Three Days

by Ariadne Wayne

My finger hovered over the phone. She was attractive, but the connection wasn’t there. Not like it was with Maddy. I closed my eyes, and saw Maddy in the arms of someone else. There was some intimate connection between her and the guy by the car. The way his hands rested on her easily, the way she was snuggled into his neck. The same way she’d snuggled into my neck.

  We hadn’t made any promises, no commitment to one another. Whatever we had was so new, but we’d been intimate. I’d never been one for just jumping into bed with a woman. I had to feel a connection, like the one I’d felt with Maddy.

  Sounds great. I’ll shower and meet you if you text me where you are.

  The hot water felt good, cleansing in more ways than one. If that was what Maddy wanted, fine. She could have him. At least I’d seen it with my own eyes, not found out later. Jealousy burned, but I had to extinguish the feeling.

  I just hadn’t thought it would hurt this much.

  After dressing, I went down the stairs, heading out the door to the car. Maddy was coming in the building as I approached the exit.

  Hey, how was your day?” she asked cheerily.

  “Fine. Sorry, gotta run.”

  She reached for me as I went past, but I kept going.

  “Where are you off to?”

  I turned back toward her. “I’ve got a date. Don’t wait up.”

  It was stupid, hurtful, and I cursed myself as I got in the car. I didn’t even stop to see what her reaction was, and I didn’t have the guts to go back to check.

  Kim sat at the bar, smiling as I approached.

  “You made it.”

  I nodded, leaning on the bar to get a drink and gulping it down as fast as I could.

  “Wow. Someone’s had a bad day.” Her hand landed on my arm, gently squeezing it.

  All I could think of was Maddy.

  “Another one, please,” I said to the bartender. This one went down slower, but after not drinking for so long, I could already feel the effects, becoming warmer in my own skin, relaxing, despite still being stressed about it all.

  “Andrew, are you okay?” Kim laughed, tossing her hair and smiling at me in that way.

  Holy shit. What am I doing?

  “I’ll be better when I’ve wiped today from my mind.”

  Worry crossed her face, a small dent appearing between her eyebrows as she frowned. “Was the interview that bad?”

  “Not the interview. Just stuff.”

  A sly smile crossed her lips, and she ran her index finger down my chest. “Anything I can distract you from?”

  “We’ll just have to see what happens, won’t we?”

  I was giving her false hope; I knew that the moment I opened my mouth. But if I could just pretend to be interested in anyone other than Maddy, maybe I could get through this.

  Maddy.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  The crisp night air filled my lungs, the cold making me cough. My head spun from the amount that I’d drunk.

  “Come back to my place,” Kim slurred, no better than I was.

  I shook my head. “I have to go home. I’ve got things to take care of.”

  She pouted. “Are you sure?”

  I nodded, waving down a taxi as it dropped someone outside the pub. The driver stopped, and waved back to indicate he was free.

  “You can get that taxi, I’ll wait for the next one,” I said.

  Kim grabbed me, pulling my body against hers, her lips pressed against mine as she tried to push her tongue into my mouth. I didn’t let her, but I didn’t fight her off.

  “Maybe another time,” she whispered, kissing my cheek.

  “I’m seeing someone else.”

  Even drunk, she processed the words, and backed off, her face stony and cold.

  “I’m sorry, Kim. This whole thing. I came out because I think the girl I started seeing is screwing someone else and I ran instead of talking. But all I can think about is her and how much I miss her.”

  “Here we go again. I’m always the girl who wants the guy who’s in love with someone else. Fuck my life.” She turned on her heel, storming to the taxi, not looking behind her as she drove off.

  I didn’t have the energy to protest, to apologise. I just wanted to get home and find out what was going on with Maddy.

  Staggering in the front door, I headed straight for Carly’s room. I got as far as raising my fist to knock before realising it was twenty-seven minutes past three in the morning. I was drunk, and about as appealing as a drowned rat.

  Stumbling up to my room, I flopped face down on the bed. I’d tidy up and go and see her in the morning.

  It’s already morning.

  At some point I rolled over and looked at the clock. It read three forty-five and I knew it was afternoon because it hurt to open my eyes in the bright sunlight streaming through the window.

  My stomach grumbled, but my head still spun. I lay back on the pillow and went back to sleep.

  ~

  It was lunchtime before I woke again, my stomach grumbling, complaining at the lack of food I’d given it during the last couple of days.

  I rolled out of bed, grabbing a box of crackers from the cupboard. I sat on the couch, flicking on the television and stuffing my face. This had to make me feel better.

  Before climbing on the bed, I hadn’t removed any clothing, and I grimaced at the sweaty smell and gross feel of wearing the same clothes for a day and a half.

  Food, shower and a coffee. That was what I really needed. And Maddy, to go and work out what was going on with Maddy.

  I pressed my palms to my face, groaning at my own stupidity. Instead of lashing out at her, I should have stopped just for a moment and found out what was going on. At least if she was seeing someone else and didn’t want to see me anymore, I would have known for sure.

  I got as far as lying back on the couch, resting my head on the arm. All that sleep and I was still tired, in need of motivation.

  It didn’t take long to fall into that half-asleep, hazy state again. Lying on the couch wasn’t helpful in that respect.

  I jumped at the loud knock on the door, rolling and landing on the floor on my butt. “Who on earth is that?” I grumbled.

  Oh shit, it could be Maddy.

  Standing, I straightened my tie, brushing my jacket down with my hands. I might be a mess, but I’d be a respectable mess if I could get away with it. Rubbing my chin, I noted the now two-day-old stubble. I must look like crap.

  Carly stood there, casting a glance over me and shaking her head. “What on earth have you been doing, Andrew? You look like something the cat dragged in, and I know you were up here all day yesterday.”

  “I’ve been sleeping.”

  “What did you do to Maddy?”

  I sighed, shaking my head. Carly fumed at me, tapping her foot on the wooden floor, my head pounding as the sound bore through my brain.

  “I saw her with another guy. Look, Carly, I don’t know what the story is, but when I was presentable, I was planning on coming down to talk to her and work this out if we can.”

  She set her jaw. “That other guy was Logan. He’s Maddy’s ex-boyfriend and still her close friend. They’re more like brother and sister now. You’re the one she’s crazy about.”

  “She brushed me off to go somewhere for the night and then I see her all tangled up with him. What was I supposed to think?” I was exasperated. Yeah, I’d not stopped to talk to Maddy, but she hadn’t told me what she was doing either.

  She sighed this time. “Maddy doesn’t think things through sometimes. If she didn’t tell you where she was going, I understand that it looked bad. I’m sorry, Andrew, but she’s been crying for nearly two days now, and I’m worried about her.”

  My stomach plummeted, and not because of the hangover.

  “You smell like a brewery. Let’s get you cleaned up so you can go and see her.”

  Carly pushed past me, heading for the kitchen and grabbed the coffee jar. “You, go and have a shower. Put some clean clothes o
n.”

  “Yes, Mum,” I said.

  She looked up at me, shaking her head, clamping her lips together as she tried her best to hide her amusement.

  I grabbed a clean T-shirt and jeans, and disappeared to have the hottest shower I think I’ve ever had. I was pretty sure Carly was out there running water to push the temperature up.

  It turned out to be what I needed. My skin tingled from the heat of the water, and the soap soon got rid of that awful lying-in-bed sick sensation.

  After brushing my teeth twice, I headed back out to Carly. She smiled, handing me a coffee. “Much better.”

  “Carly, I’m sorry.”

  “Save it for Maddy. She’s the one who’s hurting.”

  The sound of sniffing came over the top of the blanket as I entered the room. She faced away, and I think she just assumed I was her mother, as she didn’t move when I sat on the bed.

  I’d never been in there. There was a music stand in the corner, a guitar against the wall, and on the small desk at the end of the bed was a violin. The source of my mystery music.

  “I hear you’ve been crying for two days,” I said, placing my hand on her arm.

  Maddy rolled over, pushing my hand away. Heavy, red-rimmed eyes were all I could see, that soft skin of hers bloated from the tears.

  “No. I got something in my eye.” Always defiant, never giving in.

  “Both of them? For two days?”

  She sniffed loudly. “Yeah. It took something big to do this much damage. Pretty sure it was your ego.”

  I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Ouch.” Raising my hand to her cheek, I wiped the new tear that rolled down. “Lucky you have that much liquid in your body. I didn’t come in here and find a shrivelled up prune.”

  She bit her bottom lip, suppressing the laughter that threatened to make its way out. “You’re a jerk. You know that, right?”

  “Yes. I am a jerk. But, if I promise not to be so stupid again, will you forgive me? I got everything wrong, and I should have talked to you. Not been a bigger jerk.”

  “I didn’t do anything bad.” She sniffed, her breaths growing shorter as the tears threatened again.

  “I know you didn’t. If it makes you feel better, I didn’t enjoy myself. Even when she kissed me goodnight, all I thought about was you.”

  Maddy sat up, her face darkened with anger. “Wait. You kissed her?”

  Shit.

  “Well, kind of. She kissed me. It was the end of the night, and we were saying goodbye and she kissed me.”

  Her voice rose, and I prayed Carly wouldn’t hear. “What? I did nothing, Andrew. Nothing. And here you are, making out with someone else five minutes after sleeping with me. Screw you.”

  She turned her back on me again, lying down and hugging her pillow tight to her. I could have walked away, moved out, pretended none of this had ever happened, but Maddy was the first, the only one I’d wanted in so long.

  “Maddy,” I whispered, lying on the bed beside her and snuggling up to her back. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I saw you with that guy and it drove me crazy. You two looked so intimate and I was jealous.”

  “Logan is like a brother to me,” she said between sobs.

  “I get that now. I can’t tell you how sorry I am. I’ll do whatever it takes to make it up to you. If I can. Please.”

  She rolled over to face me. “I don’t know if you can. I don’t think I did anything to deserve you doing that.”

  I stroked her face, pushing her hair back behind her ear. “You didn’t. It was entirely my fault. Old habits—rushing into stupid shit that I shouldn’t have. I have no idea where this is going, Maddy, but the only person I was thinking of when I went on that damn date was you. I missed you so much.”

  “I missed you too.” Her arms slid around either side of my neck, and we just lay there, clinging to one another.

  There was nowhere else I wanted to be. I just hoped like hell she knew it.

  “Logan just went through some really bad stuff with an ex, and wanted to talk about it. So, I crashed on the couch at his place and we stayed up until early morning. He just needed a friend.”

  I kissed her forehead, lingering over her face as I breathed in her scent, grounding myself.

  “I guess we both could have communicated better,” she whispered. “I didn’t even think about it. I’m not used to having someone at home who gives a crap, except for Mum and Bob.”

  “I’m here, and I give a crap,” I said, tenderly kissing her lips, her cheeks, looking into those eyes that had been so sad, but now had a glimmer of a smile.

  I had no idea where we were going, but I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “Don’t you think it’s a bit too soon to be involved with someone? You’ve only been here a month,” my mother asked, stroking my arm ever so lightly. They’d arrived ten minutes ago and I was already feeling under scrutiny.

  “It’s nothing serious. At least, not yet. She’s fun to be around, and we’re enjoying ourselves. Is there anything wrong with that?” I sighed, knowing I needed to downplay it or I’d never hear the end of this.

  “I worry, Andrew. After everything that happened, I worry that you might get too attached to her, and if it goes badly—“

  “I’ll kidnap her and disappear? Is that what you’re trying to say, Mum?” I glared at her, stopping her in her tracks before she could try to go there.

  I sighed again, leaning back on the couch and looking at the ceiling. “I’ve changed a lot since I’ve been away. I thought you, of all people, would recognise that and support me. Seriously.” I looked back at my mother. Her brows were furrowed, her eyes full of concern. “Maddy is special. She knows exactly what she’s getting with me, and she wants me anyway. If it lasts then it lasts, if it doesn’t, we’ll both move on. Right now, I can’t tell you which way it’s going to go because it’s new, and it’s pretty damn wonderful after feeling nothing for so long.”

  Dad’s hand landed on my knee. “It’s okay, Andrew. Mum worries; that’s all. I do too, but I know we need to give you the space you need to work these things out. Hell, if I could convince you to come home with us, I’d get you out of here in a heartbeat.”

  I placed my hand on top of Dad’s, squeezing it to thank him. “There’s more chance of me finding work here, and my counsellor is here. Nowhere else makes sense for me to be. Besides, I can’t stay where Charlie is. I can’t get bogged down with all those memories. I have the welfare payments. I know I can’t live on it forever, but it’s enough right now.”

  Mum stood, going back to the counter in silence to make more coffee.

  “She understands, Son, she really does. It’s a lot of take in. You’re back and then you’re gone again.”

  There was a knock on the door, and I got up to answer, laughing as I saw who was on the other side, and what she was wearing. “Why are you knocking?” I stifled a laugh, and got a pinch to the stomach in response.

  “I’m being polite,” said Maddy through gritted teeth. A white, collared blouse and long black skirt made her look like some kind of old-fashioned school ma’am.

  “Mum, Dad, this is Madeleine,” I said, smiling sweetly. Maddy scowled at me before breaking out into a big, welcoming smile for my parents.

  ~

  Carly waited at the bottom of the stairs, greeting us as we descended. I smirked at Maddy’s face. Her mother was wearing her trademark jeans and Metallica shirt. Not the image Maddy was trying to convey. Maddy frowned and rolled her eyes as we drew closer.

  “Mum, Dad, this is Madeleine’s mother, Carly.”

  Maddy glared at me while Carly laughed, reaching out to shake hands with Dad.

  “Madeleine?” She looked at Maddy while shaking her head.

  I laughed, shaking my head. “Sorry, baby,” I murmured, kissing Maddy while my parents introduced themselves to Carly.

  “You’ll keep,” she said.

  “That’s
what I’m counting on.” I looked around at the parents engrossed in talking to each other, then slid my hand down her back, squeezing her butt cheeks.

  “What are you doing?” she hissed.

  “Checking if you’re wearing underwear.”

  She slapped my arm as Dad looked up. “You two ready for dinner?” He smiled at Carly. “Do you want to join us?”

  Carly shook her head. “Not this time. I’ve got a new guest arriving shortly and I like to make sure I greet them myself. Have fun.”

  “We will,” Mum said brightly.

  Maddy’s eyes were big as saucers as we entered the restaurant. “I’ve never been anywhere this fancy,” she whispered.

  The tables were candlelit, with sparkling white crockery and shiny cutlery that glittered in the dusky light.

  As we were shown to our table, she marvelled at the waiter pulling out her chair, and gasped at the white cotton napkins, embroidered with the restaurant logo.

  Nails latched onto my leg when the menu came out, and I could see the sheer terror in her eyes at ordering the pricey dishes. Dad hadn’t cut any corners; he seemed to be out to impress.

  It was working. I held her hand under the table to reassure her, and despite her trembling at times, she handled the situation without skipping a beat. She was better at pronouncing some of the menu items than the waiter. I still had a lot to learn about her.

  A jazz band sat in the corner, playing as the food was delivered to the table, and we ate, making small talk as if the most momentous thing that had happened to me recently wasn’t sitting there, squeezing my hand.

  All I wanted was to get her home and into bed.

  We were eating chocolate cake for dessert when the music picked up the pace. Mum and Dad turned to watch the band. I leaned over, nuzzling Maddy’s neck.

  “Careful. I might think you’re after something,” she whispered.

  “You might be right.” I laughed, touching the outside of her skirt, right at the apex of her legs. If she were panty-free, this would drive her nuts.