Page 23 of Madd Love

The crowd cheers and shouts, and I continue.

“She said no.”

The crowd boos. And I laugh into the microphone.

“I know, right? I couldn’t believe it, either. But I kept asking, and finally, that no turned into a yes. She was everything I ever wanted. Kind, smart, funny, and damn gorgeous.”

Then the crowd parts, and I see Atticus and Rim first. I know those men would protect these women with their lives, just like Beck and I would. I make my way toward where they stand.

“But last night, things went sideways on us, and even though I was up here on this stage tonight, playing my heart out for you, Nashville…“The crowd screams. “The truth is…” The crowd quiets down, and finally, I see her, my Jen.

“Give him a spotlight!” Beck calls into the mic, and a spotlight is on her instantly.

I stop in my tracks, and I tap my heart. My breath stalls in my fucking chest.

This woman is everything.

SEVENTEEN

Jen

When I walked away from Maddox, I intended for that to be the end. I was devastated. I couldn’t reconcile what had happened with the man I have gotten to know more intimately over the last few weeks, even if he may have once been that very man. I think that was what hurt me the most, the level of deceit I felt.

When I stormed down to the lobby, of course, Glory and Beck came, and boy, Glory pissed off is scary. Who knew? She’s always so sweet and kind, but she sure has some Momma Bear instincts, and I love that about her. She called Ev and Ti, and we went to Christina’s room. I was prepared to head home on the first available flight.

Beck asked me to give him some time to look into things, and I figured who would know Tricia and Maddox and their dynamic better than he would? So, I agreed.

The girls and I spent the day hanging out. They did everything they could to keep me busy, but it has been a very bad day, to say the least.

When Beck returned from sound check earlier with a young man who works on their crew named Jacob, and Beck asked meto listen to what he had to say, I was reluctant. But I’d agreed to let Beck look into this, and I am forever grateful he offered.

Once Jacob told me what happened, the truth of whatactuallyhappened, that Maddox was passed out cold and he saw Tricia taking off her clothes, I knew I had to see Maddox. I wanted to watch him from the arena floor, not only to support him but also what if he was mad at me for not believing in him? I didn’t want to ruin his show beforehand if he was mad, and he would have every reason to be. I should have trusted him. I owe him an apology.

But right now, listening to a frantic Maddox trying to find me, I know we will work through this.

I jump up and down, trying to see, but there are too many people. Atticus and Rim are a solid wall behind our backs, so no one is going to be pushing me from behind.

“Where is he?” I ask no one in particular, but Evelyn stops me.

“Jen, listen to him.”

I stop and listen, and tears begin to burn my eyes. “Is he talking about me?” I ask and laugh. Oh my God, he’s telling a sold-out arena about me?

I listen to his sexy voice.

“But last night, things went sideways on us, and even though I was up here on this stage tonight, playing my heart out for you, Nashville…”

The crowd erupts before he continues and my heart is beating a thousand beats a minute.

“The truth is,” the crowd quiets down, and finally, I see him, my Madd.

“Give him a spotlight!” Beck calls into the mic, and a spotlight is on me instantly.

I can’t take my eyes off of him. He stops when he sees me and taps his heart. A look of relief washes over his face.

“Jen Haner has owned my heart since the moment I laid eyes on her.”

I gasp as the crowd oohs and awes.

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