Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75142 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 376(@200wpm)___ 301(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
“Been there.”
He took another long swig from the bottle before offering it to me. “Drink with me?”
I checked my watch again. Fuck. I had that date with Isaiah. I’d been looking forward to it, and he had a reservation. But Maddox clearly needed me here. He was a fucking mess, and if I left him, he’d drink himself into a stupor.
I snatched the bottle back from him but didn’t take a drink.
He laughed. “Never could resist a good party.”
“Better get some music going if this is a party.”
He stumbled headfirst to his computer and turned on some horrendous music. I knew he wasn’t far from blacking out. Maddox needed me more than my date. I’d just reschedule.
With a sigh, I shot a text to Isaiah.
I’m so sorry. I’m going to have to reschedule tonight. My friend is going through a huge breakup, and they need me.
His response was almost immediate.
What the fuck? We’ve had this planned all week. If you wanted a reason to cancel, just fucking say so. You don’t have to be a bitch.
I stared at his response in blatant alarm. My mouth hung open in shock. Wow. This guy had been so incredibly sweet all week. Responding to all of my messages with emojis and love-bombing me with sweet nothings. One reschedule, and the real guy came out. He sent a string of texts, calling me all sorts of terrible names. The responses growing more and more terrifying. Within a few minutes, I had to block his number. Good riddance. I dodged a bullet with that one.
“What?” Maddox asked as he came back over to where I was standing. He couldn’t even focus on my face. He looked like he was spinning.
“Just canceled my date. The guy was a jerk.”
“You deserve someone better,” Maddox said.
“Thanks. How are you doing?” I kicked off my heels and went for the water. “Drink more of this water.”
“I’m fine. Just come dance with me.”
“Dance?” I asked with a laugh. “Since when do you dance?”
“Always.” He paused and thought about it. “Or never.”
But he grabbed my hand, and we danced around his apartment. He was wasted and clearly grieving his relationship. I felt bad that it had fallen apart because of me. Or at least because of Amanda’s own insecurities about me. But I couldn’t deny that I was having fun with Maddox like this.
We moved in time to the music. It felt ridiculous, and I couldn’t stop laughing. This was probably a better time than I would have had with that jerk anyway.
Maddox grabbed my hand and swung me back into him. We collided with a soft oof, and he pulled me tight against him. His words were soft when they left his mouth. “Amanda was right.” I tried to pull back to look at his face in question, but he wouldn’t let me go. “I am still in love with you.”
My eyes closed in pain at the words. At the wasted years. And the fact that only breaking up with his girlfriend had gotten him to admit it to me. Not that he was in any condition to do anything about it.
“Maddox.”
But he crashed down on the couch and looked at me with glazed eyes. A few minutes later, he was passed out.
I ran a hand down my face. What a mess.
I rummaged through his clothes and changed into a pair of basketball shorts that I rolled up three or four times and an oversize T-shirt.
When his roommate, Andrew, showed back up around ten, he looked between us with a smirk on his face. “About time.”
I snorted. “He and Amanda broke up. I didn’t think he should get drunk alone. Can you help me carry him to his bed?”
Andrew nodded, and together, we got him into his bed. I never would have been able to do it on my own. Even with Andrew, I’d barely been much help.
“Thanks.”
“Anytime. And, Josie,” he said before he left Maddox’s room.
“Yeah?”
“I was always rooting for y’all.”
I laughed. “Uh, thanks.”
He tipped his head at me and then disappeared.
I should probably go home. Maddox would wake up, hungover, and he’d deal with all of that on his own. I could call to check on him. But I found that I didn’t want to go home. I wanted to sit here in his bed and watch the easy rise and fall of his chest. To see that he was safe.
I tucked my legs under the covers and turned on my side to watch him sleep. I brushed a strand of his curls off his forehead. It immediately flopped back down into place. But he reached out for me, finding my hand and pulling it against his chest, as if I belonged there, as if I were precious.
So, I lay there with my hand against his chest until I succumbed to sleep.