Unconditional

He rubs his forehead and I take a minute to roam my eyes over him. Black jeans and a black button-down adorn his perfect form, settled underneath a black leather jacket with his badge peeking out. I bite my bottom lip and his eyes darken when they find mine.

“Did you?” he asks in response to my ogling. “That’s precisely why I tried to close the door. I just wanted to kiss you properly.”

“I think the problem is you want to kiss me improperly.”

He shakes his head and pulls me into his arms. “I’ll call you later.”

I nod, the words getting caught in my throat. I wanted him to tell me he would see me later. I wanted a plan in place for when I’d see him again. “When will I see you?”

He rubs a finger over my lips. “You go back to school tomorrow and then you have practice…” He trails off. “And I have to work late tomorrow.”

“Will you come see me after?”

“It’ll be late.”

“I don’t care.”

“My mother might,” he laughs.

I let out a huff. “I guess

I’m going to have to learn how to sneak out of the house.”

“No.” He growls and squeezes my ass. “Behave yourself.”

“Or…what?” I know my eyes are filled with excitement and mischief.

“Madeline, don’t tempt me with my mother downstairs.” I bite my bottom lip and rub against him, before trailing my hands up his body. Not so accidentally bumping his cock with my hands twice causing him to groan. He grabs my hands and brings them to his lips. “Okay, you little minx, I have to go.”

I nod, trying my best to put a brave face on, but he can see right through it. “I love you,” I tell him as I wrap my arms around his middle and rest my head-on his chest.

He tightens his hold around me and I let his scent surround me. He lifts my chin up to meet his gaze. “Six months,” he whispers.

“And then…?”

“And then I’m never letting you go again.”

I spend most of the day in my new room, putting everything away and taking intermittent naps because moving is exhausting as hell. I’m trying my best to keep up a brave face over this recent change, but the tears have been flowing nonstop. In the midst of unpacking, I come across a photo album. It feels heavy in my hands, reminding me of what’s inside, and my heart sinks in my chest at the painful memories. I run my fingertips along the edges of the familiar red cover and hug it close to my chest as if the hard ridges are the soft, warm arms of my mother.

“What do you want for dinner?” Cal asks as he walks into my bedroom to see me sitting in the corner with my arms wrapped around my knees, hugging them to my chest. “Maddie?” He kneels down in front of me. “What’s wrong, honey?” I’ve been staying with the nice police officer that found me hiding in the closet last month and he seems nice, but I want to go home.

“I want to go home.” I speak, barely above a whisper. A tear trickles down my cheek. “I just want my mommy.”

“What?” he asks and leans closer to my face and I reach my hand out and push him hard although he doesn’t move an inch.

“I WANT TO GO HOME! I DON’T WANT TO BE HERE!” I scream so loud my throat is sore.

His eyes widen and for a second, I feel like I might have hurt his feelings. “Maddie…”

“I want my mommy! And I’ll never see her again!” The tears are flying down my face at this point, the sobs bubbling in my chest and spilling out all over this sweet man that has been taking care of me.

He rushes to my bed and grabs my pink bunny and sits next to me holding it out for me and I snatch it from his hands. “MINE.”

“I know.” He’s so calm, and it makes me wonder why he’s not yelling at me. Daddy’s yell, don’t they?

“I want to go home.” I turn to him and he looks just as sad as me.

“Maddie, I know you want your mommy and you want to go home, but… you can’t.” He turns to face me head-on and puts his hands on my shoulders. “I know this situation sucks and you were dealt the shittiest hand, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I can’t make this better for you. I would take all of your pain away if I could.”