by Claire Adams
"Did you and Dad do that?"
"I did. Your father didn't, or if he did, I didn't know about it." She smiled and turned to look back out the window. "The world stands against a good marriage, throwing all sorts of lies at it." She turned back to me, her vision looking a little clearer. "You and Maddie have to fight against that, Gavin."
"We will, Mom. I'll start the journal today." Sadness swam through my chest and danced in the center of my stomach. How was I going to make it without her and dad? Most her.
"Good. I'm so proud that you found Maddie. She's perfect for you, and the two of you are together forever." She glanced down at my hand as her eyes widened. "Where the hell is your ring?"
"Oh." I pulled my hand back sheepishly. "I was working on something in the garage earlier and didn't want to mess it up. I took it off."
"Well, put it back on. It's not supposed to stay shiny and pretty. It's there to remind you that you're bound to another person." She narrowed her eyes a little. "When is Maddie moving in? I expected to see more of her."
"Soon, Mom. We'll be over for dinner tomorrow night, and I'll let her update you on all of that. That sound good?" I stood as her eyelashes fluttered. She was beaten.
"Yeah. I'd like that." She yawned and turned to look back out the window. "Close the door on your way out, and put your damn ring back on."
"Okay, Mom." I walked to the door. "And I'll start that journal."
"Good. It will save you loads of heartache, or at least pull you back each time you want to give up." She turned and coughed, shaking the bed with the violence of it.
I waited by the door to make sure she was alright. As her breathing deepened, I slipped out. I stopped by the house and grabbed my keys to head to the dock. An afternoon on the boat with Ron would do me some good. At least it would keep me from walking circles around my office in hopes of writing something.
The only thing I was doing better than that was missing Maddie. And that was something I would never admit.
"Hey, buddy. How goes it?" Ron offered me a hand, shaking mine as I got onto the boat. He looked far more alive than I felt. Of course, his life wasn’t falling apart on all sides, and I was glad it wasn’t.
I ran my fingers through my hair and glanced around the beautiful view in front of us and took a deep breath. Something about the water soothed my soul and gave me rest when I needed it the most. For that alone, I would always own a boat. "Better now."
"Let's get outta here for a while." He pointed to a cooler on the ground. "I brought beer."
"You're a good man." I moved to start up the boat and pulled us away from the dock.
"No, you're a good man." He pulled out two beers and offered me on, his words surprising me a little.
"Why is that?" I took mine, popped the top and took a long drink.
"Because I realized something the other day."
"You thinking again? You know that's bad for you." I turned in my seat and watched the waves splash up on the side of the boat.
"You married Maddie for your momma, didn't you?" He dropped down into the seat across from me and gave me a knowing stare.
"Why do you think that?" Horror raced through me. Did Maddie say something to Ron? It was one of the rules she was forbidden to break. Ron couldn't lie to save his own ass. He shouldn't have known about what we'd done.
"Because I've known you my whole life. You might like my cousin, but you married her to appease your mother. She's been looking forward to you getting married and having kids since we were old enough to skip rocks across the water." He snorted and lifted his beer toward me. "Maddie didn't say anything to me if that's what you're thinking. I'm just saying that you're a damn good man, Gavin. I'm glad you're my best friend. Makes me feel a little bit better about myself sometimes."
I chuckled as relief flooded my chest. Maddie hadn't broken a rule. Good. I wasn't sure what type of retaliation I would have enacted had she gone against my word.
"You shouldn't feel better about yourself." I smiled. "You're a scoundrel."
He wagged his eyebrows. "The ladies sure like it."
I rolled my eyes and leaned back in my chair. "Maddie played the part well, didn't she?"
"Hell yeah. That girl's got boatloads of talent." He reached out and squeezed my shoulder. "And don't worry about me saying anything to anyone. I know what you've given up to make this happen."
"You do?" I lifted my eyebrow.
"Yeah. Your pride, your time, your energy." He shook his head. "I couldn't do it."
"Sure you could." Relief flooded me again. I was going to have an emotional breakdown if he kept accidentally toying with my emotions so fucking well.
"Nope. Not in a million years." He drained his beer and burped, standing and walking over to get another one. "And knowing my damn luck, I'd end up falling in love. My cousin is a looker for sure."
"Doesn't seem like that's just your luck," I mumbled.
"Hmmm?" He sat down and gave me a funny look. "You starting to have feelings for her?"
"Starting? No. I have for a while." I took a long pull from my beer. "And I need to stop. I'm not sure I'll survive losing her and momma at the same time. Funny thing is, Maddie was never mine to begin with."
Chapter Thirty
Maddie
Thirty minutes. That's all I had to spare on the way to having dinner with my parents after a long day of doing nothing. My agent wasn't doing shit for me, and it seemed that my ability to get new followers was going down the tube.
I needed a pick me up.
The bank was busy when I got there, and after standing in line for a little while, I decided to use the ATM machine instead. I walked back out into the chilly afternoon and pulled out my card, leaning into type in my pin number so no one would see it.
I hit the button to get the balance on my checking account and almost swallowed my tongue. After selecting to get a receipt, I pulled out $300 and moved back, fanning myself as my body heated.
I'd never seen so much money in all of my life. I started down at the paper and tried to take it in. I just knew that any minute I would be flooded with excitement. Like someone who'd won the fucking lottery.
The feeling never came. Instead, a numbness I'd been trying to avoid all day long settled in the center of my chest. Tears blurred my eyes, and I turned to walk back to my car.
"You okay, Miss?" a security guard stopped me, the concern on his face sweet.
"Oh yeah." I nodded and reached up to wipe away a few tears. "Just had a long day."
"Nothing is wrong with your account, right, because they'll be happy to help you fix that back inside the bank."
"No. It's good. Thank you though." I gave him a warm smile and jogged across the street to my car. The same sentence dance through my head over and over.
I'd give up every penny to have a loving relationship with a man like Gavin.
I'd give up every penny to have a loving relationship with a man like Gavin.
"Stop it," I barked at myself as I got into the car and pulled out of the lot. Being with my parents for dinner would help, or would it? Knowing them, they'd be talking about making love or plans to buy something cute for each other.
They adored each other.
I wanted that in my life, but it was too scary to dream that big. People didn't really have a relationship like my folks did. They were an anomaly. A one-off. An outlier.
I drove out to their place thinking the whole time how wrong I was that their relationship was different or weird. Gavin's parents had the same thing. Maybe there were just secrets to really making a relationship last. I wouldn't know. Mine had all been a big fucking joke up to this point.
And now I was in the middle of one that was sure to leave me emotionally bankrupt, and it was my own damn fault.
I got out of the car and walked toward the house, half expecting my father to sling open the door and greet me in a funny voice. Nothing.
"Weird." I walked in to find them in the kitchen, my dad's arms aro
und my mom as they kissed and whispered about something. The soft laughter coming from both of them cause my heart to swell.
"Gross!" I yelled, announcing my arrival.
"You missed the really gross part." My dad turned and walked across the room, leaning down to kiss my cheek. "We were smooching it up in here!"
"Ugh." I pretended to gag and walked into the kitchen.
My mom turned back to the stove and stirred something in a big soup pot. I leaned around her and hugged her from behind, breathing in deeply.
"God, that smells so good." I moved up beside her and bumped her hip, forcing her to get out of the way as I started to stir the thick stew. Chunks of potatoes, carrots, and beef swirled around.
"It's your father's favorite." She wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "A real man's meal."
"That's right. Ph-balanced for a woman, but—" my father started.
My mother and I groaned, cutting him off. I laughed and looked over at her as her eyes grew wide.
"Maddie! What is this?" She jerked me around, scaring me a little. After taking my left hand into hers, she lifted the ring and glanced up at me. "Please tell me you're just wearing this for a photo shoot."
I grimaced. My parents were the type who would always wanted to be involved in my life. Getting married was a really big deal.
I didn't know what the fuck to do, so I slipped into character.
"Surprise! I'm married." I pulled my hand back and turned as my father stuck his head into the kitchen, his eyes wide.
"Um, what?" He walked in and put both hands on his hips. "To who?"
"To whom," Mom responded and gave me a very stern look. "You had better be kidding, young lady."
"I'm not." I gave them a sheepish grin. "Gavin and I realized the other day that when you find someone you love, you grab ahold of them, and you just don't let go." I had to kick in some serious ass-kissing if I were going to make it through my sea of lies. "And we have something like you and daddy do, like Mister and Miss Hayward did. We can't let that go."
"But why didn't you just come to us?" My mother glanced back to my father. "We wanted to be a part of your big day. You should have had a blowout wedding with a million people there and—"
"Now honey." My father walked in and reached for my mom. "You know as well as I do that kids these days are just wild. Maddie is no exception."
"So wild." I offered before turning back to the soup. I hated lying to my parents. To Gavin's mother. To everyone.
"Hey." My mom touched my shoulder, and I turned back around. "I'm not mad at you. I'm disappointed. Was anyone even there?"
"Gavin's mom was. She's dying, like I told you." I glanced down as tears filled my eyes. That part I wasn't faking. I looked back up as one rolled down my cheek. "I'm so sorry. It was irresponsible and stupid of me not to think to invite you both. He was in a hurry because of her condition and—"
"Hush." My dad reached out and brushed a tear away. "We're good. We'll do something fun on your one-year anniversary or something." He glanced at my mom. "Right, dear?"
"Absolutely." She smiled and pulled me into a tight hug. "But, we do want to see this young man. Dinner. Tomorrow night. Okay?"
I nodded. Dinner tomorrow night would work. Hopefully.
After they had left the kitchen, I pulled out my phone and texted Gavin to see if it was an okay time to call him. Not sure why I felt so unsure of him picking up a call from me, but I did.
He called me instead. I answered on the first ring, anticipating the sound of his voice.
"Hey," I whispered and picked up the spoon to stir the stew again.
"Hey. You okay? Need something?" He sounded slightly panicked. Why that filled me with warmth was beyond me.
I was a piece of shit for taking his money, and the realization of that came crashing in as I stood at the ATM earlier. It wasn't money that I needed. It was love. It was him.
"Yes," I forced the words out of my mouth. "Listen, my mom and dad saw the ring. I forgot to—"
"It's fine. I forgot to wear mine today, and my mother got all over my ass about it." His laugh was deep, genuine. It caused me to smile as butterflies danced around my chest.
"Well, they want you to come over for dinner tomorrow night. I don't think they're upset about not being invited to the wedding, but head's up... I told them your mom was the only one there."
"Alright." He cleared his throat, and I couldn't help but wondering where he was and what he was wearing. It seemed like something a dude would think, but I had my moments for sure.
"You sure? You sound unsure." I turned to find my parents walking back into the kitchen.
"No, it's good. My mother asked us to come over, but—"
"I'll tell them no then. We need to spend the time we have with your mom. It’s all good."
"No. We'll see my mom on Saturday. No worries." He sounded calm, peaceful. I decided not to argue with him, but instead, accept his kindness. It was rare somedays.
"Okay. Thank you." I glanced up to see my mom watching me with a quirky smile on her lips. I waved her away and gave her a look before turning back to the stove. "Mom and dad said hi."
He laughed. "Tell them I said hi, too."
"Okay." I glanced over my shoulder and found her watching me. "I love you."
"See you tomorrow." He dropped the call, and I put my phone back in my pocket. I didn't need to say it, but he would assume it was because of them. It wasn't, but maybe it was for the best that he didn't know.
I'd been completely honest for the first time in a long time.
I did love him.
Chapter Thirty-One
Gavin
I woke the next morning to someone knocking on the front door. Had to be Ron. No one ever visited me, and mom was too sick to get up without help. Though it could have been her with Karen's help.
After pulling on a pair of jogging pants that lay in a heap on the floor by the bed, I stumbled into the living room and opened the front door. A big yawn caused me to turn and lift my hand to my mouth.
"I brought breakfast." Maddie's voice was soft, sweet.
"Nice." I moved back to let her in and turned my attention back to her. The thin blue sweater she wore left plenty of creamy thigh on display, and I couldn't help wonder why her nipples were budded. Cold? Or had someone turned her on.
"Can I come in?" She stood still, waiting for me.
She thought I was the same cock that barked order at her two weeks before when I was still so pissed about everything. And maybe I was. Who the hell knew.
"Yeah. I was going to head over to mom's this morning and check on her. She wasn't doing too good yesterday." I ran my fingers through my hair and closed the door, turning to follow the pretty ray of sunshine into the kitchen. Her sweet ass shook in her romper, and I knew she wasn't wearing panties.
My body hardened a little more. I stopped by the counter and sat down on a stool, scratching at my beard as she moved around the kitchen like she owned it.
"What are you doing up so early?" I stifled another yawn. "And over here?"
She paused and gave me a worried look. "I can leave."
I smiled. "No, I'm just saying. It's Saturday morning before 10. Don't high maintenance woman like you sleep in or something?"
"High Maintenance?"
"Gold diggers? That a better term?" My smile widened, but her’s faded.
"I just thought you wanted me over here more often so your momma wouldn't ask questions. I can leave." She turned and pulled two small plates out of the cabinet, loading them each up with a muffin and a few other pastries. She had no plans of leaving.
"Yeah, you're right." I took the plate and stood. "I'm glad you remembered. Hate to have to pull out the rule book and spank you with it."
"I like spankings. Remember?" She moved around me, walking to the front patio, shaking her fine ass more than she needed to.
"I do recall something like that." I reached around her and opened the door. The scent of her perfume sta
ined my lungs, and she glanced my way, her eyes filled with false innocence. "You're not wearing panties." I kissed her shoulder and caressed her ass, needing to validate my thoughts.
"They don't work with this outfit." She gave me a cocky grin and walked out onto the small porch. "Do you need to put on shoes and a shirt?'
"For what?" I sat down on one of the chairs and glanced up at her before picking up a fruity looking tart.
"Hey! That plate is for your mother and Karen." She lifted hers. "This one is ours."
"Oh. Shit. I thought that one was yours and this one was mine." I handed her the plate and opened the door to walk back in the house.
"You were going to eat four pastries?" she called after me, and damn if I wasn't falling in love with her. She was worried about my weight, or my health. Either way, I enjoyed her attention.
I pulled on a t-shirt and slipped my feet into some shoes before rejoining her. "My hair sticking up anywhere? My mother will bitch at me about it as if it's not her fault that I have cowlicks everywhere."
She laughed and moved closer, handing me one of the plates and reaching up to brush her fingers through my hair.
It felt good. Too good.
"There. Much better." She brushed her hand down my face and lifted to her toes, kissing me softly. "We have to act married."
"Agreed. Sit on my lap at mom's." I winked as she gave me a soft sound of disapproval. "I take that as a no?"
"You're corrupt." She walked off the porch, her body causing mine to ache.
"And I'm yours," I mumbled. At least for a little while longer.
She moved up to the house and knocked, but I reached around her and opened the door. "What? It's rude to just walk in."
"You knock at your mom's house?" I gave her a cocky grin and walked in, calling out. "Mom? Karen?"
"She's in her room, watching that bird again." Karen walked out from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "What are you two up to?"
"Maddie went and picked up some goodies." I lifted the plate and smiled back at her. "I'm going to go check on mom."