“No problem,” Angus replied. He had a stack of papers in his hand, and he stepped forward to pass her one. “Just take one of these before you leave. We need your parents to sign a release so you can take part in the competition.”
Willow nodded before scurrying out of the room as quickly as she could.
Angus started passing the forms around to the rest of the group. “Get your parents to sign these and bring them back tomorrow,” he said, raising his voice to be heard over Laurie, Brooke, and Sally who had started talking. “You can’t be in the True Love contest if you don’t get a signature.”
Madi’s eyes lit up, and I immediately knew I still had work to do if I wanted her in the contest. I wasn’t sure why I was so determined to keep her in the competition when she clearly didn’t want anything to do with it. A part of me felt like it could be a chance for us to turn over a new leaf. Perhaps she would finally remember what good friends we had once been, and realize that I wasn’t the jerk she thought I’d become.
Once everyone had been given a permission form, Angus waved us away. Madi didn’t hesitate as she headed for the gym door. I went to go after her, but Laurie grabbed hold of me the second I left the gym.
“Isn’t this perfect, Cole?” she asked, linking her arm through mine and pulling me aside. I glanced over my shoulder as Madi disappeared around the corner. “We’re going to look so good at formal together.”
“You need to win to go to formal with me,” I replied, trying to keep the total disdain from my voice.
“Well, obviously I’m going to win,” she scoffed. “Who else would you pick? Are you going to take Willow to the formal?”
I’d rather go to formal with Willow than with Laurie, but I didn’t dare say that to her. I wasn’t stupid, and Laurie would make Willow’s life a misery if I even hinted at the fact. I definitely didn’t want that.
I disentangled my arm from her grasp. “This competition is going to be fun,” I said, looking down at her. “But we haven’t even had the first group date, Laurie. I’m not making any promises or guarantees to anyone.”
She pouted her lower lip out at me. It was the look she always gave when things didn’t go her way. Another guy might have found the expression appealing, but certainly not me. “Look, I’ve got to run. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I didn’t wait for her response and took off down the corridor. I needed to catch Madi and make sure she planned to give her parents the release form. She wasn’t at her locker when I reached it, so I headed for the car park hoping to catch her before she left.
The parking lot was almost empty by the time I got there, so it wasn’t hard to pick Madi out. She was standing alone, staring at the empty space where Jake usually parked his car. Her bag was slung loosely over one shoulder, and the wind whipped her long hair around her face, but she didn’t move to tame it. She looked lost, and my stomach tightened when I realized that Jake must have left without her.
“Need a ride?” I asked.
Her head jerked upwards at the sound of my voice, and her saddened eyes met mine. She looked down at the phone she was gripping tightly in one hand before letting out a sigh.
“He didn’t wait for me,” she murmured, instead of answering my question. “Jake always takes me home from school.”
Usually, I would have used the opportunity to point out what a tool Jake was, but something about the hurt look on Madi’s face made me pause.
“Maybe something came up,” I suggested instead.
She nodded, but her eyes were filled with doubt. We both knew the truth. Jake was pissed that she’d been selected for the contest and this was her punishment. The guy really was a selfish idiot.
“I should just call Hayley,” she said, flicking me another uncertain look.
I didn’t hesitate as I took her by the shoulders and started steering her in the direction of my car, which was only a few spaces down. “Don’t be stubborn Matthews, we live on the same street.”
“It will look bad if I ride with you…”
“Then hide in the back seat,” I replied with a grin.
She turned her head to meet my gaze. My hands were still on her slight shoulders, and the movement caused a waft of her shampoo to hit me. It was a fresh and sweet fragrance that smelled like strawberries. I resisted the temptation to dip my head closer and get a better whiff. That wouldn’t be a good look.
“I’m not hiding in your back seat!” she exclaimed as she peeled my hands from her shoulders. I immediately missed the contact.
“I get it,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “You’re worried you won’t be able to resist me once we’re in the confines of my truck. It wouldn’t be fair to the other girls.”
Her eyes sparkled with annoyance. “I can resist you just fine. You’re repulsive.”
I laughed aloud at her. “Sure I am, puddles.”
“Don’t call me that,” she growled. “We’re not six years old anymore.”
“True,” I replied. “But that doesn’t mean you're not still obsessed with dancing in the rain.”
Her glare grew darker, which only caused my grin to grow larger. “Would you prefer it if I called you something else,” I said. “I can do that. How about sweet cheeks? Or maybe honey bun? Or pumpkin?”
She was practically shaking with anger. “My name is Madison.”
“Of course it is, princess, now get in the car.” I pulled the passenger side door open for her.
Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, and I could have sworn the threat of violence was lurking in her eyes. “You going to punch me for offering you a ride?” I laughed.
Her fists immediately loosened.
“Just stop coming up with excuses and get in the car. There’s no one here to even see us right now. It will be our little secret.”
She glanced around the empty car park, and from the resigned look in her eyes, I could tell she knew I was right. She finally let out a breath. “Fine,” she grumbled.
I stood back and watched her climb into the truck. She seemed so small and delicate next to the massive vehicle as she started to pull herself up into the front seat. I was almost worried she wouldn’t make it. When she turned and caught me looking at her, the annoyance returned to her gaze. I realized that it was probably because it seemed like I was checking out her ass.
“You’re such a pig,” she spat at me.
“Takes one to know one, babe. Takes one to know one.” I slammed the door shut before she could fire back at me. I smiled the whole way round to the other side of the car. The look on her face had pretty much made my day.
5
Madison
The five-mile walk home from school was beginning to look pretty good as I sat in Cole’s car. I’d happily walk double that distance just to avoid the smug grin that had been pasted across his face since he’d gotten behind the wheel.
I decided that silence was the only way I could cope with the guy, so I sat back in my seat and stared out the window, trying to pretend the boy I loathed wasn’t sitting only inches away from me.
Watching the outside world didn’t stop me from smelling Cole though. The car was infused with the soft scent of whatever cologne he wore. It was a nice change from Jake’s car, which mostly smelt of dirty socks and empty fast food containers. Every time Jake drove me to and from school, I found myself wishing I owned a hazmat suit. That certainly wasn’t the case in Cole’s truck.
Cole also seemed like a pretty good driver. The trees weren’t passing in a blur, and I hadn’t once had to grip the corner of my seat as he whipped around a corner too fast. Jake, on the other hand, drove his car like he lived his life: recklessly fast and without giving any consideration to the consequences of his actions.
As Cole pulled up outside the front of my house, I realized we’d spent the entire journey in silence. I turned to him and found that he was watching me expectantly.
“Well, thanks for the ride,” I said, before turning and launching myself from the truck.
I didn’t wait to hear whatever rude remark he might respond with.
I quickly shut the door and started toward my house. It was a relief to be home after the day I’d had, but that small reprieve was short lived as I heard the sound of a car door opening and closing behind me. I looked over my shoulder as Cole rounded the front of his truck and started to follow me.
“What are you doing?” I hissed as he walked up the hedge-lined pathway toward me. “Your house is that way.” I pointed across the street to the Kingston family's home, which was a few doors down from mine.
“I’m walking you to your door, Matthews. You got a problem with that?” he drawled.
I stood in the pathway before him, my hands on my hips. “Yeah, I kind of do.”
He mimicked my pose, amusement playing in his eyes. “I’m just being polite. My mother raised me right.”
“Are you saying mine didn’t?” I growled.
“That depends.”
“On…”
“Whether or not you’ll let me walk you to your door,” he replied.
“Fine,” I grumbled. I took the last few steps to the front door of my house. “You’ve walked me to my door. Happy?”
He shrugged as he joined me on the porch, not giving any hint that he was about to leave.
“What now?” I asked. There had to be something else considering he hadn’t yet said goodbye.
Before he could answer, the door opened behind me. “Is that you, Madison?” my mom asked, as she pulled the door wide. She smiled when she found me standing there. “I thought I heard you come home.”
If I thought she looked happy to see me, Mom’s eyes practically lit up like Christmas tree lights when they landed on Cole.
“Cole, it’s so nice to see you!” she beamed. She never looked at Jake that way. It was bad enough that the entire school worshipped Cole; did my mom really have to join his fan club too?
“It’s nice to see you as well, Mrs. Matthews,” he replied, smiling at her warmly.
His pleasant expression made me want to gag. Could he be any more fake?
“I’ve just made some cookies; would you like to come in and have some?” she asked him.
I shot Cole a hard look. He better not say yes.
Cole completely ignored the warning in my eyes though. “I’d love to, Mrs. Matthews. It’s been so long since I’ve had one of your famous cookies. They’ve always been my favorite.”
Mom started blushing, and I wanted to smack her across the back of her head. “I think Cole actually has homework to go do,” I said, sending him another glare.
“Nope,” he said, stepping past me as he followed my mom into the house. “No homework at all tonight.” He turned back to look at me and winked. It was the same wink I’d seen him use on dozens of girls before, and I refused to be affected. At least, my mind tried to resist, but my stomach did a strange somersault in reaction, which only made my expression grow darker.
We walked into the kitchen and Cole made himself at home, sitting at the breakfast bar, while Mom slid the cookies out from the oven.
“Comfortable?” I asked, moving past him to stand on the other side of the counter.
“I am,” he smiled. “Thanks for asking.” His eyes practically glittered. He was enjoying this way too much.
“How was school?” Mom asked, glancing at me over her shoulder as she transferred the cookies to a plate.
“Fine,” I replied.
“Don’t be modest, Madi,” Cole interrupted. “It was more than fine. You were one of ten girls in the entire school to be selected for the True Love dating contest.”
I scowled at him. What was he playing at?
“You’re in the contest?” Mom squealed, her focus now completely off the cookies. From the way she asked the question it was as though she’d already heard about it.
“Yeah, Mom, I’m in the contest,” I replied.
She gave another excited squeal. “Oh, that’s so exciting, sweetie. I can’t wait to watch you. Who’s the bachelor?”
“Funny you should ask,” Cole replied. “I’m actually the lucky guy.”
Mom lifted her oven mitts to her face and smiled as she looked between the two of us. “Aw, Madi. After the way Cole used to chase you around the garden for kisses when you were kids, I knew it was only a matter of time before he finally caught you.”
“Mom!” I groaned. “I have a boyfriend.”
She swatted my comment away with one of her floral oven mitts. “You’re young. You’ll have plenty of boyfriends. I can’t wait to talk with your mother, Cole. Judy will be so excited.”
I could already see the pair of them gossiping over coffee. Our mothers had been best friends for as long as I could remember. I think the two of them had been planning mine and Cole’s eventual marriage since we were five. Mom was probably more disappointed than I was when Cole and I had stopped being friends. The realization we were in this contest together was probably the best news she’d received all year.
“I can’t wait to tell Mom either,” Cole said with a big smile. “I just need to remember to get her to sign the release form for the contest. I’m always hopeless at that stuff. You should get your mom to sign yours now…” he said, turning to me.
I frowned at him, and my mouth fell open a little with shock. It was like he had read my mind. Ever since Angus mentioned the forms, I’d been considering telling him that my mom had refused to let me be involved. There would have been no arguing around that. But how did Cole know that’s what I was planning?
“Good idea, Cole,” Mom said. “Go get your form now, Madi.” She was looking at me with such enthusiasm that I knew I couldn’t say no.
Once Mom had scrawled her signature at the bottom of the paper, Cole swiftly stole it off the bench top before I could grab it.
“I’m helping Angus collect them,” he said, with a knowing smile. “I’ll take this for you and give it to him.”
I folded my arms across my chest, scowling. “Thanks, you really don’t have to do that.”
“Oh, I insist. We wouldn’t want it getting lost.”
Seriously, how did this boy know me so well?
Mom kept smiling between the two of us like we were a love story in the making. She was seriously delusional though, because there was absolutely no romance between Cole and me.
“Are those cookies I smell?” a voice called down the stairs.
“Yes, Lucas, there are cookies here for you,” Mom shouted back, suddenly remembering the cookies and placing the plate on the bench in front of us. “Come and get them!’
I quickly stole two cookies off the plate before Lucas arrived. Between my brother and Cole, I felt sure they’d be gone in the blink of an eye. I would’ve taken more if Cole hadn’t been watching. It was bad enough he’d called me a pig once today. I didn’t need to hear it a second time.
Lucas bounded into the kitchen and grinned when he saw Cole sitting there. Lucas was a year younger than us, but he was already about the same size as Cole. They were both huge, and now they were together in our kitchen it made the room feel unusually small.
“Hey, man,” Lucas said, taking the seat next to Cole. “It’s good to see you over here.”
“It’s good to be here,” Cole replied with a smile.
“You’re not trying to cheat the competition and get in with my sister beforehand are you?”
Cole laughed. “Shouldn’t it be the other way around?”
“Nah, Madi’s worth a million of those other girls. She’s the one who needs impressing.”
My cheeks warmed at Lucas’ words. Since when was my not-so-little brother so protective?
“True,” Cole agreed. “You off to training?” He nodded at the hockey jersey Lucas was wearing. His entire life revolved around ice hockey, and I rarely saw him because of it. Our school didn’t have a team, so he played for a local club.
“Always,” Lucas replied, and it wasn’t far from the truth. Even when he didn’t have practice, it seeme
d like Lucas was training in some way or another. He was probably going to go pro one day.
I sometimes wished I were as talented as Lucas at something. The only thing I even came close to being good at was art. But I didn’t show anyone my work. It felt strange to share something so personal with others.
I let out a sad sigh as I watched the two boys devour all the cookies. I was right to take a few for myself, as it didn’t take them long. There really was nothing worse than having to share baked goods.
“I left a few extra in the oven for you,” Mom whispered to me.
I smiled up at her, my heart lifting. “You are most definitely the best person in the world.”
“Yes, I know,” she replied with a grin before turning to Lucas. “Get your things together, we’re leaving for practice in five minutes.”
Lucas jumped from his chair as he rushed to comply. He paused by the door though and turned back to Cole. “I’m watching you, Kingston,” he warned. “Don’t mess around with Madi.”
“I won’t,” Cole agreed.
“Good,” Lucas said, smirking as he disappeared from the room. I frowned as I looked after him. I’d never heard him talk about me like that before.
“It really was nice to see you here, Cole,” Mom said, hovering at the kitchen counter for a moment. “Please remember you’re welcome here any time.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Matthews. I will,” he replied. “And thank you for the cookies. They really are the best.”
She nodded, a small blush warming her cheeks at his compliment, before following my brother from the room. Cole watched her leave, and as soon as the front door closed behind her, he turned to me with a cocky smirk spread across his face.
“Your mom loves me.”
“My mom doesn’t know the real you,” I replied.
His smile grew broader, and he pushed off his chair, taking several steps around the kitchen bench to come and stand before me. I had to reach my head back to look him in the eyes, and I tried to ignore the way my stupid heart stuttered at his closeness. He was making me nervous, but I couldn’t understand why. It wasn’t like I was afraid of him. Maybe my pulse had quickened because my body was readying for a fight.
The Wrong Bachelor Page 4
