Page 15 of Chance Encounter

He steps back out of my way and scoffs. “Doubtful. His blood alcohol is probably at least three times the legal limit.” We switch places, and he steps out onto the porch before coming back inside and closing the door. “And by the looks of how fast that snow is falling, I’d say we’re going to get a foot in under an hour. Why don’t you get warmed up, and we’ll figure something out? It may be my turn to host a sleepover.”

I swear I hear him mutter something like, ‘it’s like the world is trying to keep us together,’ but I can’t be sure.

Maddox motions for me to follow him into the smoke-filled living room, where I cough and wave the smoke out of my face. “Sorry, my brother was trying to burn down the house while I was gone.”

Garrison, standing in the kitchen, flips his brother off and storms out, leaving us alone.

“He’s an asshole on his best days, and today isn’t one of them. Once the smoke cleared, I was going to make myself a sandwich. Do you want one?”

Hell, if I’m going to be here for a while, I guess I better eat something while it’s being offered.

“Sounds good.” I follow Maddox into the kitchen, where the window above the sink is open. He grabs a baking sheet and tries to use it to get the smoke out quicker. Or at least that’s what I assume he’s doing. He looks like an injured bird trying to take flight. “Give me that.” I snag it out of his hands.

“I’m fully capable,” he grumbles.

I look over my shoulder as I try to get the smoke out of the room. It’s so smokey that I’m surprised the smoke detector didn’t go off. “Maybe, but I can’t stand here and watch you flap around and fall over.”

“Yeah, yeah, make fun of me. We’ve been apart for all of five minutes without you giving me shit. I’ll be back. I’m going to make sure G isn’t drinking himself into a coma.”

“Take your time,” I tell him, coughing as I swipe at the smoke-filled air.

The room is almost cleared by the time Maddox comes back into the kitchen. His face is red, and his brows are pulled low as he steps up to the counter and pulls out a loaf of bread.

Maddox turns and looks at me with wide eyes. “What about your poor dog?”

Yeah, poor Harry. “He has plenty of food and water. The only problem is he can’t let himself out, so whenever I do get home, there’s going to be a big mess for me to clean up.”

Mad wrinkles his nose at me. “I don’t envy you.”

“If I had known, I would have brought him with me.” The poor guy is going to think I abandoned him. I’ll have to cook him a nice steak when I get home tomorrow.

“I hope you like turkey,” he murmurs.

“Turkey’s fine. I’m not picky.” I pause and then decide to ask what I want to know. I’m not going to stop being me just because I’m in his house. “How’s your brother?”

Mad’s eyes flick up to mine before he ducks inside the refrigerator and pulls out a package of cheese and turkey. “He’s pissed that he can’t go to the bar due to the weather.”

When he mentioned his brother being a drunk, I didn’t put much stock in it, but now I’m thinking he might be right. I don’t often go to The Ice Box, but every time I’m there, so is Garrison.

“He’s going to be unbearable to be around. It’s too bad he wasn’t at one of his women’s houses and got stuck there.” Maddox slams a knife into a jar of mayonnaise and slaps it on a piece of bread. He holds up a piece of bread, and I shake my head. “Maybe he’ll be better with you here.” He shakes his head, and a dry laugh leaves him. “I bet you wish you were anywhere else but here.”

He’s not wrong. I do wish I was at home with my Netflix on binging my favorite show. “Do you have Netflix here?” I ask instead of answering him.

Mad lets out a sigh while shaking his head. “G might have it. I don’t know. Like I told you, I don’t watch much TV. By the time I have any downtime, I’m ready for bed.”

“You don’t have any help here?”

“It’s just me and my horses.” The smile he directs my way lights up his entire face. It’s obvious, Maddox loves his horses.

I look toward where I saw Garrison storm off earlier. “Your brother doesn’t help at all?”

“Not if he can help it. Usually, he’s passed out, or he’s not home.” He shrugs it off like it’s no big deal.

Why does he let his brother take advantage of him when he seems like he needs help? What I took for pain yesterday may be exhaustion. I’m not sure why I care, but I do. A little bit. Only a tiny smidge. Life in Alaska isn’t easy, and doing it alone, even harder.

Mad sets a sandwich in front of me. “Is Colby Jack cheese, okay? I forgot to ask you.”

“Wow, you’re fancy. All I eat is plain ol’ American cheese.” I take the sandwich from him and take a bite. It might be the best damn turkey sandwich I’ve ever had. Or maybe it’s because I’m starving, and anything would taste good. I don’t tell him that, though. “It’s…” I shrug, playing it off. “It’s edible.”

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