Page 108 of Breakaway Hearts

Her shallow breaths turn into half-cries, like she’s on the cusp, fighting her release.

I thrust in and place a kiss on the crook of her neck. She comes, muscles seizing, bringing my own release, and I live for this moment, seated inside her, breath mingling and foreheads pressed together.

I wait until her body stops shaking to pull out and get rid of the condom in the trashcan by her closet.

“Is this your prom dress?” I ask of a fancy burgundy dress that stands out in a clear plastic.

“I didn’t go to prom,” Madison argues, which I didn’t know, and want to ask about, but I don’t want to make her any sadder than she just sounded. “Jason’s mom designs clothes and made it for me for fun.” She walks over and sighs before closing her closet. “I’m saving it in case I get invited to the Oscars or need to sell it to buy a house.”

She shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I promise myself I’ll bring her somewhere fancy someday so she can wear it.

“Nope, not trying it on,” she tells me as if that was where my mind went.

“I wasn’t going to ask,” I assure her, raising my hands in innocence.

I take my time getting dressed, because Madison’s going to tell me to leave as soon as I’m done, but there’s only so long I can delay it. I’m about to tell her I’ll see her tomorrow when my stomach growls like I haven’t eaten in months.

“The guys were ordering pizza, but I didn’t want to be late,” I tell her sheepishly.

“I have leftover Thai,” she says, biting her bottom lip. “Assuming you’re not allergic to peanut butter. Or coconut,” she adds.

“No allergies,” I assure her.

“Unless they’re saving you pizza?”

“They’ll probably have good intentions until they eat the last slice and remember why they were saving it.”

“Jay ordered for an army,” Madison shares, taking containers out of the fridge. “I had some, reheated at least two plates worth for him, and this should put a dent in your growl.”

I watch as she spreads the rice out onto a plate for me, then dumps the rest of the chicken on top. I realize I’m hardly breathing, careful not to disturb whatever magic is allowing me to spend more time with her, when I thought she’d send me home with leftovers.

I ask for details about her interview, and she gives me the highlights, as well as a play-by-play of her chat with another interviewee before, and a senior partner afterwards.

“Why this firm?” I ask, probably biased, but Haylie’s the only lawyer I trust.

I see the shift in Madison. She pauses, fork halfway to her mouth, before she puts it back into the plate we’ve been sharing. The magic is broken.

“It’s getting late.” She stands, and more than anything, I want to yawn and stretch and convince her to let me stay, so I can hold her in my arms tonight, but even if I hadn’t pushed, hadn’t somehow made her uncomfortable enough to throw me out, that wasn’t happening.

“I should get going,” I agree as if I didn’t notice the sudden change, like this was my plan all along.

She opens her mouth, as if to say something, but instead walks me to the front door.

“Sweet dreams,” I turn and tell her, very aware of the near flinch she tries to hide, and the relief when I don’t try to convince her.

“You too.” She smiles sadly.

I want to kiss her goodbye, a gentle one on the top of her head, or a deep one that makes her reconsider her position, but instead, I smile sadly and leave her.

Chapter Forty-Three

Madison

You could stay

I’ve been standing on Owen’s porch for at least five minutes, but I’m not sure if I’m trying to psych myself up to ring the bell or convince myself to go home.

Miss Mabel spots me and waves, so I ring before she can tell Bree, or I change my mind again.