Page 65 of The Ruckup
Gavin does the same thing, his brows pinching together. “Maddie doesn’t look so hot.” He immediately holds up both hands. “I don’t mean that in a bad way. I mean she doesn’t look like she feels good. Of course Maddie is hot.” His eyes widen. “I don’t meanhot, hot.” He rakes one hand through his long dark hair. “You know what I fucking mean, right?”
“You’re already fucking my sister, you better not be trying to steal my…” I know I should call Maddie my girlfriend—it’s what’s written across the screen—but that doesn’t feel good enough. She’s so much more to me than that.
“Fucking hell.” Gavin shakes his head at me, a smirk curling his lips. “If you propose to that girl before she’s divorced, Babs and Dan are going to lose their shit.”
“That only makes me want to do it more.” Maddie and I have come a long way in the month since she tried to end thingsbetween us. We’ve talked through a lot of her fears. Her pain points. The guilt she carries.
We’ve also talked about our families. A lot. Together, we’ve tried to figure out how to navigate the situations we’re facing with our parents. Neither set is coming around to our relationship the way I was hoping for, but that’s on them. I’m not living my life to make other people happy.
Neither is Maddie. Not anymore.
Gavin slaps me on the shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. “Honestly, I’m shocked you made it this long. I think you fell in love with her the night of the Christmas party, man. I saw the look on your face when she walked in and could tell you were a goner.”
“I was.” I’m not going to deny it. I’ve been all-in with Maddie Miller from day one, and I’m not even a little bit ashamed. “Still am. I love the shit out of her, and as soon as I know it won’t scare her to death, I’m going to tell her.”
“You should probably do that before you propose to her. Otherwise, she might get real fucking confused.” Gavin starts to say more but gets cut off when our coach enters the locker room, ready for his pre-match pep talk.
I try to focus, but all I can think about is making Maddie Miller into Maddie Casselini.
Thankfully, I’m riding high on all the possibilities for my future, and I channel every bit of it into the match. The team we’re up against is skilled, and my time on the pitch is brutal. By the time it’s over I’m exhausted, dirty, bloodied, scraped, and bruised.
And still wearing a big fucking smile, because we won and Maddie is about to join me on the pitch for the first time.
But when I see her and Alexis come through the gate, my smile slips. On the screen I could tell she didn’t feel well, but in person, Maddie looks miserable.
Instead of her coming to me, I run to her, pushing my already tired muscles and aching joints as hard as I did during the match. I reach her just as she steps onto the pitch, and I rest both hands on her shoulders, looking over her slightly sweaty face. Reaching up, I press the cleanest part of my hand to her clammy forehead. “What’s wrong?”
Maddie shakes her head. “I don’t know. I think I might have eaten something funny.” Her already pale skin turns ashy as one hand lifts to her mouth. “I think I need to find a bath?—”
She doesn’t finish what she’s about to say, because suddenly Maddie is bending at the waist, puking on the trampled grass of the pitch.
I step in front of her, hoping to shield her hunched form from the bulk of the spectators lingering in the stands. After quickly collecting her long dark hair, I hold the silky strands with one hand, smoothing the other up and down her back. It’s something I’ve done for Gavin more times than he’d probably like to admit, but this feels different. Better in a twisted way.
“Oh my God.” Alexis notices what’s happening and rushes over. “Is she okay?”
Maddie sucks in a breath, straightening as she swipes across her mouth with the sleeve of the Cape Coral Swamp Cats hoodie she found in our closet. “I’m fine. I might just have the flu, or something.”
She might. Anything’s possible.
My gut tells me—even if technically she got it from me—what’s making Maddie feel sick isn’t contagious.
“Come on.” I hook one arm around her waist, supporting a little of her weight as I lead her back the way she came. “Let’s go home.”
Maddie’s head drops to my shoulder, her eyes closing as she leans into me. “That sounds good.”
Later, I’m going to give her a stern talking to about coming here today even though she felt like shit. Make sure she knows to put herself first. Always.
Especially if she’s sick for the reason I suspect.
Working quickly, I grab my stuff, not even bothering to change out of my filthy Jersey and shorts before directing Maddie to where my Charger is parked in the garage. After helping her into the front seat and buckling her in, I chuck my crap in the back seat and climb behind the wheel. Maddie leans back, eyes closed, skin pale, as I pull out onto the street and aim for our house. I want to get her home, but we need to make a stop first. I know I won’t be able to focus on anything until my suspicions are confirmed.
It’s always been in the back of my mind that this was a possibility. I knew the risks. But personally, I would consider this a reward.
When we reach my destination, I slow, taking the turn into the lot carefully, so I don’t jostle Maddie any more than I have to. I leave the car running, and the cool air blowing directly at her.Lifting one of her hands to my mouth, I press a kiss to her knuckles. “I’ll be right back.”
She nods, but doesn’t say anything else, making me feel like an asshole over the excitement skittering over my skin. I practically run into the drugstore, grabbing a basket as I go. I pace the aisles, dropping in crackers, ginger ale, and Pedialyte, before reaching the section I’m searching for. Grabbing three boxes, I drop the trio in with the rest of my items and make a beeline for the register. Thankfully, no one’s in front of me, so I’m able to check out in record time.
When I get to the car, Maddie looks even worse. Sweat is collected across her upper lip, and she’s peeled off my hoodie, leaving her in a pair of jeans and a tank top.
