Page 123 of Maddox
Does she? Because it seems as though what she really needed was the high that made it all go away.
After sitting on the steps just outside the door, I gaze into the trees but I’m not seeing the brittle boughs pulled down by the wintry weather.
Instead, Mom’s shrill screams while she stood over the pool rebound in my skull as I pushed her out of the way and jumped into the icy cold water.
His frail body felt like air in my arms and when I turned him over, Petey’s pretty blue eyes met mine, lifeless and disturbingly blank.
I don’t remember getting out of the pool or attempting CPR, but I did until the paramedics arrived and pushed me away.
All the while, Mom’s achingly desperate cries provided a backdrop to the worst moment of my life.
Blinking away from the memory, I rub my hand down my face. Would any of this have happened if she had admitted she had a problem?
Or if I had? Did the treatment work?
It’s hard to tell without seeing her face to face. She sounded pretty clear on the phone but she’s good at pretending. We all are.
Covering my eyes, I muffle a groan because no matter what I do, I can’t unsee the past.
It’s always waiting to claw at my skin when I least expect, like right now when I’m in a stranger’s home, running from dangerous bikers and perpetually fucking alone.
When the sound of a snapping twig brings me around, I meet Romeo’s wide-eyed stare before wiping my face.
I’m sure he wasn’t expecting tears and if his panic is anything to go by, he doesn’t know what to do about it.
“Sorry,” I mumble and stand before stepping inside the kitchen.
To my surprise, he follows, saying, “You know how to play chess?”
“Um, no…”
I blink when he smiles, nearly blinded by his fierce good looks. I see where this one gets his nickname because he’s a real-life Adonis standing before me.
Dark as sin hair frames a face that would make angels weep with those devastating caramel eyes, lush lips, and high cheekbones.
The man is huge although not as big as Joker who towers over everyone, but he makes up for it with sheer animal strength.
He’s built, and I don’t mean, oh he has lovely muscles. Nope. His muscles have muscles. His abs have abs.
He’s beautiful except for a wicked scar that marks his cheek starting at his brow. If I had to guess it was made by a knife, but it only makes his glorious, good looks more sinful than heavenly.
He’s also, I suspect, at least ten years older than me and if that wasn’t a deterrent, Maddox’s dark, bold eyes are.
We may be nothing to each other, but Maddox makes me flutter, Romeo merely inspires a weird sort of awe.
However, I am grateful when after two hours of patient explanation, I find myself sitting across the table from him while we start a game of chess.
He could have left me to my own devices. He could have stayed out on the porch.
Instead, he’s here, explaining the strategy while I ask endless questions and after a few moves, I pick up my knight and glance up, not sure what to do.
“Remember,” he says, pointing to the board, “the knight can only move this way.”
He makes an L shape while I watch and nodding, I search across the board, as he continues, “You know…the knight is the best for taking out two pieces at the same time.”
“Oh?”
Although it’s interesting, I’m still trying to learn the beginner’s version and that’s way beyond my understanding.
