“Since he came back into my life, he’s really been there for me. And I honestly don’t believe he ever cheated on me.”
Mazi sits up straight. “But you saw Charlotte come out of his bedroom!”
“I was so angry with him, I never gave him a chance to tell me his side of the story. We finally talked about it, and I have a feeling Charlotte wasn’t telling the truth.”
I fill Mazi in on everything Maddox told me about that night. I also tell her about all the things he’s done for me that made me fall for him all over again—about him professing his love to me, and about our first date.
“I spent all those years trying to convince myself that I hated him. But when I saw him again, all the feelings I kept buried away resurfaced.” Reaching over, I squeeze her hand. “I haven’t been this happy in a long time. I’m sorry I kept this from you. But I know you have your reservations toward him. I was waiting for the right time to tell you.”
Mazi squeezes my hand back, her face softening. “You really love him, don’t you?”
“Yeah, I do.” My heart clenches, warmth flowing through me like honey. It’s the first time I’ve admitted it out loud. I am so deeply in love with Maddox Masashi Kamado. I always have been.
“If you’re happy, then I’m happy too. I love you, Annalise Rose Monroe. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and I hope Maddox treats you like the queen you are.”
The nerves in my stomach settle. I was expecting Mazi to scold me and unleash hell. But she took it a lot better than I thought she would.
“I love you too, Mazikeen Francesca Rivera.” We pull each other into an embrace.
“But if he breaks your fucking heart again, I will castrate him. I don’t care if I end up in prison.”
I burst into a fit of giggles, even though Mazi is probably being dead serious.
“You can come out now, Serena!” Mazi calls out.
Serena comes out of the room and rejoins us on the couch. “We don’t have to play anymore if y’all don’t want to.”
“Oh, no, we are still playing,” I say, sitting up straight. I pick up the card I pulled out earlier, “So, Serena, what is your number-one sexual fantasy?”
“That’s an easy one,” she says, a wicked smile playing on her lips. “To join the mile-high club.”
“That’s my number-one, too,” I say.
“I’m sure Maddox can help you fulfill it,” Mazi says with a wink. “I’ve been a member of the mile-high club for a while now. It’s exhilarating as hell, but not exactly comfortable. Maybe one day I’ll get to do it in first class or on a private jet.”
“I hope I can experience that one day. But Randall is such a prude, he would probably never go for it,” Serena sighs.
“Honey, what do you even see in him?” Mazi asks.
“Honestly, I don’t know anymore.” Serena shakes her head. “Anyways, what’s your number-one, Mazi?”
“With how kinky she is, she probably already fulfilled it.” I snort.
“I haven’t, actually. My number-one is to have sex while skydiving.”
My face scrunches in confusion. “Huh? How would you even do that?”
She pulls a blanket over her lap and shrugs. “I’ll figure out a way.”
My phone dings with a text from Maddox.
Maddox
So is Mazi on her way to murder me now?
No . She took it surprisingly well. We’re having a girls’ night and playing a card game. We just discussed our number-one sexual fantasy.
Maddox
