I start to speak, but can’t.
He rests his hand on my calf again, glancing over at the dark curtains. “Hard to see anything in here, though.”
“I might just be a novelty.”
He laughs, “Oh, you’re definitely a novelty. You know what my dad said to me once?” With an impression of his father, he recites, “Our dad, your grandfather, taught us to be real men. And your Grandma Nance, she told us to hold out for a different kind of woman. That’s what I want you to do, Nicholas. Hold out for a different kind of woman.” His eyes flicker, voice changing back to his own. “That’s you, Maddie. You’re different. And I guess I need that, because I need you.”
Mystified, I choke, “Really?”
All those times I saw him, plagued with the weird feeling that he was supposed to be with me, and here he sits on my bed, while I look like this, saying those instincts were right?
“Come here.” He gathers me up.
“My breath is terrible!”
As I press my wrist over my mouth, he grins, “I was just going to hold you.”
Crumbling, I encircle his beautiful neck and burrow into it, shoulders shaking again.
“It’s okay, Slugger, let all your fears wash away now. I’m going to make this right.”
Buried in his salty skin I whisper, “You just did!”
CHAPTER 30
N ICHOLAS
Sitting back, I look at her gaunt, swollen face. “You’re tired, Slugger. Why don’t you take a nap, and I’ll come pick you back up tonight, bring you and Bucky to my place to watch a movie. Just a movie this time. Get you out of this place for a few hours.”
Running a hand through tangled hair, she sighs, “That sounds nice. I’ve been sleeping so much, but it hasn’t been a good sleep.”
“Would it be now?”
On a small smile she nods, “Yeah, I think it would. I’m awake now, right?”
Chuckling I answer, “Yep.”
“Okay, then yes, I think I need some real sleep.” Reaching for her phone she shows it to me. “See, off. I’ll set the alarm. What time do you think?”
“Midnight too early?”
She swats at me. “Shut up.”
“Seven, put in seven. I’ll grab you guys at eight. Just text me if you need more time.”
“You do the same,” she smiles.
“I’ve taken enough time away from you.” I kiss her forehead and stand up. “I’ll tell Denise.”
Madison snuggles under the covers and pulls them up under her chin, watching me leave. “Thank you.” I turn around and gaze at her for a second, wanting to ask about her boss, but feeling it’s not right to.
“See you soon. Rest.”
“Bye Nicholas.”
“Bye Slugger.”
It would be selfish to ask, when she’s in this state. And I don’t want to be selfish anymore.
The only question I want to ask right now is: How can I make her feel better?
As I walk into her hallway, Bucky runs up to keep me company. My sister Zoe pops into my mind and I frown at the thought of what if this had happened to her? What if some guy had made a move on my baby sis? The desire to hurt him rushes back to me two-fold.
Denise sees my face, her curiosity instantly turned down. “Uh oh, what happened?”
I wipe the fury away, trying to regain my composure. “Nothing. I mean, everything went well. I’m coming back for her later. We’re going to spend time together tonight. She just needs to sleep.”
“And eat. She hasn’t had anything but crackers for days.”
“Her appetite will be back. I’ll have some food sent over.”
“No, you will not!” Denise’s head swings back. “I’m here, aren’t I?” She walks past me for the kitchen. “I’ll whip something up from the groceries I bought.” Glancing back, she says, “You’re not the only one who cares about my Madison!”
“Okay,” I chuckle, hands up. “You were here first, I get it.”
“And I’m gonna be here last,” she says, eyebrows raised before she disappears.
Heading for the door, I lean down and pet Bucky while I say, under my breath, “You might have company.”
“I heard that!”
“Good!”
Her laughter vanishes as I walk into fluorescent lights and shut the front door, pulling out my phone.
After a few rings, I say, “Hey, Grandma Nance, question for you. Have you heard a rumor about a nanny coming onto someone’s husband? Two kids, I think. Any gossip rolling around?”
“Oh, Nicholas, I almost didn’t recognize your voice!”
Chuckling, I tease her, “You knew it was me.”
“You never call, so how could I?”
“I’m sorry, you want me to call more?”
“What a dumb question. I thought you were smarter than that! Of course I do! Come and see your grandparents once in a while. Your cousin Ethan does. Why, he told us you two ran into each other at this restaurant he found. Said you joined them at their table. He’s always so proud to find the new places in town, first.”
“He what?” I climb into my Tesla—which I did buy after Ethan had his three, because I admired them so much. But that restaurant was my find! Adjusting my long legs as the engine comes to life, I defensively tell her, “I was there first! I was on a date with this amazing girl, and that jerk swooped in and turned it into a family affair. All of a sudden it was babies and marriage and it was my first date!”
She chuckles, “I know.”
Staring out the windshield I blink and stutter, “Wh..what?”
“I had to get you to tell me about this date, somehow, didn’t I?”
“Oh, Grandma, you’re sneaky.”
“I raised six boys, Nicholas. I learned some things. Now tell me about this girl. She still around?”
As I pull onto the road I toss back, “Is that sarcasm I detect in your tone?”
“Yes.”
Laughing, I admit,
