Before I can say anything else, an incoming text appears on the screen of Chase’s car, a soft chime echoing in the space between us. Normally I wouldn’t give a fuck, but the name has me doing a doubletake.
Izzi. My eyes lock onto the little pink heart next to her name.
What the fuck?
I let out a humourless laugh and glare back at Chase.
“So what?” I ask. “You fucking my ex now?”
His eyebrows shoot up, guilt written all over his face. “What? No, man?—”
“Sure,” I scoff, my blood practically boiling under my skin. “I knew you were scummy, but I didn’t think you could go this fucking low.”
“Why the fuck do you care anyway? Don’t you have a new girl now? Shouldn’t you be more focused on her?” he snaps, and I glare daggers at him.
His words piss me off even more. This has nothing to do with Izzi. I don’t miss her. I don’t want her. Hell, if she showed up at my front door tomorrow begging for another chance, I’d slam the fucking door in her face without a second thought.
This is about him. Chase is supposed to be my best friend. There are billions of women on this planet, and somehow he lands on the one person that’s completely off limits? Whether I’ve moved on or not doesn’t fucking matter. You don’t go after your best friend’s ex. It’s one of those unspoken rules you don’t have to explain because everyone with an ounce of loyalty already knows it.
And where the fuck does he get off bringing up Maddie anyway?
“Hey man, why don’t you just mind your business? Stop worrying about what I’m doing and just do what you’re best at.” I throw a roll of cash on his lap and he looks down at it with what I can only describe as disgust.
He grabs the cash, throws it in his center console, grabs a pill bottle and looks back up at me. I can see the disappointment in his eyes, but I don’t care. Chase and I grew up together, we’ve known each other since we were kids. I’m sure neither of us would have pictured ourselves in this position when we got older, but shit happens and we just need to roll with it.
He straightens the look on his face and hands me the pill bottle. I take it from him and go to open the car door when he grabs me by the shoulder and stops me.
“Hey. Just be careful, man.” I look back down at the hand that’s placed on my shoulder and back up at him.
I shrug it off and respond, “Fuck you,” as I slam the door shut behind me.
24.Madelyn
I don’t knowhow to comprehend what I just saw. I don’t want to believe it was anything bad, but it’s hard to convince myself a wad of cash being swapped with a damn pill bottle isnothing bad.
Maybe that’s not what I saw?
Who am I fucking kidding? That’s exactly what I saw.
But why? Why would Miles need to take pills?
Miles slams Chase’s car door behind him, and I quickly make my way back to the bar stool where I was sitting before. I take another bite of the waffles Miles made for me, trying to act like my mind isn’t still racing, when I feel his hand slip around my waist. His warmth settles against me, and a moment later, his breath ghosts over my neck.
He presses soft kisses along my skin, and I turn toward him, instinctively reaching for him. His lips meet mine, and everything else slowly fades away. All the doubts, fear, and questions I don’t have answers to suddenly don’t matter anymore.
For a moment, there’s only him. I don't know how Miles does it, but somehow, he makes the chaos in my mind go quiet. Beingwith him feels like finding peace in the middle of a storm, and it’s a feeling I never want to lose.
I'm addicted to the way he makes me feel, like I’m safe and wanted. For once, I feel like I’m finally exactly where I’m supposed to be.
He breaks our kiss and presses a soft kiss to my forehead before smiling down at me. Then he takes the barstool beside mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice him adjusting his right pocket. A faint rattle catches my attention, the unmistakable sound of pills shifting against each other.
My eyes flick over to him, and for the briefest moment, we make eye contact. I quickly look back down at my waffles, forcing myself to focus on anything other than the questions flooding my mind. All those bad thoughts come rushing back so fast, and I do everything I can not to let it show.
I knew I wasn’t crazy. Maybe this really isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. There could totally be an explanation.Right?
He could have some kind of medical condition, and Chase could have simply picked up his prescription for him. Miles has been adamant about us staying inside and keeping a low profile, so it would make sense that he’d send someone else to grab his medication instead.
But then why didn't he tell me? And why would he give Chase so much money?
