Page 88 of The Battle of Maddox
“She dumped me on the tarmac,” I snapped. “Because I wouldn’t make an exception for her to come with us. And as you’ve all been kind enough to point out, I’ve been paying her bills and dealing with her bullshit for years, and not even realizing how big of an albatross she is. We’re over. Aaron and I…just fell together. I’m okay with this. He’s okay with this. Apparently, I’m bisexual.”
I turned and looked at Hailey. “In fact, do me a favor, do all of us a favor. Get your favorite reporter from Rolling Stone or some other reputable source and set up a damn interview. I want this out of the way. I just want to get to know Aaron and establish ourselves, privately.”
“That what you call it?” Holland asked quietly, his voice laced with humor. Ora, Rand, and even Ford threw him a look of death.
Hailey took a breath, and nodded. “I’m sorry, Doxx. We shouldn’t have reacted that way. It was rude and…we have no authority on who you find attractive or compatible.”
I forced myself to exhale, slowly. “Thank you. I didn’t quite mean to pop off like that.”
“I thought it was sexy.” Aaron smirked. The others in the room groaned, and someone threw a shoe at Aaron. He caught it and tossed it at the dressing rack. “Now, can we go back to the hotel? I desperately need a shower.”
“Same,” Ora and Holland said.
Dietrich held up a hand. “Sign a few more autographs. There are a lot of fans out there. Then you can go. Wipe down now, and just do ten minutes.”
Ten turned into twenty, and by the time we were in the limo, the picture of me kissing Aaron and meaning it was all over the internet.
“Ha! I win.” Rand fist pumped as he held up his phone. “This was up ten minutes ago, just about fifteen minutes after you pulled the stunt.”
“We’re going to call the kiss a stunt?” Aaron looked really offended.
“The kiss wasn’t. The setup kind of was.” I shrugged.
He leaned into me, and his head fell on my shoulder. “I need a shower.”
“So, you put your stink on me.” I groused and popped his head up.
“That’s not what you said—”
“No!” Ora, Rand, Holland, Hailey, and Dietrich all yelled the word and Ford signed it over and over.
Aaron and I started laughing, just as my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and peered at the screen. “Who had Nelson?”
“Ha!” Ora pointed at me. “We all did. He’s obvious.”
I swiped the phone to answer. “You’re on speaker, this is Maddox.”
Nelson’s voice was laughing as he spoke, “Dude, since when are you into dick?”
Aaron leaned right into the speaker. “Since he found mine.”
Everyone cracked up laughing.
Aaron
Having money was wonderful. Especially since we could spend it on fabulous hotels like this one.
The shower was large, and the hot water never stopped. Even though we’d been able to take a few showers along the way, even earlier in the day, this one just felt so much more satisfying.
I’d heard my phone ringing a few times in the bedroom, but I ignored it. I just wanted to hose off and let the water relax me. I washed my hair at least twice and used the loofa and soap over and over.
After about half an hour I started to prune and decided that it was good enough at this point.
A short knock on the door to the bathroom startled me, and a moment later the glass door was pulled open.
Maddox stood there just a moment, then slipped off his boxers. “The adjoining door was unlocked. I’m guessing that was an invitation?”
I nodded, and he stepped in and crowded up against me, wrapping a hand around my neck. He tipped my head up and dropped his mouth to mine.
