Page 115 of Fake Love

I’m surprised that his voicemail box isn’t full by the amount of messages I’m leaving.

The beep comes through and for a quick second, I feel like giving up.

“Maddox, can you please just tell me where you are? I’m not asking you to come home, I just need to know that you're in a safe location. Can you please just call me back and let me know? Or call your mom? Something?”

I will take a fucking bird at the window, for crying out loud. I just need to know that he’s safe and not out looking for something he shouldn’t. I absolutely hate the fact that my mind automatically went to thinking that he is out there trying to find a high.

That shouldn't even be a though, since he hasn’t said anything about even thinking about a hit since July, but given the circumstances, it is.

I want to tell him that I’m here for him like I have been doing in other voicemails, but I don’t have enough time.

The words ‘I love you’ are also on the tip of my tongue but I don’t want him to hear those words over a voicemail for the first time.

Ending the call, I give up on getting a hold of him for now. Eventually he’ll answer, call back or just show up here.

Maybe I will be able to find him at the apartment. I can go and check, but I really don’t want to leave Nora alone.

Pocketing my phone, I head back to the living room.

Nora is still sitting on the recliner looking at a blank tv.

I think she’s just trying to process everything that she has gone through in the last few days.

Walking up to her, I place a gentle hand on her shoulder, trying my hardest not to scare her.

“Do you want something to eat?” I ask her, softly.

She looks up at me, giving me a blank stare before composing herself a few seconds later.

Nora shakes her head. “No, not really hungry. Get a hold of that son of mine?”

Now I’m the one shaking my head. “No. Every single text and phone call has gone unanswered.”

She nods, like this is what she expected. “He’ll pick up eventually.”

“I’m just worried about him.” I say, sitting on the couch next to the recliner.

Nora looks over at me, looking me in the eye for a good minute before she gives me a small smile and breaks the silence.

“I’m worried about him too. I’ve been worried since the whole shit show started. There were times where I wanted to scream at him, to knock some sense into him, but I can’t really discipline a grown man.”

I return her smile. “Sure you can. If there is anyone that Maddox would listen to, it’s you.”

A small chuckle escapes her and she just shakes her head. “That definitely hasn’t been the case in a few years. If he did, he wouldn't have used drugs as a coping mechanism or gotten suspended or landed himself in rehab. But I guess he did listen to me on one thing.”

“And what is that?” I ask with curiosity.

“He went out and found a girl to make him happy. You two may have lied about it in the beginning, but you’re both definitely happy now.”

I think if I took a picture of my face right now, I most definitely would look like a cartoon character with their eyes bulging out.

She knew?

She knew.

Holy crap. Did Maddox tell her and not tell me that he told her?

What do I say? Sorry for lying to you?

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