Page 137 of Skin In the Game (The BlackWater)

Maddie woke realising that she was in his bed, in Cole’s bed, lying on his ridiculously soft sheets, surrounded by the intoxicating smell of him. She frowned looking around unsure how she had gotten there.

The room was empty. He wasn’t there. She was alone.

She remembered the night, she remembered waking up in the other room, that Cole had been there and that she had revealed another fractured part of herself.

A deep fracture this time.

An old fracture too.

She sighed sitting up and heard low voices. She got up, pulled on some leggings and a jumper of Cole’s and wandered down to see who was there.

“Hey Maddie.” Brandon said as she looked through the doorway to the sitting room. They were both sat there, Cole and Brandon, lounging on his couches, both with what looked like mugs of coffee. From the light Maddie realised it was evening already. She’d slept the entire day.

“Hey.” She said smiling and walking into sit on the chair across from them both.

“Do you want a drink?” Cole asked. She was wearing one of his jumpers he realised as she sat, knees tucked under her, looking both fragile and fierce at the same time.

“It’s okay I can get one in a bit.” She said smiling. She didn’t want him running round after her, treating her like she was pathetic when she wasn’t.

“How’re you feeling?” Brandon asked.

She shrugged. “I’ve been better but I’ve also been worse.”

Cole got up then and came back a few minutes later with a cup of coffee and she shook her head slightly but took it from him anyway.

“So how’s the office?” Maddie asked.

“We think we got a new lead.” Brandon said.

“Really?” Maddie said.

“Yeah Becky and Douglas are working on it now.” Brandon replied.

Cole shot him a look and Maddie frowned.

“What?” She asked Cole.

“You need to rest, be focussing on recovering not worrying about the case.” Cole stated.

“I’m fine. Honestly, I’m pretty much back to normal.”

“You’ve slept most of the day Maddie.” He said gently.

“That’s because you let me.” She snapped.

“Because you needed it.” He replied and she rolled her eyes.

“Cole’s right.” Brandon said gently. “You need a few weeks to recover.”

“A few weeks? Seriously?” She repeated looking between them.

“They tortured you Maddie.” Cole stated and she rolled her eyes again.

“Like I’ve not experienced that before.” She muttered and Cole gave her a hard look while Brandon frowned at the flippant way she spoke about it.

“Take the two weeks Maddie and then we’ll welcome you back.” Brandon said.

“With cupcakes?” Maddie teased and they both laughed then.

“I’ll get Douglas to put in a request.” Brandon said.

“You better or I’ll be disappointed.” She quipped and he laughed again.

Maddie sighed taking a slow sip of her coffee and staring out the window. She was tired, she knew that, she needed to recover too but the thought of two weeks of doing nothing made her feel more than a little frustrated.

Brandon and Cole talked for a bit while she dipped in and out of the conversation.

“I should probably leave you to it.” Brandon said realising it was getting late.

“Stay if you want. I was thinking of cooking lasagne if you fancy some?” Maddie said and Cole frowned slightly.

“I’m not so tired I can’t cook.” She said to him and he rolled his eyes.

“Lasagne sounds great.” Brandon said and she grinned then before getting up to go start it.

As soon as she was gone Cole threw him a look.

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