“I went after her when she and Raven had it out. That was it.”
“Mmhm.” He was just as much of a gossip queen as the rest of them. “So, you know, Raven showed up at Uncle Colt’s this morning. I guess her and Mad made up and left together to go back to Statesboro, so things look as if they’re back to how they should be.”
I chose to keep working on my truck, showing no signs that what Rhett just said did bother me. Don’t get me wrong, it was good that the two girls made up, but Maddison’s words from last night continued to play over and over in my mind.
I couldn’t find it in me to just be happy for her.
I was jealous.
***
Sometimes I found myself back there. Back to the time that I was trapped between the vow I took to protect my country and the uncontrollable feelings of missing my family, my home, and everything about Georgia. It was like a dream I couldn’t escape, one that took over my mind.
I imagined myself in the heat of the desert, the sounds of military vehicles all around me.
Then there were the dreams that I swore the gunfire ricocheting around me was so loud, so real, that I woke with a jolt, sweat pouring down my face and chest as I breathed deeply, trying to catch my breath.
For years, I worked hard to not only honor my commitment to my fellow soldiers, but also to make my father proud, both of them. The one I lost far too soon and the one who loved me even when he didn’t have to. The one that raised me to be the man I was today.
I lived my life every day by a certain set of rules. I would do my fathers proud, I’d be the best man I could for my mothers, and I would forever stand behind my family. Every last one through good times and through bad, I would always be on their sides.
Maddison was part of that family. But she was more than that sassy girl I grew up playing in the dirt with. She was more than that bossy, annoying one that thought she could mother us all. She’d become more, and no matter how hard I tried to fight it, things had changed.
The last four days had driven me insane. We hadn’t talked since the night outside Lucky’s, and when we had seen one another in the halls of the hospital, things just felt weird. There was an awkwardness between us that we’d never had before.
So many times, I wanted to grab hold of her and force her to talk to me. Force her to admit that what was going on between us was something larger than the both of us. Something that no matter how hard we tried to fight it, we wouldn’t be able to.
I laid on my bed, staring up at the ceiling. Thoughts of Maddison were in my mind. Her laughter, the way she threw her head back and placed her hands to her chest, her entire body shaking.
I reached out for my phone that lie face down on my nightstand, and I typed out the message that I’d been putting off for days.
Mike: We need to talk.
Chapter Eighteen
Maddison
My phone vibrated on my table, and I stood from the couch, feeling slightly unsteady on my feet. We’d been drinking for a few hours now, and I was most definitely feeling a little sloshed. Raven laughed as I did my best not to spill my wine, and I stuck my tongue out at her as I hurried to grab my phone.
Mike: We need to talk.
My heart raced, and I tried my best to hide my reaction, my hands trembling as I held my phone with enough pressure to make my hand start to ache.
“Important?”
I glanced toward Raven, worried that she too was up and moving in my direction. “No,” I said too quickly, taking in a slow, calming breath, glad to find her still sitting comfortably on the couch. “Just my mother reminding me of my brother’s party Sunday.” Another lie told to a person I had always shared everything with without a second thought.
“I can’t believe that little shit is almost seventeen already.” I nodded, still staring at Mike’s message, unsure of what to say or what to do. Ignoring it seemed like the best choice. Silencing my phone and placing it face down on the table, I walked back to the couch to join Raven. Painting a smile on my face, I got settled once more and tucked my feet beneath my body. Grabbing the blanket, I pulled it over my legs and brought my wine glass back to my lips.
“What time is the party again?” Still feeling confused, I looked back at Raven, and she wrinkled her brows at me. “Colton’s party?”
“Yeah, uh…” Pull it together, Maddison. “Two and it’s more like a food fest in Gran and Gramps’ yard. You know, the typical family get together.”
“I love them.” She had been to enough get togethers of ours to know exactly what they were like. “And now that AJ is at all of them with my cute little nephew and my mother and father come too, it sort of feels like I’m part of the family too.”
I shouldn’t feel threatened by her words because Raven had been like an honorary member of my family for as long as I could remember. But now it all felt different. I couldn’t help feeling territorial over them. Or maybe it was just over him.
“It’ll be
