“You’re not the one who should be apologizing, Mom.”
Her cheeks barely lifted before turning back around to the counter.
My chest grew tight, and my shoulders tensed, but somehow, it all disappeared when I opened the door and saw Madeline standing there in the cutest fucking get-up I’d ever seen.
I couldn’t help my lips splitting. She peered up at me from those beautiful blue eyes, her cheeks pink and full of life.
“What?” She crossed her arms over her chest and glanced away. “You better not make fun of me. I had to pull these out of the back of my bottom drawer because I’d never ever worn them in my life.”
I held back a laugh and scoured my gaze over her. Her hair, the color of the sun, was in waves falling over her slender shoulders. Her skin was free of makeup but still so incredibly gorgeous. The light-pink thermal pjs were snug on her frame, outlining the two mounds on her chest and sliding over the curve of her hips. My mouth watered. How could someone be so cute but so fucking hot at the same time?
“Eric!” She stomped her foot. “Is this part of your game? Did you only invite me over here, in my dumb pjs, to make fun of me? Are you going to snap pictures and post them all over social media or something? Because let me save you the trouble; people will make fun of me regardless. You can’t embarrass me further.”
I rolled my eyes before grasping her wrist and pulling her into my house. The door slammed shut behind her as I caged her in. “Oh, we’re playing a game, alright. But it’s not what you think.”
I grinned, and a switch of desire flicked on as I watched her pupils dilate. Her hooded eyes became glassy. “I invited you over because I was going absolutely fucking insane knowing you were just a few yards away, stuck in a house that is the furthest thing from a home. It’s not safe there. It is here. Thus, why I invited you.”
Madeline barely flinched, but I could see the wheels turning. “I didn’t realize you cared so much about my safety.”
I halted, slowly dropping my arm as I heard my mom coming through the foyer. I took a step away from her and all her natural beauty she liked to hide at school with makeup. “I didn’t either.”
“I know! He’s my favorite too. I want to know more. I hope next season they give us some more background on him.”
My mom nodded. “I bet they will! That was a good cliffhanger. I’m going to look up how many seasons there are. We might need to make this a weekly thing!”
Madeline sat up and crisscrossed her legs with excitement. Her pink thermal pants rubbed along my thigh, and every single nerve ending in my body fired to attention. “Good idea!”
Rubbing a hand down my face, I glanced away from the two of them. They were lost in their conversation about whatever show we were watching on Netflix. I had no fucking idea what the show was called or what it was about because, the entire time, I was too concerned with the way Madeline’s leg kept touching mine, and how she’d gasp at a twist in the storyline, or how her features would soften when the main character would kiss the girl. She was mesmerizing. It was one of the first times I’d let myself loose, allowing myself to truly take her in, but now, I couldn’t seem to stop.
“Hello?” I turned my attention to my mom as she answered her phone. “Oh hey, Cammie. What’s up?” Her face dropped as she glanced to Madeline and me. She waited a few beats before saying, “Sure. That’s not a problem. I’ll be in.”
My mom hung up the phone and gave us a sad smile. “Sorry, guys. I have to cut this short. They need someone at the hospital. Apparently, a few nurses caught food poisoning from the night before when they ordered takeout.” She made a worrisome face as she stood up and began folding the blanket. “But do not let me put a damper on the night. Keep watching.” She turned to Madeline with a bright face. “You can fill me in next weekend, and we’ll pick up where you left off. Deal?”
I stopped existing all together when Madeline showed off her perfect, white teeth. Her smile was breathtaking. I was suddenly taken back to middle school when she’d shown up on my doorstep with homemade cookies, welcoming us to the neighborhood.
“Deal!”
My mom smiled one more time before walking off to throw her scrubs on. Her leaving changed the charge in the air almost instantaneously. Madeline shifted uncomfortably, tucking her legs underneath her. It was like she was trying her hardest not to touch me.
Her lips rolled together as she let out a shaky laugh. She appeared…nervous?
Well, shit. Was she afraid to be alone with me?
A hidden chuckle left my throat, just barely, but it was enough for her to whip her head in my direction.
“What?” she snapped, angry lines crowding her eyes. “Why are you laughing?”
I started up again, this time throwing my head back as it rumbled out of my chest. “I just…” I tried to regain my seriousness before meeting her eye. The smallest smile was gracing her mouth as she watched me. “I’ve just never seen you nervous. Ever. Not like this.”
I’d seen her scared…and worried. But nervous? Over being alone with me? No way. She was as tough as nails. The leader of the pack. Pulling guys by a leash instead of the other way around.
“I’m not nervous.” She shifted again, pushing her
self even farther away from me. If she went any farther, she’d likely flip off the side of the couch.
I grew serious, wiping the smile off my face. “Are you…are you nervous to be alone with me after last night?” Fuck. I hoped not.
She rolled her eyes, glancing at the TV. “Why would I be nervous? I’m not nervous.”