Page 21 of Forever Home

“Jesus Christ,” she exclaims, shaking her head. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“Sorry,” I reply, hesitating for a moment. “Uh… Kylie said to bring this stuff up for us to use.”

I’ve never been a man to hesitate in life. Always so gung ho about getting shit done and making something of myself. Probably to provea point to my parents, as well as myself. Though standing here before Madi, I’m suddenly more nervous than I have been my entire life.

Get yourself together, man. It’s just Madi, for fuck sake.

As if she knows I’m arguing with myself, she raises a brow. “You can just set them wherever.”

Setting down the boxes and the target bag full of tape and other supplies I turn to find Madi back at it in the closet. The round perk of her ass shakes slightly when she moves from kneeling to standing. And as much as I probably shouldn’t be gawking at her, I can’t help it.

I can’t help wanting to walk up behind her just to grab her ass, perhaps bend her over… or wrap my hand around her throat from behind while I make her pant for me.

My cock twitches at the thought and I move. Making my way over towards the large brown dress drawer on the far side of the room. If I don’t and I keep watching her, I’m going to make more of a fool out of myself than I probably already have.

“You don’t have to work in this room if you don’t want to,” she says, my eyes locking with the hazel depths of her own.

“I’m okay helping here.” I turn back to the dresser. “Plus, it means we will finish this room quicker.”

The drop of an item catches my attention and I glance at her once more. Only this time she’s staring straight at me, one hand on her hip and a scowl on her face. “Are you trying to say I can’t finish this room on my own?”

The fuck?

“No… I’m just saying we would finish it quicker together.”

“Is that right?” she replies, rolling her eyes. “I’m honestly surprised that you decided to come help. I didn’t really take you for someone to do manual labor like this.”

Moving a step closer to her, I raise my brow. “Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugs. Her eyes cast off towards the open bedroom door before landing on me once more. “You’re just a busy man?”

Her statement comes off more as a question, a sudden shift in her confident behavior as she swallows deeply. Her throat bobbing slightly before she gives me a small smile.

“I’m not as busy as you think,” I finally reply. “I always make time to go on an adventure or enjoy the finer things in life. Regardless of being heavily involved in my work.”

“I see. So, you don’t mind being here then… with us, I mean?”

I don’t miss the hesitation in her voice. The way her big eyes stare up at me from under dark lashes as if inviting me in. Almost tempting me to touch her, maybe even kiss her. The thoughts of even taking that step jolts me as if to remind me of who the hell is actually standing in front of me.

Madison, a girl I grew up with. A girl, that’s no longer a girl, but a grown woman, far surpassing all expectations I once had of her. “I don’t mind being here at all. Especially helping you.”

“Uh, huh,” she remarks, rolling her eyes with a small smile. “Keep it up and I might start thinking you like spending time with me.”

Her comment puzzles me for a moment as I let it replay in my head a few times. I can’t understand why she wouldn’t think I want to be around her. Growing up, our entire group was inseparable. And honestly, I was glad for that. It was only during senior year that things got weird with us, Madi and I.

And honestly, I don’t know why.

One day, we’re laughing and hanging out. I’m considering what kind of future I plan to have after graduation. All of us made plans for one last gathering at the lake… and then all the sudden, she was distant. It had bothered me a little back then, but I chalked it up to her simply having a lot of shit on her plate. I mean, all the girls back then were all over the place.

Unsure of her motives, and curious to know where her mind is after all this time, I decide to call her bluff. “And what if I do?”

Taking a bunch of old coats off the rack, she turns and places them into an oversized box before taking me in once more. “I’d probably ask you what drugs they have you on or if you hit your head. Because not many people can handle being around me.”

“Is that right?” The laughter escapes with my words and I watch her straighten.

“Yep. In fact…” She smiles, her eyes casting up towards the top of the closet. “If anything, I’m more demanding now than when I was in highschool. Now if you’re done talking… Can you grab this big ass box off the top shelf for me? I don’t know what she has in there, but it’s heavy as fuck.”

Laughter burst from my lips at her playful comment. She was indeed demanding back then. Always taking the lead and the first to jump at anything to prove herself against us boys. If I recall, the teachers back then called her ourring leadermore than once.

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