Touché, Maddox Gallagher… touché.
“I’ll be willing to try to be more open to surprises,” I say. “But in return, you need to do something for me.”
He glances my way while also taking my hand in his. “Name it.”
“Next time we go on a date, and you have something planned downtown, please let me drive to you.”
He shakes his head no. “Sorry. Can’t do that.”
“Maddox…”
“Gabrielle…”
Our stubborn is facing off again, only this time, I’m not letting him win. At the end of the day, something has to be practical about whatever this dating/relationship/friendship is. Me driving to him can be one of them.
“Maddox, all I’m saying is that it makes zero sense for you to drive across town to pick me up, only to go back to where you live. I can drive and I don’t mind doing it.”
We’re at a standstill, giving Maddox the opportunity to put the car in park so he can fully turn to me. Our hands are still joined, so he uses the connection to pull me in closer to him. Ifthe console wasn’t between us, I’d nearly be on his lap. Not that that’s necessarily a bad thing.
“But I do mind,” he says, his words with a firmness I haven’t heard from him. Not in a scary way, but in a he-means-business way. I like it. “I really don’t want to think about your ex right now and how I can only assume he treated you, but I need you to know how this is going to go. I’m going to pick you up. I’m going to plan dates. I’m going to open your car door when you get out tonight. I'm going to hold your hand and make sure I walk closest to the street. And never, I mean never, will I make you drive anywhere again. Not because I don’t think you can. But because how I see it? I’m the luckiest guy in the world that I get to be with you. Which means I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure that you’re treated exactly the way you deserve. Which is like the queen you are.”
Not one word that came out of his mouth was sexual. But I can safely say that I’ve never been more turned on in my entire life.
When I don't say anything, Maddox takes the opportunity to lean in and gently kiss the corner of my mouth. “Is that okay, Gabrielle?”
God… the way he says my whole name makes me want to suggest skipping the actual date and going straight to his condo. “Yeah… that’s okay.”
“Good,” he says, kissing my hand as traffic starts to move. “Now let’s get you that surprise.”
“I still can’t believe you brought me to a hockey game!” I haven’t stopped smiling since we got to our box seats at the Music City Rockers’ game, but how can I not? Not only is this my first hockey game, but it’s my first professional sporting event ever.
More importantly than that, it’s something off our list. Something I said I wanted to do. And he made it happen in hours.
“So I gave you a good surprise?”
I turn to Maddox, who seems genuinely nervous. “The best.”
I punctuate my words by leaning over the small arm rest to give Maddox a kiss. Nothing big. A little more than a peck. But I hope he realizes how much more it means to me.
And judging by the smile on his face when I turn away, he absolutely does.
This night has been perfect. Apparently, Maddox made a few calls and was able to get us seats in the box owned by the Nashville Fury. Luckily for us, no one else was using tickets so we had the entire box, and the seats outside it, just for us. We ordered dinner from the menu that I’m sure is not available to regular patrons of the game, and I’m so full I couldn’t eat another bite. We’ve had as many drinks as we could want, but the smell of beer for some reason made me slightly nauseous. SoI stayed with my Coke Zero to make sure that nothing was going to get in my way of what I think is, so far, a perfect first date.
“Are you a hockey fan?” I ask as the teams take the ice for the third period.
“It’s actually the one sport growing up I didn’t play,” he says. “I had friends who did, but I never took an interest in it. Then again, my dad made sure I had a football in my hands from the moment I was born, so I don’t know if I had any other choice.”
“I bet he’s glad he gave you that football.”
Maddox doesn’t say anything, but I immediately know that I said something I shouldn’t have. “Oh Maddox. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up?—.”
“It’s fine…” He pauses for more than a few seconds, his eyes turning sad. I reach across to take his free hand in both of mine, hating that I inadvertently brought up a sore subject. We’ve talked a few times in the month we’ve known each other about our personal lives—families, upbringings, those kinds of things. He’ll go on and on about his mom, sister, and niece. But it’s now dawning on me that he’s never brought up his father. “My dad left before I even got into kindergarten. One day he was there, the next day he was gone. No note. No goodbye. Literally pulled the ‘I’m going to get milk’ and never came back.”
“Oh Maddox…” I suddenly hate that there’s this arm rest between us because I want to crawl onto his lap and hold him.
“No, it’s okay. It’s just… I’m actually not mad at him. At least, not anymore.”
“Really?” I can’t imagine ever being able to get to that spot in my life. Then again, I was blessed that I never had to think about it. My parents have been married for forty years and are currently planning a summer cross country RV trip. “I’d be fuming and my therapist would be able to buy a new car with how many sessions I’d need.”
