Total pages in book: 128
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 599(@200wpm)___ 479(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“I shouldn’t have said anything,” I admit, not regretting the feelings, but the honesty.
“You weren’t exactly quoting Shakespeare, but it was pretty damn obvious what you were saying,” he says. He arches one brow. “You mean it? You love her?”
“Don’t you?” I’m deflecting and we both know it, but I also want to know where Maddox’s head is at. I have no doubt about mine, but I want to see his cards before showing my hand.
He’s quiet for a long moment before he carefully says, “Kayla isn’t the type to jump in the deep end with both feet and her eyes closed, but in a lot of ways, she’s done just that with us. I think she’s going to backslide before she commits.”
His non-answer pisses me off, despite having done the same thing myself for a relatively similar reason—fear. “Sounds a lot like someone else I know. Someone who is perfectly content to let things stay surface-level, or even shallower, but as soon as things get the slightest bit deep, or real, he laughs it off like a joke,” I growl. “It’s a valid defense mechanism, but at some point, you’re going to have to risk it for the biscuit.”
It's the most I’ve ever called him on his bullshit because I’m not sure Kayla is the one panicking. I think The Panicker is still in the room with me, fighting to uphold his image as a carefree, easy-going guy who can bounce back from anything in record time. But underneath that image, there’s a man with a good heart, one he hides from almost everyone. That he’s shown it to Kayla demonstrates that she is as different for him as she is for me.
She'd better fucking be, I think, glaring at Maddox and suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to punch him.
He clenches his jaw, grinding his teeth together. “Yeah, I’m going to have to go a little deeper, but you’re gonna have to trust her enough to let her into that fortress you call a heart.”
I snort out a humorless laugh. “Man, she’s there. Terrifyingly so. Like I might legit have a breakdown about it if you fuck this up for me. So of the two of us, I’m not the holdout.”
He stares at me silently for a moment before thumping his head back against the headboard, looking up at the ceiling. “Fuck.”
His echo of my earlier sentiments says he’s finally catching on to how deep we’re in this thing. With a grin, I say, “Welcome to the club.”
He flips me off with an annoyed huff, still looking upward.
Okay, so we’re on the same page. Basically, without the words, we’re both admitting that we’re in love with Kayla. This is major for both of us. But on to the other issue at hand. “Do you really think she’s panicking? Or is that some misplaced psychobabble shit from our own insecurities?”
“Both?” he answers uncertainly. “It doesn’t feel right. My Spidey senses are going off.” He waves the piece of paper around.
“Have you called her yet?” It’s a completely reasonable question considering Kayla even mentions it in the note, but Maddox shakes his head.
“Wanted to see what you thought first.”
“Fucking call her,” I order, “and put it on speakerphone.”
The line rings three times before Kayla answers, sounding breathless. “Hey. You’re up early.”
“Yeah, saw your note.” Maddox is tip-toeing around what he really wants to say, which is ‘are you running out on us again?’. It’s a good move so that we don’t look like the desperate scaredy-cats we actually are.
“Have you been online yet?” she asks, surprising me a bit. That’s not what I expected at all.
To Maddox too, given his brows slam together. “Not since last night. Is Brent doing damage control?”
“I wish. No, I’m the one going up in flames currently. There’s video of us outside the restaurant. I’m no longer Kayla Harrington, heir apparent to Blue Lake Assets and Vice President of Acquisitions. Nope, I’m just the latest and greatest in a line of Mad-Tricks.”
“Son of a bitch,” I hiss out. I’ve got my phone out, my search starting as soon as she said ‘online’, and I’m seeing exactly what she’s talking about. “There are headlines on sports pages, still images from the video, and… fuck, the Reddit boards are lit up.”
I lean over the bed, holding my phone closer to Maddox so he can see the absolute shitstorm brewing, and ask, “What can we do?”
“Nothing. Just lay low,” she says, sounding all business. “It won’t help matters if you’re seen leaving my condo, doing the walk of shame in last night’s clothes.”
I’m not ashamed. I’m damn proud to love this woman.
“Kayla,” I say warningly.
“Look,” she starts, “this is probably no big deal to you. It won’t hurt your career or cause anything worse than a few side-eyes. But for me, this is big. Professionally, personally, with my family.” She’s quiet for a second, like she’s considering all the ways this could fuck her over, then she bites out, “Fuck, I’ve got to talk to Mom and Dad before they find out. Some garden club bitch would be all too happy to drop this bomb on my unsuspecting mother. That’s how they work.”