With a sigh, I turn back to Steve.
“This is going to sound crazy…”
I tell him everything, starting with finding out that Madelyn was the woman I’d been spending so much time within the game. I tell him about going to her place, how we bonded. I keep out all the intimate details, of course – no father needs to hear that – but I tell him about our date, and the standoff at her campus with that asshole Dirk.
Steve sits back as he processes it all, massaging his temples.
Madelyn looks at me, lips shaking trying to hold back a sob.
“It’s not just that we’re together,” Madelyn says quickly, as though she can’t stand the silence. “It’s so much more than that.”
“Go on,” Steve says.
“This part is going to sound even crazier, Dad. But I swear it’s the truth.”
“Maddie, I trust you. If you tell me something, I know it won’t be a lie.”
She swallows and then explains about our deep connection. She tells Steve we’re going to be together forever, we’re going to have a family together.
I watch his face carefully, trying to read him, but he’s composed his features into a mask. I can’t read him at all.
“So this isn’t just a fling?” he finally asks.
“No,” Madelyn and I say at the same time, our voices fierce.
“No,” I repeat. “Steve, this is insane. I’ll be the first to admit that. But Madelyn and I fell for each other in the game. And when we met in person, something… I don’t want to sound cheesy, but in this instance, it fits. Something magical happened. I hate that we snuck around behind your back. We shouldn’t have done that.”
“You’re right,” Steve says. “You shouldn’t have. But…”
He pauses.
But?
Madelyn and I wait as the seconds seem to stretch to minutes. Steve’s mask slips and he frowns deeply.
“But what, Dad?”
“I haven’t exactly been honest myself.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Madelyn
“What do you mean?” I ask as I try to fight off yet another wave of tears.
It isn’t fair to cry, to make it all about myself and how I feel, and yet I can’t seem to stop. It’s like this heartache inside of me is trying to burst out.
Dad sighs and rubs his hands together, looking at me with an expression I recognize well. It’s the same way he looked at me when he told me he and mom were getting a divorce. I prepare myself for whatever he’s going to tell us.
Surely it can’t be any worse than what we just told him.
“Did Max tell you how he found your address?” Dad asks.
I nod. “Yeah, he got my details from the server. Don’t worry. He promised he’s never going to do that again, even if it is a little creepy…”
I giggle, shooting Maxton a look. He grins tightly and I realize my mistake. There shouldn’t be any room for laughter here. But when I turn back at my dad, I spot a glimmer in his eyes, almost like he’s happy for us.
No, that can’t be right. I must be seeing things.
“He didn’t get the details,” Dad says. “I did.”
“But you didn’t look in the folder, did you?” Maxton murmurs.
“That’s what I told you.” Dad nods. “But I lied. I looked in the file.”
Maxton gasps. It’s such a strange sound coming from him. I’ve never heard him sound so shocked before.
“Wait, let me get this straight. You looked in the file, saw that Genevieve was Maddie, and you gave it to me anyway?”
“Yes,” he says with conviction.
“Why?” I ask, pawing at my silent tears. “That doesn’t make any sense. You knew how much I cared – care – about Smolder. We spoke about it. You even teased me about it. And wait a second… that night you called me when you said you’d wanted me to be happy. That’s all you ever wanted. Was it about this?”
Dad frowns deeply. “Yes, it was. I meant to tell you the truth then. But I couldn’t bring myself to.”
“And that’s why you asked how things were going with my online boyfriend.”
Dad groans. “Yeah, it is. I guess I was fishing.”
“I still don’t understand, Dad. If you knew…”
“I chose to give him the file exactly because I knew, Maddie. I know you both, and I’ve never seen either of you as happy, or as excited as when you were talking about your online relationship. So I chose to put my personal feelings aside and let fate take its course.”
“But that must’ve been so damn strange for you, Steve.” Maxton leans forward, looking closely at his friend. “It must’ve killed you.”
Dad shakes his head. “I didn’t make the decision straight away. I had that file for two days before I decided to give it to you. I could sense a change in you both. I knew how difficult you were finding it, being apart. And hell, I know you, Max. I know you’re a good man. I know you’d only ever want the best for my daughter.”