Page 70 of Waiting to Lose
“HE’S… HE’S HERE… Jake is here,” Madi said as she pointed toward the door.
Kendra grabbed hold of her and sniffed. “I know. I told him to leave.”
“What? No!” Madi pushed free of Kendra’s grasp and hurled toward the door.
“Don’t!” Kendra pulled her back as her anger became apparent.
“He scared me. I didn’t expect to see him. I didn’t know what to say or how to act. But now, I don’t know. What if he does leave? He looked so hurt. What If I never see him again?”
“Madi! Do you even fucking hear yourself? Do you remember the pictures? What he did? He cheated on you. He broke your heart!”
Madi’s mouth gaped open as she considered Kendra’s words. Her hands covered her eyes as she stammered to the edge of her bed, slumping down.
“I know he did. I know. But he’s here. Why would he come?”
Kendra rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms. “He probably wants to say he’s sorry. They’re all ‘sorry’ when they get caught.”
Madi nodded her head and hugged herself. “He just wants closure, right?”
Kendra nodded. “Right.”
“Not me… He doesn’t want me.” Madi stared at Kendra, wanting confirmation. “All he wants was to know is that I forgive him. He doesn’t want me; he wants her. Right?”
Kendra pressed her lips together as she scrunched her brows.
“What?” Madi asked. “Just say it. I know you don’t want to hurt me, but I just need the brutal, honest truth. He doesn’t love me, right?”
Kendra slid down into the chair and flinched.
“Just say it, Ken! Say it!”
“I can’t!” she shouted.
“Why can’t you? Do you think I’m too weak to hear the truth?”
“No, that’s not it. I can’t say it because I’m not sure if it’s it true! As much as I hate to admit it, I just don’t know!”
Madi took a sharp breath.
“I’m trying, Mads. I’m trying to separate my life from yours. Separate Jake and Joe. They aren’t the same. Joe never loved me, but Jake… I know he loved you. I don’t know what happened, but Rob said he might have been drugged, and I just…”
“Drugged?” Madi turned her head sharply. “What are you talking about?”
Kendra scratched her eyebrow. “Shit! I wasn’t going to say anything because they don’t have any proof. It could just be another one of his lies.”
“You had information and you didn’t tell me?” Madi demanded as she grabbed Kendra’s arm, causing their eyes to meet.
“I didn’t want to give you false hope. What if it isn’t true? You saw the pictures. He looked like a willing participant to me.”
Madi sighed. “Yeah, he did. I don’t know… I just don’t know what to do, or how to feel, or how to even breathe.” Madi seized her pillow and drew it to her chest.
Kendra glanced at the door, then back to Madi. “Do you want me to talk to him? See what he thinks he needs to say to you?”
Madi’s eyes lit up briefly. “Would you? I hate this. I wish I could just let this go, but I can’t. I need to know why he’s here.”
Kendra nodded. “Okay. I don’t know how I get myself into this shit. If this weren’t for you, I’d never do it. If I kick him in the dick, you can’t be mad.”
Madi nodded as a small, anticipatory smile crossed her lips.
