“Still…” My stomach knots. “I can’t bring someone into Maddie’s life who might leave again.”
“Into Maddie’s life?” She blinks up at me, and I know she sees right through me.
It’s not about Maddie being hurt, it’s about me. I’ve fallen hard for this woman, and I’m not sure I would ever get over losing her.
“Yeah.” My voice is flat. “Maddie.”
“Okay,” she answers quietly. “What are you saying then?”
“I’m just saying if you need some time, or if you need to think about it, I understand.”
“You understand,” she repeats.
I’m surprised I can speak for the tightness in my chest. “Yes.”
“Well, thanks for not ghosting me at least.” She tossesher napkin onto the table and stands. “Thank you for brunch, and I appreciate you taking the time to explain yourself.”
“What?” My brow furrows, and I sit back as she stands, pulling her purse over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“It was nice knowing you, Owen Stone.” Her lips are tight, and her green eyes flash with anger. “You know what? You really are aFroot Loop!”
She turns on her heel and storms to the glass door, pushing it open and walking out.
I sit for a moment, stunned and confused, before digging in my pocket and taking out several twenties and leaving them on the table.
By the time I’m out the door, she’s nowhere to be seen. I hop into my truck as I take out my phone, tapping on her contact info and hitting the call button.
It rings and rings and finally goes to voicemail.
“What the fuck?” I shout, hanging up without leaving a message.
I give it a few more minutes before I call again. Again, it rings and rings before going to her voicemail. This time I do leave a short message.
“Call me,” is all I say.
I’m driving down the street, looking all over the place for her, then I hit her number again. It rings and rings, and I swear I’m going to throw this phone out the window if it goes to voicemail…
“Stop calling me!” Her voice is loud, and I hear noises around her. “I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
“Where are you?” I shout back, straining my eyes along the sidewalks. “This is no place to be walking.”
“I’ll call a ride share if I need one.”
“Tell me where you are right now,” I order.
“No!” I hear the tears in her voice, and I’m about to lose it when I spot her red hair shining in the sun before she disappears under the shade of a thick tree.
Accelerating quickly, I cut across the lane of traffic, waving a hand at the car honking loudly at me. Pulling onto the shoulder, I kill the engine, and jump out, running to catch up with her.
She looks back and sees me, and God dangit… she breaks into a run. She’s freaking fast, too.
“Stop running!” I yell as I chase her.
“No!” she yells back at me, and I cringe as we pass people turning to watch us.
“If this ends up on social media, you’re going to be sorry.”
That’s the only thing that makes her stop. She’s breathing hard when I catch up to her, and I look around, making sure I don’t see any phones or cameras out.
