Page 87 of Fake Love

Nora because she can’t believe that Maddox actually told her.

And me because I’m trying to wrap my head around the fact Maddox got into a fight with someone, an old teammate, over me.

So many questions start forming in my head, but two questions stand out, why and how?

How did the catcher even know about me and why would he use me to get under Maddox’s skin?

Nora is the first of the two of us that is able to compose herself enough to speak.

“Alright then. I guess Troy deserved it then. Should we go get some pizza?”

I want to say no. I want to tell her that no we shouldn’t get some pizza, not until Maddox tells me what exactly this Troy guy said, but I can’t seem to find my voice.

That seems to be the case as we leave the stadium or get into Maddox’s car, and that continues to be the case as we eat and head out.

Lunch itself was quiet, like there was this cloud hanging over use and none of us knew what to say. Maddox was still clipped from the fight, Nora would say the occasional small sentence, and well I was too into my thoughts to say anything.

Even during the car ride back to Nora’s the cloud still hangs.

But once we get back to the house, it gets a little worse, especially when Maddox brooding gets onto a whole different level.

Nora must feel the tension that is flowing between us because the second we walk into the house she announces that she has to go to the store for something.

It must have been so important that she completely forgot about it in the car.

Once Nora is gone, Maddox heads upstairs and to the bedroom that we are staying in.

For the last couple of days, we’ve been staying in the same room and sharing a bed. Nothing has happened between us besides a few goodnight kisses and cuddles.

I was okay with that, because when Maddox was in the room, it felt warm and comforting. It especially felt that way since I’m still coming down from the scare of the street festival, but right now it feels a little cold.

After a good minute of watching him throw his clothes around, I’ve had enough.

“So are you going to tell me what the guy said about me or are you just going to continue being pissed off at the world?” I ask, crossing my arms across my chest.

“I’m not pissed.” Maddox throws out, not even turning to look at me.

“Really? Because the scowl that hasn’t left your face since you walked out of the clubhouse, would say otherwise.” I mutter.

Finally, Maddox turns to face me. “What do you want from me?”

“I want you to tell me what exactly that guy said and how it resulted in you getting a nasty ass bruise on your face.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he lets out.

I can’t help but roll my eyes. “Stop saying that. It may not matter to you but it does to me. Especially if my name was somehow involved.”

Maddox just stands there in the middle of the room, unmoving. His facial expression is still hard and his shoulders are so ridged that he can probably plow through the door.

His jaw even starts ticking.

“Fine, you want to know?” his tone is clipped but I still give him a nod. “Troy has a big mouth, always has. He started spewing shit during my first at bat and I ignored him. I ignored him until he decided to say your name. I ignored him until he asked for your number. I ignored him until he said that he wanted to see your knees with your mouth wide open and if you had a gag reflex. I can take all the shit about my game and my past discretions but when they add you into the mix, I will fucking loose it every single time. As to why am I pissed, that has nothing to do with how my face looks and everything to do with your dad.”

My eyes go wide. “How is my dad involved in this?”

“It's just an added thing that tells him just how undeserving I am of you. As if I didn’t know that already. Now he has even more reason to tell you to leave me. All because of a stupid fight.”

All of this is crazy. “What my dad thinks shouldn’t matter. All of this is fake.”

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