Page 72 of Breakaway Hearts

“You read it?” Astrid asks Miles, beyond surprised.

“It was literally hanging in the locker room.”

“Your boy’s really proud of you,” Donovan tells Madison, thankfully without mentioning that he usually reads the copies I leave in the living room at home.

“She’s incredible.” Jason joins us without missing a beat. “Pizzas will take twenty minutes,” he tells Madison.

“I think I’ll wait in the car.” This huff sounds more like her exaggerated, pretending to be annoyed one, so I shoot my shot.

“I can keep you company,” I offer.

“Or I can walk home,” she argues.

“Not happening,” Jason and I both say, though I’m pretty sure it was an empty threat.

“You have no say in the matter,” she tells me once Jason joins another conversation.

“I know. I wasn’t telling you so much as predicting Jason’s reaction.”

“You’re very annoying.”

“So you’ve told me. Many times.”

“Yet you don’t get the message.”

“I do. But I think the most annoying part is how endearing you find me.” Our knees are touching at the table, and if we were alone, I would remind her of the kiss, or the sounds she made when I had my hands on her in the library, but I’m still treading with caution.

“In your dreams.”

“Always.”

There’s the smile she’s trying to hide! And she’s biting her lip, looking at me in that way I should ignore, but I never do.

“I’m going to get some fresh air.”

“Can I join you?” I leave the ball in her court.

“Fine.” She sighs like I’m the bane of her existence.

I look over to Jason, who’s watching the scene with equal parts apprehension and curiosity, but Mads nods and he returns it before giving me a look I think means ‘I’m trusting you, don’t fuck this up.’

“Are we finally dropping the charade and giving in to all this chemistry?” I try to make Madison laugh once we’re outside, but she looks tortured.

“You couldn’t just give it up, could you?”

“I’m sorry, I was kidding.” I put my hands up in surrender. “If this is about last night,” I move closer but don’t touch her, “I didn’t tell anyone, and I don’t plan to.”

“I’m sorry you got involved.” She swallows, looking guilty.

“I’m glad I was there.” I’m not going to lecture her again, but I hope to fuck that guy would have listened to her ‘no’ even if I hadn’t shown up.

Madison wraps her arms around herself, but I can’t tell if it’s because of the chill in the air or her aversion to being vulnerable.

“You’re freezing.” I take off my jacket and hand it to her instead of wrapping it – and my arms – around her.

She reluctantly takes it.

“Thank you,” she says, but I don’t think she’s just talking about the jacket. She looks at me like she wants to say something more, but also like she might cry.