Page 4 of Madden

"Ten years, but if he has good behavior, and if he'd talk about the people he was working for, he'd not have to serve all of it. Instead, he's keeping his mouth shut, and he's going to be stuck serving the entire sentence."

"You say that as if you want him to rat out his friends."

Her jaw's working overtime, grinding her teeth together. "They were never his friends. They were users, and he had asubstance abuse issue. He played right into their hands." She presses her lips together, eyes glowing with tears in the dim light of the morning.

"I'm sorry. People like him are easy to manipulate. I wish you didn't have to deal with that."

"Yeah, me too. Look, I gotta go." She reaches up, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "I'll see you around?"

"I hope so." I give her a smile. "Be safe going home, and remember, if you need me; call me."

I watch as she walks away, getting into a late-model Honda CRV, starts it up, and makes a turn onto the main road. Donut and I wait until we can't see her tail lights before we get in my truck, and head home.

CHAPTER 4

BECCA

I'm never goingto call him. I know that as well as I know my name. I'm not the type of person to lean on others, never have been. Not since I went no-contact with my parents right after I turned eighteen. I've always been able to count on myself. I'm the only person who hasn't ever let me down, and I've done well with it until now.

It's only a ten-minute drive to the apartment complex where I live with Mick and my cousin Stephanie. That's one reason I took the job at the PD, because it's so close. It's convenient, much like everything else in my life.

I'm tired, dragging ass up the stairs to the second floor landing. Mick will be up in an hour, and then I'll take him to school before I can finally close my blackout curtains and go to sleep for the day. As quietly as I can, I enter the apartment and turn on the light in the kitchen. This is my time, the silence before the storm of Mick and Stephanie, and everything else I'm responsible for. I have a whole thirty minutes before I have to make breakfast.

Making my way over to the couch, I sigh before sinking into the cushion and pulling my phone out of my pocket.

Right there teasing me is the text from Madden. Against my better judgment, I click it, and as I read it, a smile spreads across my face.

M: You don't have to need me to text me, but if you do, I'll break my ankle getting there. Only for you, Bec.

I giggle before putting my hand over my mouth to stifle the sound. Does he know what breaking an ankle for me would do to my ego? I want to send him a message back, but I'm not a flirter, and I'm afraid that anything I type out would seem as if I'm trying too hard. Instead, I open up my social media and start scrolling.

It's my favorite mindless pastime. I should probably get another hobby, but this is all I can brain after a long shift. I search for the page I've been following closely. Has MadDog posted? When he does, it gives me something to look forward to, although I'm aware this is a weird para-social relationship.

I'm in luck, there's a new post. Clicking in, I inhale deeply as I hear a Nine Inch Nails song play, and then watch as he does his normal workout of pushups and planks. Then, he throws a curveball. Going down on his knees, and spreading them apart as he thrusts against the ground.

It's been way too long since I've had adult entertainment, because the spot between my legs clenches with the desire to feel someone like him there. I watch it more than once, and then go back and view the older ones. Should I be ashamed? Probably. Am I? Nope.

"Hey, good morning."

I glance up at my cousin's voice. She comes into the living room wearing a robe. "Good morning to you, too. You're up early."

"Yeah," she yawns. "I have to go in a few minutes earlier than I normally do. We're meeting over at The Café, apparently." Sheholds her cell phone up. "Did you know someone backed into the plate-glass window?"

"Sure, I answered that call."

"Of course you did." She laughs. "I'm surprised Ruby was awake to text me."

Stephanie works for what was once Whitney Trumboldt's wedding planning business. Ruby Thompson took it over a while ago, and now they've become something of a staple around Laurel Springs. If there's a place that needs any interior design done, or a party planned, they call Ruby Red Designs. "I've heard things around the police department about her and Caleb, and if it's true, that might be why she was awake."

She gives me a look. "I wish I knew what was happening in the Thompson household, but Ruby has declared her personal life off-limits. Which I get, but everyone is wondering what in the hell is going on between them."

"Right? It's like Laurel Springs is waiting with bated breath to find out what's going on with those two. I never want to have that type of relationship. I bet it's so much pressure." I put my phone down at my side. Good thing I just have a crush on an internet personality who probably lives on the other side of the country, and although I think Madden's hot, he'll never pick me.

"There's even a pool going on from what I heard, at the coffee shop." She purses her lips.

"Really?"

"Yeah." She nods. "It's not advertised. You have to ask Eden on the down low."

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