Maddox’s clothes were neatly folded and put away after taking them out of the washing machine.
The night with him was unforgettable, yet I was still thinking about Grayson and how he had defended Tiffany like she was the only one who mattered.
If only I could blow off some steam with Maddox like we had earlier nned, but I needed this<b>. </b>It was still a shock to me that he felt the same way.
In my eyes, he was still a yboy and finding out about how he slept with Kate two days ago changed nothing. I had no regrets as I knew what I had walked into when I told him what I wanted.
While sitting on my living room couch, I remembered that look of regret Grayson had for just a split second but I quickly shut my eyes, telling myself to forget about it as I might have made up things that weren’t even there.
He must have already left town to enjoy his honeymoon. I needed him far away for now, not that it would change what was in my heart, but not seeing him would make it hurt less.
Just as I was about to go to the kitchen and make something to eat, the doorbell rang and I paused, not a lot of people from before knew my new home address.
I took a step towards the door but paused when I heard that familiar voice.
“Harp?”
Grayson was at my doorstep and my heart skipped a beat, but I remembered what had happened with Tiffany and it made me get to the door even faster. I just wanted to open it so I could m it in his face.
But as soon as I opened it and saw him standing there with his hands in his pockets, I tightened my grip on the doorknob, unable to do it, especially when he smiled at me.
“I was actually thinking I might’vee to the wrong address. Can Ie in?” he asked softly. “I still have an hour before the meeting that’s kept me in town and I thought we could talk.”
Without saying a word, I stepped aside and kept the door open for him.
He walked in slowly and nced around the living room, that being his first time in my new home.
I closed the door but didn’t move from there<b>, </b>crossing my arms because I was still so mad at him, but he looked too good. His long sleeves were rolled up to his elbows and his hair was a little messy, like he had a rough day and that just made him more attractive to me.
My eyes travelled down his veiny forearm and it sent my mind ces, but as soon as my eyes dropped to his hand and I spotted that wedding ring, my heart shattered.
Turning to face me, he said, “I have a lot to say but first of all, I’m sorry about Tiffany. What she said was out of line.”
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I sighed heavily. “How long are you going to keep apologizing for her? She’s been out of line so many times ever since she came into our lives and you’ve always done this.”
He didn’t say anything, just as I expected.
“I’m already over it,” I said, even though I wasn’t.
Hearing him apologize on Tiffany’s behalf only made my blood boil and I just wanted him to leave immediately. But he sat down on the couch like he belonged there and tapped the spot next to him.
“Come sit with me.”
I hesitated and my brain told me not to go, but my heart still remembered what it felt like to be wrapped in his arms.
It only took a few seconds for me to give in to my heart’s desire and I moved slowly until I got <i>to </i>the couch. I sat beside him, but not too close.
Then, he reached for me to get me closer and threw his arm over my shoulder like the old days. For a few seconds, I let myself getfortable by resting my head on his chest. I hated how much I still loved it and how my body still responded to him. I wished he hadn’t picked Tiffany and married her. I wished I could forget everything and just exist in that one stupid moment.
“You just told me you’re over what Tiffany said, but I don’t believe you,” he said.
I smiled a little at how he caught onto that.
I loved the way it felt when I had the side of my face on his chest and his voice vibrated while he spoke.
He held me tighter and even though my brain begged me to get away as I had gotten toofortable, my body melted in his warmth.
“<b>I </b>just couldn’t think straight the moment you pped Tiffany. I didn’t mean tosh out at you the way I did.”
“She’s your wife now. I get it.”
“Yeah, she’s my wife, but you were here before her and you’ll always be here.”
I hated the sound of it. I was <b>a </b>constant in his life but never the choice. Still, my heart fluttered and I hated that, too.
I tried to sit up so I could get away, but he held me tighter, as if begging me to sit still and I listened to my
heart.
“Does Tiffany even know you’re here right now?”
“No. She’s too busy with my mother–inw. She was actually furious when Tiffany told her what you did.”
I chuckled. “Was she more pissed than how I saw her at the wedding the one time I made eye contact with
her<b>?</b><b>” </b>
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“More eyes were on you than they were on the bride. I’m guessing she couldn’t stand that. You were absolutely gorgeous in that red dress and those heels.”
“I didn’t think you even noticed.”
“I definitely did.”
My lips curved into a smile like those words meant the world to me.
I expected him to bluntly ask me why I wasn’t at the reception, or how I ended up at Maddox’s ce, but hepletely changed the subject.
“You know, we haven’t really talked much since you came back to town.”
I looked up at his handsome face with a scoff. “You’re the only reason that hasn’t happened. You’ve been too busy with work.”
He subtly licked his bottom lip and smiled at me. “I could never be too busy for you.”
There it was again, that flutter in my chest. I couldn’t even speak.
Then, he reached for my hand and his thumb brushed against my knuckles in slow and gentle strokes that made me forget how to breathe. That didn’t even seem to make a difference to him as he had no idea what he was doing to me. He just casually carried on with the conversation.
“How was the graduation? I really wanted toe since we hadn’t seen each other in years, but I just couldn’t make it. I had some issues at thepany that needed me.”
“It was….fine. I had <i>a </i>few family members present.”
“And your sister?<b>” </b>
I frowned. “She wasn’t there. Actually, I didn’t even inform her. I just thought she wouldn’t care. If only mom were still alive, things might’ve been different.”
“You know what I think? It’s just a matter of time and you two will be close again.”
I chuckled bitterly, pulling away from his hand. “She called yesterday but it turned out to be a mistake. She made that very clear.”
He sighed. “You two used to be so close. I would’ve never thought that a day like this woulde.”
Talking about my sister only broke my heart and I wanted to get up to have a moment alone, but he pulled me back down and held me close. I might’ve wanted to be alone, but I liked the feeling of being in his arms
better.
“So, tell me about that job again.”
<b>I </b>appreciated his effort to distract me. He already knew quite a bit about it.
“Well, it’s this online gig for a startup and I work six hours a day. It’s good money. That’s why I have my own
<b>7:22 </b><b>Tue</b><b>, </b><b>Sep </b><b>16 </b>
ce now.”
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“You’re the smartest tech person I know and can do better than that. Actually, my friends and I are looking to assemble a team that can develop an app for one of mypanies and you’re perfect for it.”
I hesitated. Working closely with Grayson?
“I’ll think about it.” I managed to force a smile.
“And I’m hoping that’ll be a yes. I want it to be you.” He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear the way he used to and it sent shivers down my spine.
His words were ying with my broken heart yet I wanted to believe it meant more when I knew it didn’t.
I looked away and rested my head right on his shoulder, still feeling that arm around me.
“Harp?”
“Yeah?<b>” </b>
“I missed you.”
My heart started racing but I didn’t look up at him. I balled my hand into a fist. He said all the right things but I couldn’t believe it had to be now.
“I missed you too.” The words left my lips softly and they were true.
I hated myself for it as soon as I told him because I knew he didn’t miss me in the way that I missed him. I was still just a…friend.
“Harp, I want us to be close again.”
That was it. I couldn’t take it anymore. I feared I’d sit on him and kiss him before stopping myself.
His phone rang and I took that opportunity to get away from him. I crossed my arms as I stood by the window and looked outside. What game was he ying with me? I wanted that more than anything, just not in the way he did.
“That must be your wife. You better <i>go </i>now.”
“It’s actually the office, but when Ie back, I’ll figure things out. Tiffany will have to understand.”
“Understand what?” I asked, my voice t.
“That you’ll always be important to me and I’m not letting you go.”
I turned to face him, those words not holding the meaning that I wished they did.
He came closer<b>, </b>reached for my hand, then led the way outside like I was his girl and I wished I was, but that wedding ring scraped against my skin and reminded me of my ce.
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:
He stopped right in front of his car, turning to face me with a smile.
“If you need anything, I’m right here,” he said.
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I looked at those lips, his shoulders, his forearms, all of him. The one thing I needed was exactly what he couldn’t give me.
He pulled me into a hug and my eyes widened a little. I felt his warmth and closed my eyes like I could melt into it again. I wanted to pull away so I wouldn’t get toofortable, but still held on just a few seconds. longer.
When he finally let go, his eyes lingered on my face while he opened his car door.
“Stay away from Maddox. He’s nothing but trouble.”
He didn’t even wait for my response and got in to drive off.
I watched his car until it turned at the corner, wrapping my arms around myself while thinking about his warning for me to stay away from trouble.
I closed my eyes and Maddox was all I could see. In those sheets and on that bed, he made me forget it all. He made me feel wanted and I wanted him too.
But now that the high had faded, all of it was creeping back in, especially after Grayson hade to my house and said everything I wanted to hear.
As I slowly made my way back inside, something made me stop in my tracks with narrowed eyes. Tiffany didn’t react to the p the way she should’ve. Of course, she shed some fake tears in front of Grayson, but that was it. That wasn’t the Tiffany I knew. She was too calm about it. Why didn’t it feel right?
AD