Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96312 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 482(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 321(@300wpm)
It had taken a surprisingly short time for his response.
Was it wrong that I wanted to read something into it? Like, maybe Maddox didn’t mind stepping in as much as he claimed? That he’d had as much fun as I had? How was it that the Maddrian hashtag and the uptick in Legacy matchmaking enthusiasm hadn’t turned him off?
I closed my messaging app and blew out a breath. Sell the fantasy, don’t fall for it, I reminded myself.
I forced myself to work for a few hours, checking in with other sponsors, responding to comments and DMs, and posting more content from our day yesterday. But every time I looked at one of our reels, it was impossible not to focus on the dark-haired man across from me at the hot chocolate table.
Finally, I couldn’t stand it anymore. I pulled out my phone and texted him.
Are you seeing this? The reaction to our videos?
Maddox
No. Some of us have actual work to do.
For some of us, this *is* the work. Don’t be a job snob.
Maddox
He’s a poet, ladies and gentlemen.
I tried to relax my cheeks, which were already sore from grinning like a fool. He was so fun to provoke.
The comments are going INSANE. Apparently you have “mountain daddy energy”
Maddox
What the hell does that even mean?
It means half my followers want to climb you like a tree. The other half want to adopt you and feed you soup.
Maddox
Disturbing. All of it.
Oh come on, don’t tell me you haven’t looked at the comments. “The way he looks at Adrian when Adrian’s not looking” has 500 likes.
Maddox
I don’t look at you any particular way.
Sure, Sullivan. And I don’t spend twenty minutes styling my hair to look “effortlessly tousled”
Maddox
Twenty minutes? For hair that looks like you stuck your finger in an electrical socket?
HEY. This is premium chaos. It takes skill to look this accidentally perfect.
Maddox
“Accidentally perfect”
Was that… was that an emoji? From the man who probably still has a flip phone?
Maddox
I’ll have you know I WOULD still have a flip phone if Maya hadn’t upgraded my phone against my will. Also she’s reading over my shoulder right now and says to tell you she’s team #Maddrian
Not sure our ship name should be so… Maddox-central.
Maddox
It’s better than #Adriox
Okay that one sounds like a cleaning product. Fine. Maddrian it is.
Maddox
There is no Maddrian. It’s a made-up word for a made-up thing.
Sure, but tell that to the 847 people who used the hashtag in the last hour.
Maddox
I’m turning my phone off now.
Wait! Before you go full hermit mode… for tomorrow’s Christmas tree cutting, remember to dress warm. And maybe try to look less like you’re attending your own execution?
Maddox
I enjoy a lecture on warm clothing from someone who owns more Speedos than sweaters.
How do you know about my Speedos… has someone been scrolling social media incognito?
There was a pause, and I wondered if I’d annoyed him or embarrassed him. Or both. But a few minutes later, I got a response.
Maddox
Of course I checked you out before agreeing to do business with you.
Checked me out. I like the sound of that, Sullivan.
Maddox
Your *account*. And since it seems you can’t go a week without posting a cheesecake thirst trap shot, I’ve had my eyeballs seared by several images of you wearing nothing but dick mittens.
I… don’t even know how to respond to that. Dick mittens?
Maddox
“Budgie smugglers” seemed too complimentary. Like you had something live and worthwhile in there.
Are you fishing for a… budgie pic?
Maddox
This conversation has gone in a horrific direction. If you send me a pic of your… budgie… I will print it out and post it on the bulletin board at the hardware store. Which reminds me, I have work to do. Goodbye, Hayes.
Wait! One more thing…
Maddox
What?
Tomorrow when we’re cutting down trees and being all ruggedly authentic… try to remember you’re supposed to be the grumpy one. I have a reputation to maintain.
Maddox
Trust me. My grumpiness is very authentic. Especially at 9 AM.
Perfect. See you tomorrow, mountain daddy.
Maddox
I’m blocking your number.
No you’re not
Maddox
*sigh* No I’m not.
My cheeks continued to hurt the rest of the afternoon and evening. When I ran back to town to grab takeout for dinner at Timber, I ended up meeting several locals who all welcomed me and congratulated me on the success of the first posts.
While I enjoyed my time meeting new people, the way I usually did, I was low-key disappointed the place seemed to be missing one ornery photographer.
I checked my phone off and on all evening in hopes of seeing more of his snarky texts, but there weren’t any. For the first time in a very long time, I hurried to bed early.
Morning couldn’t come fast enough.
When my alarm went off, I showered and dressed carefully, selecting pieces from Nordique’s premium collection—brown wool trousers, the exquisite cream Maribel sweater that came up high on my neck, and the camel overcoat that had prompted an unexpectedly heated stare from Maddox the day he’d agreed to be my videographer.