by Bella Emy
I pick up the first manilla folder from the mountainous pile and open it right up, diving into the details. If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to finish this one by lunchtime. I sigh and then my phone rings. Who is it now?
“Officer Martinelli.”
“Mad, it’s me,” Rick says.
I smile. “Hey, dude. Where are you? It’s almost time to clock out for the day,” I joke.
He chuckles. “Funny. I’m on my way. Loads of traffic, and of course, I slept through my alarm this morning. Good thing Addy woke me up twenty minutes later or I probably still would have been asleep.”
Addy… ugh.
“Brooks there?” Rick asks.
“I’m assuming so. I’ve already gotten two emails from him since early this morning,” I answer.
“Crap. Okay, I’ll be there soon. Hey, Maddox?”
“Yeah?” I fill in some notes with blue ink and enter the information in the database.
“I need to speak to you when I see you. Later, dude.”
The call dies and I place the phone back on the receiver. He needs to speak to me? About what? Did Grant call and say something to him? Fuck… what the hell does he need to talk to me about now?
Chapter Six
Well, today was a pure shit day. Not only was it a Monday, but damn, the day dragged… and dragged… and dragged. I think I may have gotten up from my desk a whopping two times total: once to use the restroom and the other to grab lunch. There was so much paperwork and emails to go through, I hardly had a moment to breathe. Not to mention Brooks was on my ass, which meant as soon as Rick walked in, he was on his, too. So, yeah, no idea what he wanted to talk to me about because I hardly saw him.
Which leads me to the here and now. I left work about twenty minutes ago, and almost an hour after everyone else. If the lieutenant wants me to put in extra hours, then fuck it, I’m putting in extra hours. So, that being said, I didn’t have a spare second to speak with Rick. We saw one another, of course, but we didn’t get to talk. So now I’m standing on his doorstep, waiting for him to answer the door. I sent him a text when I was on my way over, but he has yet to respond.
He will, though. He always responds.
I peep my head to the right to get a look through the windows, but I can’t see much because of the curtains blocking my view. I do see the light is on though, so I’m sure he’s here. His car wasn’t in the driveway, which makes me think he may have possibly stepped out without turning the lights off.
Straightening back up, I reach for the doorbell and push on it. Hopefully, he opens the door soon so that I can be on my merry fucking way. Honestly, I don’t know what he wants to tell me, and the suspense has been sorta-kinda-maybe killing me. I even tried calling Grant back to find out if he had said anything to Rick, but he didn’t pick up.
Fuck, come to think of it, he didn’t even call me back. Guess he must’ve had a day just as busy as mine.
And then, right as I’m about to ring the doorbell once more, the door swings open and my eyes take in the most beautiful sight I have ever seen before. I swallow hard as my heart stops beating and I almost forget how to breathe.
In all honesty, it’s not my fault. I was expecting to see my boy, Rick, opening the door. Not his beautiful girlfriend who I used to be in love with. Used to be.
I was expecting loose fitting denim blue jeans and a T-shirt. I was expecting facial hair and tattoos.
What I wasn’t expecting was a fucking angel in a white low-cut shirt, showcasing an amazing rack over a tight black miniskirt. I wasn’t expecting hair pulled back in a half updo with curls cascading down the sides. I wasn’t expecting pretty brown eyes and a delicate face. And I sure as hell wasn’t expecting a curvy body, causing something to stir within me… yet again.
Fuck, I need to get a grip.
Adelyn smiles at me, holding the door with one hand. “Maddox, hi.”
I swallow thickly once more and somehow manage to form the words, “Hey, Adelyn.”
The sound of her giggling is another reminder of just how fucking sexy she is.
If this was just a random chick, I would have already made a move on her. Maybe if she weren’t with Rick.
But she’s my best friend’s girl, and I need to learn how to control myself. I need to get these thoughts out of my mind. But with her looking the way she does right now, I’m not sure if that’s quite possible. I should probably excuse myself, turn right around and make my way back to my car.
I should.
But…
“Wanna come in?” She looks at me through long, thick lashes and pouts her lip out, making me want to bite down on mine.
I shift weight from one foot to the other.
Get a grip, Maddox. Get a fucking grip.
“I, ugh, well, I was looking for Rick. Is he around?”
She smirks, placing a hand on her very curvy hip. “Aww, am I not good enough company anymore, Mad?”
“I, ugh—”
She chuckles. “I’m only joking. Rick should be back any moment. He just went to grab a few things at the store. Why don’t you come inside and wait for him with me?”
I let my eyes roam down the length of her body and immediately, I curse myself. I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t be looking at her the way I am. I shouldn’t even be here right now. I’m playing with fire; a fire so strong that I don’t know if I’ll be able to put out if I stay here any longer. Where’s my brother, Mason, the firefighter when I need him? Fuck. I need to go. Right now. Right fucking now.
I take in the visual of her smile once more before bidding her adieu. “You know what? I’ll just call him later. I forgot I needed to do something… with Mason. I’ll see you later, Adelyn. Tell Rick I stopped by.”
Before she even has a chance to answer me, I spin around on my heels and make my way down the narrow walkway. I parked my car just two houses up, so I can be out of here in no time.
“Okay, bye, Maddox,” I hear her say.
I look back before I stop myself and see her closing the door. I turn back around, let out a breath of relief and continue walking to my car.
“Mad? Is that you?” I hear calling from behind me.
I stop dead in my tracks and see Rick standing next to his car, pulling bags out of his trunk.
“Hey, dude,” I answer, and decide to make my way up to him slowly. I’ll just make this really quick and leave. I can’t talk to him right now or find out what it was he wanted to tell me. My mind is not in the right place right now. What if he has to tell me something serious about him and he needs my advice? I’m in no place right now to give him any type of advice. I need to sleep these feelings I’m having for Adelyn away. Or maybe I need to work them out of me at the gym again.
I don’t know, but someway, somehow, I need to get this out of me.
“Hey, what are you doing here? I didn’t even know you were planning on stopping by?” Rick pulls the last bag out and closes the trunk. He only has three bags and they don’t even look that heavy. Good, because I’m in no mood to help him carry them back to his place and possibly see Adelyn again…. No way.
“Yeah, I texted you earlier… I wanted to stop by since we didn’t get to talk today, and I knew you said you wanted to talk to me about something?”
Rick’s eyes light up and a Kool-Aid smile graces his face. He looks toward his house, then turns back to face me. “Yeah, I do.” Whatever’s on his mind must be something good. I’m glad, but I don’t have the stomach or heart for it right now.
I need to intervene now before he starts telling me. “Look, can we catch up in the morning? I have to run. I forgot I told Mason I’d meet up with him, and he’s waiting on me to move some stuff out of his apartment.”
A total lie, and I feel like shit lying to my best friend. But what other choice do I have right now? How can I tell him how I’m feeling? How do I tell him I’m still thinking about his girl? She used to be mine… somewhat. But now she’s his… completely.
Ri
ck looks disappointed, but he nods and adjusts the bags in his hands. “Oh, yeah, man. No problem. We’ll talk in the morning.”
I don’t wait for him to say anything further. Reaching out, I grab his arm and say, “Cool. I’ll see you then.”
I turn around so fast, I almost lose my footing.
Chapter Seven
“So, he scored the winning shot last night… totally didn’t see that happening,” Rick says and then takes a bite of his sausage, egg, and cheese on a croissant.
I make a left turn on the next block. It’s been a quiet morning so far, but I didn’t think it would be when it first started. We had three calls to respond to, but thankfully, nothing major.
“I didn’t catch the game last night.” I want to tell him I was too busy tossing and turning in bed again thanks to his gorgeous girlfriend, but I need to calm the fuck down. Last night was not expected at all. Why the hell didn’t I consider the fact that she’d be hanging out at Rick’s is beyond me. I guess I figured I’d never catch her there alone.
Rick takes another bite of his breakfast and then crumples up the foil it was wrapped in. “That’s too bad. It was one of the best games I’ve ever seen.” He pauses for a moment and then says, “Mmm, this is amazing. You sure you don’t want a bite?” Apparently, Adelyn spent the night and then made him breakfast to go. And according to Rick, she just so happens to be an amazing cook. Go figure.
I lift my travel mug once I pull up to a red light. “I’m good with my black, one sugar. Thanks.” I bring it up to my lips and take a swig. Freshly brewed double shot of espresso: the only thing strong enough to wake me up in the morning.
He grimaces. “Dude, I don’t know how you drink that stuff.” He picks up his mug from the cup holder and takes a sip of his light and sweet bitch decaf. “Ah… delicate and satisfying.”
I take another sip from my cup and let out a soft chuckle underneath my breath, then place it back in its holster. “Is that how you like it? Delicate?”
He punches me in the arm. “Shut up, man.”
I hold out my hands in defense. “I’m just saying, bro…”
Rick puts his cup down. “Nah, nah. You just don’t know…”
I look away, still with a shit-eating grin plastered on my face. “Don’t know what?”
“Addy.”
The mention of her name grabs my attention immediately. I face him and take in his serious expression.
“She may look delicate, but in the bedroom?” His lips curl into a smile. “Wooo. She’s anything but delicate.” He shakes his head, grinning.
Awesome. I totally set myself up for that without even realizing it.
Thankfully, the silence between us doesn’t last long. He waves his hand in my direction and says, “Well, I guess now is the perfect time since we’re on the subject.”
I furrow my brows. Is this when he tells me what he’s been trying to tell me? But him saying we’re currently on the subject? That can only mean this is about one thing: Adelyn.
“You’re the first person I’m telling this to, bro.”
I nod. “This is… this is the thing-thing… the one you wanted to—”
“Yeah, I wanted to tell you this yesterday.”
“Okay…” I need to compose myself as I await the news he’s about to deliver. What could it be? I can’t see him telling me he’s breaking up with Adelyn; he’s obviously still totally enamored with her just by the way he’s been talking about her. Maybe he’s going to tell me they’re moving in together.
He takes a deep breath and then that same smile forms on his face. “Okay, here goes. Mad, I’m totally in love with her…”
I almost spit out my drink. “Adelyn?” I ask like a moron. Of course he’s talking about her.
Okay, moving in together would have been better. You can ask someone to be your roommate if you’ve been dating them for a while. That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s totally serious, right?
Yeah, okay, so maybe it does... a little…. But to actually admit and tell me he’s in love with her? There’s no way around that.
Rick pats my back. “Hey, dude. Are you alright?”
I nod, giving him the okay sign with my hand. “Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.”
He chuckles. “Jesus. Slow sips, man. Slow sips.” He pauses and then continues. “But yeah, Adelyn. Who else?”
I let out a small fake laugh like it’s no big deal. But what does this mean? I hold out my hands in front of me. “I don’t know.” I need another sip of coffee.
He shakes his head. “Anyway, yeah. I’m in love with her. I’ve known it for a little while now, but I haven’t said a word to anyone besides her yet. She’s absolutely the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I’m head over heels for her, bro.”
So they’ve said those three little words to one another already… or is he the only one who’s said them and she just stared at him blankly? Or, if she has said them back, did she mean them?
Ugh, this is so frustrating and confusing for me...
I nod again, coming back down to reality but still not knowing what to say. Then, like the champion that I am, I ask, “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”
He laughs again. “Well, that was pretty big, man. Don’t you think?”
Fucking huge.
“Yeah, yeah. I guess I—”
He cuts me off. “But I guess you’re my best friend for a reason and you know me too damn well... there’s more.”
More? What else could there be? Isn’t what he told me enough? I just asked if there was something else because I didn’t know what else to say. Fuck.
“Okay?”
He smiles. “I’m going to ask her to move in with me,” Rick states after only a moment.
My eyes widen. And there it is. Now they’ll be living together, and he’s in love with her. Fucking awesome. “Wow, it’s serious then.”
Duh, Mad…
Rick looks at me like I’ve got three heads. “Yes, Maddox. It’s serious. Jesus, dude. What the hell’s gotten into you this morning?”
I look away, dismissing him with one hand. “Nothing, just some things on the brain, but nothing too important. I’m good.”
“You sure, man?”
I nod. “Yeah, I’m sure.”
He smiles once more. “Good. Anyway, there’s one more thing I need to tell you.”
More?! What else could there be? I turn to face him. “Yeah?” How much worse can this get?
“I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
It’s as if he plunged a knife into my heart. Marry him? He’s going to ask Adelyn to marry him? As in to be his wife?
This is wrong. This is all wrong.
Without a warning, my younger years growing up with Adelyn flash before my eyes… from the moment we met, to our days hanging out together, to the day I left her, left everyone, and my world in California. One after the other, each memory more painful than the last.
“Maddox?”
“Huh?” I’m brought back to the present as Rick’s hand lands on my shoulder.
“You okay, dude? It really seems like something is up with you. You started acting all weird as soon as I mentioned Adelyn. Are you sure you’re fine with us being together? Because if you’re not, then you need to let me know, Maddox. We can talk.”
I stop him right there, before he says anything more. “No, Rick. Look, I’m totally fine with the whole thing. You, Adelyn… it’s cool. You were both my best friends growing up, and you guys finally getting together is really something. Really.”
Maybe it’s not the something I mean when I say that, but if anything I just said is at all true, it’s that. Sure, they’re my best friends…. At least one of them is nowadays. I don’t feel like I even really know Adelyn anymore.
He raises an eyebrow like he’s not convinced, but lets it go just as quickly as it appeared. “Okay, fine. I’ll take your word for it, but if you ever change your mind or if you ever wanna talk about things, how they are now, you just
tell me, you hear?”
I nod, and he nods in return.
“Good. Now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, I’m going to ask you one last and final thing.”
I swallow hard. What’s he going to tell me now, that she’s carrying his kid? Jesus, that would really be the icing on the cake. I don’t know if I’ll be able to take that.
Still, I need to get a grip and hear him out. Whatever it is he tells me, I need to be here for him, as his best friend… even if he’s got the girl of my dreams in his arms.
That reality is hard for me to come to terms with. But at this point, there is nothing more I can do. All I can do is be the best friend he needs, no matter what.
Somehow, I manage to find the words I need to say. “Sure, man. What’s up?”
“I’m going to have a little proposal party for her, and I would love it if you would come. Can I count on you to be there?”
He wants me to be there and witness him asking the woman of my dreams to be his wife. He wants me to stand in his corner and support his decision.
I want to tell him I can’t do it.
I want to tell him all this is too much.
I want so much to be back in Jersey, where I was completely oblivious to this nightmare.
But I can’t be there, and I know this isn’t a nightmare. It’s reality happening right before my eyes.
Somehow, someway, I need to get through this shift without letting Rick’s news get to me, as painful as the reality of it all is.
I bite my tongue and take another breath. “Rick, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. You’re my two best friends, and you can both always count on me.”
Chapter Eight
“Knock, knock.” I rap on the screen door of my brother, Mason’s, house. When the weather is decent, which is almost all the time these past couple days, he always leaves the inside door behind the screen one open.
