Page 42 of Maddox
“What are you saying?” I ask and he looks away, working his jaw.
“I ain’t saying shit. You think you’re so special but you’re just a throw away princess in a long line of trash.”
I’m out the door before I say more and Micah steps back when I emerge.
Although he’s the last, or second to last person I want to see, I’m trembling under the weight of Joey’s aggression and his mysterious words.
“Let’s go,” I rasp, and Micah leads me to his car.
“Look, babe,” he starts as soon as we’re on the road.
Holding up my hand, I say through a throat thick with tears, “Not now, Micah. Please.”
His brows rise but thank God he doesn’t argue. Unfortunately, he can’t stay quiet for long, which is maybe a blessing in disguise because if I consider what just happened with Joey, I may not be able to hold back the tide.
I can’t believe that he hit me. I’ve never been struck in my life, not even a swat on the ass when I was young and what did he mean about saving me from my mom?
Like—what?
“Babe,” Micah says, and I groan.
Ignoring my displeasure, he continues. “Can we go somewhere and talk? Please?”
I can’t be trusted to speak right this second because I may crack. Instead, I nod and follow him when he parks at the curb in front of the ice cream parlor.
It’s too fucking cold for ice cream but this particular place makes a yummy hot chocolate which is what I order while Micah hems and haws before finally settling on the same.
The place is packed, and I don’t relish having this conversation in a booth near the screaming toddler nor the older gentleman eyeing us like we’re about to rob the place.
Instead, we step outside and sit at a table against the wall. My ass is cold against the freezing metal seat but I’m doing my best to enjoy the rich, chocolatey caramel flavor of my drink when Micah says, “Babe…”
Glancing up, I meet his blue eyes and mentally sigh. I blew up at him the other day and didn’t give him a chance to say his peace. It’s the least I can do.
It wasn’t all bad times. He could be sweet and lovely. We had a lot of fun together.
“Look, Micah. I know this seems fast, but…I’m just not that girl anymore,” I whisper.
It’s true in more ways than he can understand. It’s not just the shit between him and me, it’s everything…losing my brother and by extension my mom, running away from home, my dad, a new job.
Shit, even meeting Maddox has changed me although I’m not saying I’m in love or something. I’m just…different.
“Delaney, you know I don’t care about that stuff, right?” he says.
“What stuff?”
He waves his hand in my direction, and I frown. Huh?
“About you, the trailer and stuff. I love you, Delaney.”
He goes to touch my hand, and I pull away. “That’s sweet. Thanks fornotjudging where I live, Micah.”
Jerk. Clearly, he’s thought about it. Why else bring it up to me?
Can’t he see that I’m struggling? No because he only sees what he wants to see, and it’s never truly beenme.
“Babe–”
“No, Micah! You’re suffocating me. Your constant demands and suspicion…I can’t handle it anymore.”
