On my bare freaking skin.
Damn it.
Maddox opened my car door, but I didn’t get in yet. I turned toward him and smiled up. “I had a nice time,” I said.
He nodded. “I did, too. Can we do it again?”
I should’ve said no. We couldn’t take this anywhere. I wouldn’t force Tiffany on him or put someone in her life that didn’t want her. “Yes, I’d like that.”
Okay, then my mouth decided to make another date.
Maddox leaned in and my stomach clenched in anticipation. He was about to kiss me. In the split second it took for his lips to touch mine, I wished it could’ve led to more. An image of us writhing around on my bed flashed through my mind, and I opened my mouth in surprise.
His lips pressed softly against mine. It took all my willpower not to press my body against his, but as badly as I wanted to, it was way too fast.
Instead, I let my lips caress his ever so slightly, then pulled back. “Have a good night,” I whispered, and slid into my driver’s seat.
I glanced in the mirror as I drove away to find him standing exactly where I left him, staring at my car.
On the drive home, I found myself wishing he had said he wanted kids right away. We truly had gotten off on the wrong foot, and after our date, I wished it could be remedied. I could see myself growing quite fond of Maddox Kingston.
10
Maddox
The longer I stared at the laptop screen, the more confused I became. My official acceptance letter had come through. I’d opted for digital delivery, so when I logged in and found an email from the school in California, my stomach had churned.
But it wasn’t excitement. Two or three weeks ago it would’ve been. But today, it was a mixture of dread and anticipation. I still yearned for freedom and space to be myself without my family breathing down my neck.
This week had taught me that Beth was a factor I couldn’t ignore.
Not to mention my family. Did I really want to be so far away I couldn’t drop in for dinner or a chat with my cousins or uncles? Or Mom and Dad?
What about Hailey? She’d turn into a woman while I was gone. Did I want to miss that?
Beth and I texted back and forth all week since our date. I didn’t feel this much like a teenager with his first crush when I was a teenager with my first crush. She was funny and sweet and had a sarcastic edge that I loved, now that it wasn’t directed with hostility toward me. I never imagined I’d get butterflies from talking to a girl, but there I was.
This was what I’d wanted to avoid. As exciting as the prospect of California was, and as sure as the counselor had been when she’d told me verbally that I should attend, I hadn’t gotten an official acceptance yet. Now, it was right there in black and white.
I hit print and watched my small printer slowly spit out the paper. Then, I read it again. Nothing had changed. I was still accepted. I still had a big decision to make.
The best thing to do was to take it to my parents and lay it out. They were both smart. Dad got a taste of freedom when they moved. Granted, they just moved to Arizona, to my great-grandfather’s territory, but still, it was a change. If anyone could understand, it would be Dad.
I still had my truck and wanted to put it back in the barn anyway. Stuffing the letter in my pocket, I grabbed my keys and wallet and headed out the door. When I pulled onto Main, I glanced over toward the grocery store parking lot to spot Beth pushing a shopping cart out of the store. I only got a glimpse of her, but it was enough to see she looked frazzled. I hadn’t seen her since our date, so I turned around quickly in Stefan’s garage parking lot and pulled in as Beth and Tiffany stopped the cart by her car. It was piled to the brim.
“Ma’am,” I said through the open window in a deep and silly voice. “You look like you need a little assistance.”
She laughed tiredly and looked at Tiffany, who whined.
“What’s wrong?” I asked. She was normally cheery and vibrant.
“I’m not sure,” Beth said. “She’s been difficult all day. Maybe a growth spurt?” She shook her head.
Artemis growled when I studied her face and saw how exhausted she looked. “You take care of Tiffany, and I’ll unload the groceries into your trunk.”
She smiled in relief. “Thank you.”
Bethany pulled Tiffany out of the small child basket at the front of the cart and cradled her in her arms. Tiffany whined and put her head against Beth’s chest.
Her body temperature is high.
Just as Artemis tried to warn me, Bethany spoke. “She feels warm to me.” She shifted Tiffany in her arms and cradled her head so she could press her lips to Tiffany’s forehead. “Yes, she’s definitely got a fever.”
Tiffany let out a weird whine and burped. Immediately, Bethany reacted. “I know that sound.” She yelped and flipped Tiffany, so she faced out away from her body, toward the empty part of the parking lot. As soon as she did, Tiffany projectile vomited.
Whoa. If she’d been facing me or her mom still, we would’ve been drenched. That was an insane amount of liquid.
I’d always prided myself on having a stomach of steel, but I had to clench my jaw as Bethany held Tiffany and pulled her hair back so it wouldn’t get covered in vomit. I hovered uselessly and tried to think of what to do.
Inspiration struck, and I turned to the still-full shopping cart and yanked a bottle of water out of the package. When it seemed like Tiffany was done, I opened the bottle
