

  “Amelia,” Maddox calls again.

  “I’m late,” I tell him, sliding into the driver’s side. I slam the door shut and clip in my belt.

  My entire body shakes as I begin to pull out of the driveway. The whole world seems to move in slow motion as I slowly pull out of the driveway, briefly making eye contact with Maddox. He stands at the end of the drive, his shoulders hunched forward, his lip tipped down. Just seeing him like that has my heart yearning for him. It’s like my world is spinning out of control and there is nothing I can do to stop it.

  He’s just one man.

  One man who managed to break down my defences and open up my heart. He doesn’t demand power over me, he gave me power. He doesn’t see me as broken, but as someone who is whole. He doesn’t see past the single mum, he embraces it, and yet it isn’t me he wants.

  He can’t.

  It’s not even the family I can give him that he wants. He has enough family.

  Which leads to more questions in my head. Does he really want more or is this his attempt to not lose another friend?

  I glance away as I pull out into the road, tears burning the back of my nose. No, that look on his face meant nothing.

  “Mummy, did Maddox do something bad?” Jasmine whispers, and when I glance through the rear-view mirror, her bottom lip trembles.

  “No, baby, he didn’t do anything wrong. I promise.”

  “Good, because he’s my friend and I love him,” she tells me.

  “I know, sweetie.”

  “And I wish he was my daddy.”

  My breath hitches at those words. I can’t answer her, too choked up. She is too young for this, too young to be hurt. Because even if I trust that Maddox wants more, there would be a time when it could end between us, and where would that leave her? Where would it leave Asher?

  By the time I reach the care home, I’m a hormonal mess. Mum is waiting outside with Aunt Tracey, both looking concerned. I shut the car off and get out, slamming the door behind me. Seeing my mum, the one person in this world I can count on, who I know has my back through everything, I break. I burst into tears, clutching my stomach.

  “Amelia,” Mum cries, racing across the car park with Tracey in tow. “What on earth!”

  “Nita, you get Amelia into the office and I’ll take the kids to the T.V. room,” Tracey whispers.

  Mum supports my weight, and together we make it inside and through to the office. Once I’m sat down in the chair, Mum wastes no time in demanding I tell her what’s wrong.

  “Please, Amelia, I’m worried. Is it Cameron’s mum and aunt again? Did they do something?”

  I wipe at my tears, digging my fingers into my thighs. “No. No. I’m just tired,” I admit.

  “No, honey, this isn’t just exhaustion.”

  I blink through my tears and tell her the truth. “It’s Maddox. I think I’ve lost him.”

  “What? Why on earth would you think that? That boy loves you and those two children.”

  Her words only make me cry harder. “He ruined the date last night. He said he wanted to be with me.”

  “I don’t understand why you’re crying, sweetie.”

  “Because it’s not real. He saw another man stepping in and panicked. He lost Lily—his cousin—to her husband, and I bet he saw the same thing happening with Nolan. So, to keep me, he made this rash decision. He had all evening to tell me not to go on that date, but he waited for me to go. He came to the restaurant and embarrassed me.”

  “I’m sure that’s not the case,” Mum replies, running her finger down my cheek.

  I close my eyes at her touch. “We argued when we got back, and I kicked him out. Now I can’t even look at him. He has done nothing but friend-zone me during our entire friendship, but now he wants more. How can I trust that?”

  “This isn’t about what he’s said or him declaring he wants you.”

>   My brows bunch together as I open my eyes and gape at her. “I’m sorry, what?”

  “This is about trust. You are too scared to trust.”

  “Can you blame me?” I cry. “He said he didn’t do relationships, that he liked variety and the single life. He has called me friend so many times that if I had a pound for each one, I’d be a millionaire. Now he wants me? Yeah, I don’t believe that. Now our friendship is ruined, and I…”

  “You love him,” Mum finishes.

  “No,” I deny, looking away.

  “He might have done those things, sweetie, but he’s been more than that. He has stayed to get your son to sleep, he has bought you items you refused to splurge on, and he has been there for you and the kids. He has fixed what is broken inside the house. He got your daughter a bike. He built you the pan unit for your kitchen. He’s been everything Cameron wasn’t but everything you wished him to be. You love him.”

  “I think I’ve lost him,” I cry out, wiping away my tears. “How can I trust this is what he wants now? I’ll always wonder why. I don’t think I can do that.”

  “Because Maddox doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do,” Hope answers from the doorway.

  I meet her gaze, hating the pity staring back at me.

  “Hey, Hope,” Mum greets.

  “I saw the kids in the T.V. room and thought I’d come and check that everything is okay,” Hope explains. “I don’t know the full story, but I can promise that with all his immaturity and questionable behaviour, he is not someone who would string you along. He’s too brutally honest. You and the kids mean the world to him.”

  I wipe at my eyes, shifting in my seat. “I’m not sure what to believe. All the times he mentioned staying single, he was adamant.”

  Hope rolls her eyes. “He’s also adamant Tupac is alive. We let him roll with it,” she replies softly. “Just hear him out, or at least think about it.”

  “And you can think about it while you are at home in bed,” Tracey interrupts.

  “W-what? I have work,” I argue.

  She shakes her head, her gaze soft and filled with kindness. “No. As of today you are going on paid leave for two weeks. I don’t care what you say,” she tells me when I open my mouth to interrupt. “You haven’t recovered from giving birth. And I don’t mean the actual birth, but the hormonal side that comes with it. You’re all over the place. You’re tired, stressed and beyond exhausted. It hurts, my girl.”