“I’m not sure.” I wasn’t one to break a confidence so I didn’t divulge the tiny piece of information he’d shared with me recently.
“I think there’s something going on with them. Harlow hasn’t been her usual self lately.”
“I guess, whatever it is, it’s between them. She’ll share with you when and if she’s ready.”
“I don’t want them to be having problems.” She sighed. “She’s so good for him. He better not fuck this up.”
“How’s J?” I asked, wanting to change the subject.
She grinned. “He’s an ass, but I love him.”
I snorted. “You two really were made for each other, weren’t you?”
“Yep.”
“You guys talking babies yet?”
“Oh god, he keeps bringing it up, but I’m in no hurry.” She grew serious. “I just want to enjoy him all to myself for a while longer, you know what I mean? We spent so many years stuffing around with what we had . . . I need more time with him before we add kids to the mix.”
“Smart move, babe.”
Harlow brought our breakfast over, and Madison spent the next half an hour while we ate filling me in on what she’d been up to. I listened to everything she said, but my mind kept shifting to Layla, wondering how she was this morning. Wondering whether I was ingrained on her soul as much as she was on mine.
One night, and she can do that to me.
Fuck.
“Blade!”
I blinked.
“What?”
She shook her head at me. “You’re so far away today, but you’re not gonna tell me where you are, are you?”
If I didn’t give her something, she’d never leave me alone. “No, babe, it’s for me at the moment. If it goes anywhere, I promise you’ll be the first to know.”
She slowly nodded. “Okay.”
We finished eating and headed out to our cars after saying goodbye to Harlow. Madison hugged me and made me promise to have breakfast again in a couple of days.
My phone rang, distracting me from watching her leave. “Hello,” I answered it, not recognising the number on the screen.
“Blade.”
The voice on the other end was one I hadn’t heard in years. One I’d never wanted to hear again. “Ricky.”
“Your father’s playing with fire. You might want to tell him to back the fuck off,” he threatened.
“I don’t have anything to do with my father so I suggest you tell him yourself.” Even after all these years he still managed to piss me off.
“This was just a friendly suggestion between old friends. I don’t intend to waste my time talking to Marcus.”
“You and I were never friends, Ricky.”
“It pains me you feel that way, Blade. Way I remember it, we were. We’ve certainly got a shitload of shared memories. You know, like that time I lied for you to that Judge.”
His meaning wasn’t lost on me. It was a clear threat.