“If you say so…” he says, eyeing me, but I see the smirk playing on his lips, and I know we’re okay. That this is okay.
“So…” I drawl. “About serial killers…”
Chapter Twenty-Three
You’re the Only One
Madison
“You talking about serial killers doesn’t make you seem any less creepy. I hope you know that.”
“Oh, I know.” He grins, and my heart stutters at the sight.
Cedrick is… God. He’shandsome.His picture didn’t really do him justice. And when he smiles…
Something happens to my heart inside my chest. It’s like it turns inside out and thumps harder than it ever has before.
As nervous as I am to be here with him, to talk to him like this, it also feels as easy and natural as breathing. Being with him has been since the moment we met, and I guess, maybe a part of me was worried that something would change that, but also thatnothingwould have changed that. And I didn’t know what to do, either way.
But I’m here now and…
I think I’m happy. I am.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out, for somereason fully expecting it to be Cedrick, even though he’s right in front of me.
“What’s got you lookin’ so disappointed?”
“What?” I mutter as I read through Kane’s text. “Oh, nothing. It’s just Kane.”
*Earlier That Day*
I rap my knuckles on Kane’s door after I’ve finished my homework.
“What’s up?”
I wring my fingers together as I step over the threshold, the words stuck in my throat. I know what I need, what I want, but the prospect of asking for help is more daunting than I thought it could be.
“Mads?” Kane asks, and I jerk from my reverie.
“R-right, sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry, man. What’s up? You don’t look so hot.”
“No, I… I’m fine. I-I just had—have a question.”There. You finally spit it out.
Kinda.
He spins back and forth in his chair, hands resting over his stomach, face in an easy smile. “Sure.”
“Would you…Ugh. Can you come with me on a date tonight because I’m scared to meet him in person.” The words come out in a rapid rush of word vomit, and at first, I’m notsure Kane even heard me right, but then, his brows draw together in concern.
“You’re scared?”
“What? Oh. No, no, not like that?—”
“Oh, so is this like an online thing?”
And at that, I don’t really know what to say. I can’t exactly tell himno, I’m meeting Static the clown from Mayhem Motel. The same one who scared the piss out of me and then sucked my soul from my body. No big deal.
