She laughed. “Come on, let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
They joined the rest of the party as people came up and asked if she was ok. Carter jumped up from his chair and hugged her. “I’m so sorry, Maddy.”
“I’m fine, really. I promise you that I am. I feel good that I protected myself. I’m just glad that you and Hunter were around.”
“I am too, come on let me grab you a burger.”
She enjoyed the rest of the evening talking with Alicia’s friends. She stayed away from most of the hockey players. The girls were discussing wedding details as everyone’s attention went to the far side of the deck.
A beautiful blond walked towards the group with her arm linked with a handsome, well build man. Madison assumed it was another teammate but looking at Alicia and Carter, she sensed that something was wrong. Alicia kept glancing at Hunter and then quickly looked at Madison and smiled.
Carter got up and shook hands with whoever the man was. He nodded towards the female. She was striking. Her blond hair was professionally cut and shaped her face. She was tall and skinny and wore a very revealing sundress.
Madison looked at Hunter as he got up and walked into the house. She looked back at Alicia as the blond spoke. “Hey everyone, you look surprised to see me!”
Madison watched as the females rolled their eyes. “I’m just surprised that you would show your face here, Danielle,” one of Alicia’s friends stated.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You know exactly what that means. I see that you found your way to another hockey player, how unlike you.” They laughed.
Danielle started to walk towards the other lady. “You need to watch what you say!”
Alicia jumped up. “Ok, we have had enough drama for one day! Danielle, you know why people are ticked to see you here. I didn’t realize that you were dating Adam or I would have told him not to bring you.”
She laughed. “I swear to God, you never liked me! Too bad I didn’t screw Carter that would have shut you up!”
Madison jumped up and grabbed Alicia before she could take a swing at her. Danielle looked at her. “You are new. Who are you?”
She didn’t realize that Hunter had come back out onto the porch. “She’s my girlfriend. Do you have something to say about it?”
Danielle instantly turned around to face Hunter. “Hunter Longo. How long has it been?”
“Not long enough. Why the hell are you here?”
“I wanted to announce my engagement! You remember Adam.” She dangled the huge diamond ring in front of him.
Hunter shook his hand and laughed. “Wilson, you deserve her.”
Adam stepped up to Hunter. “It’s history, Longo. Let it go already. We all make mistakes.”
Madison watched him as he moved to grab her hand. “I’m leaving.”
Everyone groaned. Alicia jumped in. “Please don’t leave.”
“It’s ok. Hunter wants to go and I want to spend some time with him before his trip tomorrow. I will call you in the afternoon and we will go over wedding stuff.” She hugged Alicia.
Danielle smirked at her. “So, you are the flavor of the month?”
Hunter didn’t say anything as he moved past them and around the house. He helped Madison into his truck and headed towards his house. She wasn’t sure how to approach what had just happened. They pulled into his driveway and he sat there.
“I’m sure you want to know what’s going on.” He calmly stated.
She nodded. “It would help with the thousands of questions that are circling in my head.”
“Come on, I will explain everything.” They headed towards his house as they entered his massive living room. “Can I get you something to drink?”
She nodded. “Anything is fine with me.” She followed him into the kitchen and walked onto his covered patio. She sat down as he handed her a glass of wine. “It’s beautiful out here.”
Hunter took a sip from his beer bottle and lay back in his chair. “Danielle is my ex-girlfriend. We dated for awhile as she screwed almost every guy on the roster.”
“Oh my God, that’s horrible!”
“Yep, she made her rounds. She ticked off a lot of people because she even slept with the married guys.”
Madison gasped. “Well, that’s their fault too but it’s not right. No wonder all the girls were getting upset.”
He nodded. “Alicia hates her with a passion. She tried to get her claws into Carter and I thought Alicia was going to kill her. Luckily, your brother is a great man. So, after she was revealed for being the whore that she is, I left her. But, I didn’t have a real relationship for a long time after her. I didn’t trust anyone. Then, I met you. How could I not trust you? You were an angel, so innocent and sweet.”
She blushed as she raised her glass to her lips. “You are a good guy, Hunter.”
“I don’t deserve you. You deserve better than me. Tonight alone I put you in two difficult situations.”
“Both events had nothing to do with you. The idiot was drunk and out of line and you had no idea that she would come. We handled both things.”
“But if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be in these situations. You don’t know the evils of this world because you lived by yourself, protected in your dome. You meet me and all these things start happening to you. It’s my fault.” He stood up and walked around the patio.
Madison walked over to him. “Hunter, you need to calm down. I don’t see it that way at all. You are letting me live life. Just enjoy it with me.”
He turned around and faced her. “Come on, I will drive you home.”
“I thought we were staying here tonight.”
He closed his eyes and sighed. “Not tonight. I need some time to get things ready for the trip.”
She frowned. “Oh ok.”
They walked to his truck as he drove her home. He pulled into a parking space and let the truck idle. Madison looked at him. “Why do I have this horrible feeling in my stomach that you are breaking up with me?”
He didn’t say anything. “We can talk when I get home, ok?”
Madison started to cry as she hopped from his truck. She heard him follow her. “Madison! You deserve better than me! I’m going to be traded! You don’t need all my personal issues or drama.”
“So you are going to shut me out? I want to be there for you, help you. I haven’t judged you once about anything. So what if you slept around, I never said a word about it. You are creating this issue, not me!”
Mike walked from the building and spotted their argument. “Hey guys, is everything ok?”
Hunter looked at him. “Look after her, ok? She needs someone who she can trust.” He turned around and hopped back into his truck and left. Madison collapsed to the blacktop as Mike ran over to her.
“Madison? What the hell just happened? Are you ok?”
She cried into her hands. “Hunter broke up with me.”
“What! Why?” he asked.
“I need to call Alicia.”
He nodded and helped her off the driveway. He remained quiet as they climbed the stairs. He placed his hand on her arm. “I’m right here if you want to talk later, ok? Just knock and walk in.”
She barely acknowledged him as she walked into the apartment and shut the door. She walked over the couch and collapsed. She didn’t know what she did wrong. She heard her phone ring. “Alicia?”
“Maddy, I’m on my way. Hunter called me and asked that I would come and check on you. He’s an ass, Maddy! Don’t you think twice about this, you didn’t do anything wrong. See you a few.”
She hung up and laid on the couch. She wiped her eyes and stared at the ceiling. She heard Alicia running up the stairs and open the door. “Oh Maddy, you will be ok.”
“What did he say to you?”
“He told me that you were pretty upset. He can’t get over his issues and the fact that he’s moving away from you. He loves you, Madison and he will come back. Just let him tak
e some time.”
“Did we break up?”
“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me. He just told me to come over and make sure you were ok.”
Madison rolled to her side and faced away from her. “I need to know where I went wrong, Alicia. He blames himself for putting me into these situations but I never said a word about anything.”
Alicia rubbed her back. “That’s why this is on him, not you!”
“He made me realize that there was a world out there and then he ditches me.”
She sighed. “He didn’t ditch you. He will be back because he won’t find someone as good as you.”
She closed her eyes. “You don’t have to stay. I’m fine.”
Alicia laughed. “You are far from fine. I told Carter that I would spend the night. I’m sure he’s giving Hunter a piece of his mind.”
“I don’t want them to fight over this.”
She chuckled. “Your brother will be on your side in any situation. He was nervous from the beginning about your relationship.”
There was a knock on the door. Madison jumped up thinking that Hunter changed his mind. She opened the door and spotted Mike. “Oh, hey Mike.”
He smiled. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt but I really didn’t want you to be alone.”
Alicia walked over to the door. “She’s not, I’m here. Hey sexy, how’s life?”
Madison rolled her eyes as she walked through the living room and onto the balcony. She sat down and put her feet up on the railing. Alicia joined her short time afterwards. “He’s a nice guy. I told him that I was staying with you tonight so he went back to his place.”
She nodded. “I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“About what, honey?”
“Life, I guess.”
“You are going to keep on living it. You moved here for a reason, you wanted a fresh start and a career. Tomorrow morning, you will wake up. Come shopping with me, look for that new job and get ready for school!”
Madison grinned. “That’s a lot to ask for.”
“I know you can do it because you are a strong person, Madison. It’s time for you to prove it to yourself. Hunter is gone for a week. You won’t be able to sort anything out until he comes back so let’s live life!”
She nodded. “Ok, I’m heading to bed. Let me grab you some covers for the couch.”
“Don’t worry about it, I know where everything is. Just get some sleep.”
Madison hugged and thanked her. She entered her room and threw her clothes onto the floor and climbed into bed. Tomorrow was a new day but she didn’t know if she could survive without Hunter.
CHAPTER TEN
In the morning, Madison rolled out of bed and made her way to the shower. She thought about the past night’s events and cried again. She loved him. She didn’t know what it would take to get him to realize that. She didn’t care about his past. She only looked towards the future with him.
She dressed in her blue sundress and walked into the kitchen. Alicia was up and cooking them breakfast. “Good morning, did you sleep?”
Madison nodded. “Yeah, I think everything wore me out.”
“What do you want to do today?” she asked as she placed her plate in front of her.
“You are the bride, you tell me.”
She smiled. “Why don’t we stop by the boutique and check on the dresses.”
She agreed. “I would like to walk around town and see if anyone is hiring. I need cash.”
“Finish breakfast and we will afterwards.”
“You are going to make a great mom, Alicia.” Madison paused. “Wait, did you find out anything yet?”
“They are supposed to call today but I know my body. I know I am.”
“Are you going to be ok?”
She nodded. “It’s earlier than what we were planning on but this child will be loved.”
“I’m so excited for you guys. When are you going to tell Carter?”
“As soon as the doctor confirms it, I will tell him over dinner.”
Madison smiled. “Just let me grab my purse and we can leave.”
A short time later, they drove into the small town and parked outside of the wedding boutique. The store was busy as they walked in. They spotted Amber as they waved. “I will be right with you ladies.” She disappeared into the backroom.
“It must be wedding season,” Madison stated.
“It’s because the weather is fantastic and people want to be near the beach. Amber has a couple of girls who work with her.”
“She needs more help. The poor girl is running around with her head chopped off.”
Finally the shop cleared out as Amber approached them. “I’m so sorry for the delay! We are getting into wedding season and everyone wants their dresses now!”
Alicia smiled. “Well, I’m just checking on mine. Did the bridesmaid dresses come in?”
They followed Amber to the counter as she disappeared into the backroom. She wheeled the rack out that held the four bridesmaid dresses. “They are beautiful!”
Madison looked at hers and smiled. “They really are. I love it. We need to schedule the final fittings. The wedding is next month.”
Amber grabbed her notepad and booked the fittings. “I wish I had more time to chat with you but I have a wedding part of twenty coming within the hour!”
Alicia frowned. “Oh that’s obnoxious.”
Madison laughed. “Amber, can I ask you a question?”
“Of course, what’s on your mind?”
“Are you looking for another employee?”
Amber looked at her. “I was just talking about that. It would only be part time.”
“That’s fine. I need something to go along with my schooling.”
“Do you have any experience with measurements, clothing or customer service?”
“I’m great with people. The other stuff I will pick up quick, I promise you. If you don’t like me, fire me.”
Amber looked at her. “Why not, I have nothing to lose. Can you start tomorrow?”
She nodded. “Of course, what time?”
“Be here around ten. I can run through stuff before the clients arrive.”
“Thank you, Amber. You won’t regret it.”
They waved as they left the store. Alicia hugged her. “Congrats! You found a job right off the bat.”
“I’m so relieved. That’s so amazing. Wait until I tell…” she trailed off.
Alicia jumped in. “Don’t you dare lose it again. You can tell him next week when he comes to his senses.”
She nodded. “What do you want to do now?”
“Let’s go over to my house and we will sort through the favors.”
*********************
A few hours into finishing up the favors, Alicia ordered a pizza and Madison walked out onto the deck. She felt someone approach as she turned around. “Hey Carter, I got a job.”
“That’s fantastic, where?” he asked.
“The wedding boutique in town, it’s just part time but it will help with the bills.”
He smiled. “I talked with Hunter last night.”
She turned back towards the ocean and watched the waves come on shore. “What did he say to you?”
“He’s in a bad place right now. He doesn’t want to hold you back from living your life and he hates that you are getting wrapped up in his drama. He doesn’t know how to handle the situation.”
Madison turned around. “I never gave him any reason that I was unhappy or didn’t want to make our relationship work. He bailed on me! I gave him my heart, my soul and he ran away.”
Carter hugged her. “He will be back next week. Talk to him.”
“He left me alone last night, in the middle of my parking lot. He bailed on me! I’m the one who found him passed out on his couch, I’m the one who moved here because I wanted to start my new life with him and never once did I complain to him.”
He nodded as he listened to her. “I love you, si
s. You are hundred percent correct about all of that and he knows that. That’s why he did what he did. He doesn’t want to bring you down with him. I respect him for it but I want to kick his ass for hurting you.”
Alicia walked out holding the pizza. “No more Hunter talk. Come eat, Madison. I think it’s time that we had some good news around here.”
Carter looked at her. “What’s going on?”
Alicia disappeared into the house as Carter looked at Madison. She shrugged her shoulders as she took a slice of pizza. When Alicia returned, she was holding a small box and handed it to Carter.
“What’s this for?” he asked.
“Consider it an early wedding gift.”
He laughed as he tore open the wrapping and ripped the box. He pulled out a mug that had “World’s Best Dad” written across it. Madison smiled from ear to ear while she realized that Alicia chose to have her involved in their moment.
Carter jumped up and wrapped his arms around her. “Are you serious?”
Alicia nodded. “Yep, you are going to be a father.”
He started to cry as he kissed her. When they finally pulled apart, Madison walked over and hugged both of them. “I’m so happy for you guys.”
“You are going to be an aunt!” Carter exclaimed.
“I can’t wait. He or she will be extremely spilled.” She smiled. “Hey, I’m going to give you guys some privacy. I will call Mike for a ride.”
“Please call me if you need company, ok?” Alicia pleaded.
“I will, now go and celebrate the big news.” Madison walked around the house and grabbed her phone. She started walking down the street towards a small park in their neighborhood as she sent Mike a text.
Can you pick me up? - Madison
If only took seconds for him to respond. Of course, everything ok? - Mike
Yes, I’m at the park on Willow Drive - Madison
I will be right there - Mike
She sat on the swing as she waited for him to arrive. She wondered what Hunter was doing and if he arrived safe in California. She grabbed her phone and stared at the screen. She didn’t know if she should text him but she needed to know.
Hey. Did you arrive ok? - Madison
Ice Dreams Part 2 Page 8