Between You and I (9 page)

Authors: Beth D. Carter

“There’s a little more to it than that.”

Lacey walked over to her and hugged Madeline. “I know. I understand completely what I’m saying. I’ve actually thought about it for a while, ever since Kevin walked out on you.”

Madeline pulled back to frown at her. “What made you think at the time of being a surrogate at that time?”

“Because I thought you might need something in your life to help you heal. But in my mind, it was either Jason or Jake donating sperm.”

“Ew,” Madeline said, scrunching up her nose. “That’d be too weird.”

“Tell me about it. My first thought was John, but then … no.”

Madeline chuckled. “You’d actually do this for me?”

“Maddy, you’re my best friend. My sister. My family. I’d do anything to make you happy.”

“Can I borrow your car?”

“Absolutely not.”

They smiled at each other. Then Madeline looked over at Hunter.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He nodded. “Looks like we have more things to talk about.”

“You’re not giving up on me? Even though I was acting like a neurotic basket case?”

Lacey let her go and gave a jaunty wave. “Now that the womb crisis is over, you two need to date like normal people. But no fucking on my kitchen table. I’ve got to eat there, ya know.”

She sailed out the door, leaving Madeline and Hunter staring at one another.

“Penny for your thoughts.”

“I’m wondering if you can ever trust me.”

His words punched her in the gut, and the pain shot straight to her heart. “Of course I trust you.”

“No, you don’t,” he said, shaking his head. “Or you would’ve talked to me instead of hiding. Instead of running. I’m not Kevin.”

“I know.” Guilt clawed at her insides, trying to cripple her with shame. She blinked tears away. “But his words haunt me. I don’t want you to ever feel like I’m holding your back from something. I’m sorry, Hunter.”

“I’ve already forgiven you, Madeline. But that’s not what this is about.”

“At the beginning of you and me, I thought this would be a light-hearted moment. A friends with benefits affair.” She gestured between them. “I never expected this, you know.”

“There was something about you that drew me in,” he said. “I fell in love with
you
, not some futuristic idea of two point five kids and a white picket fence. But in order for us to work, you’ve got to trust that I’m not going to hide my feelings. At the same time, you can’t treat me like I don’t know my own mind. Don’t protect me in an effort to protect yourself.”

“I’m scared,” she admitted.

“I know,” he said. He took hold of her hand and linked their fingers. “But you’ve got to ask yourself if you’re ready for a relationship. If you’re ready to not be alone. I want a partner in life, and I want that partner to be you.”

She smiled at him. “I want that too, Hunter.”

“All right.” He gave a gentle squeeze to her hand. “Then let’s work on that. We’ll take each step one at a time. When it’s right for us. Sound good?”

She nodded. “Perfect.

Chapter Fourteen

Madeline checked her reflection in her rearview mirror one last time before exiting her car. It’d been two weeks since her talk with Hunter in Lacey’s kitchen, and they’d agreed to take a step back and date. Get to know one another on a deeper level than just jumping into bed at the earliest convenience.

Not that she didn’t want him anymore. Every time they talked, Hunter’s voice slid over like a stimulating caress. When he had suggested meeting for lunch at the tea house in Chinatown Plaza, she couldn’t stop the excitement sizzling through her veins.

Now, as she hurried to meet him, she wondered how they would act seeing each other for the first time since their mini break-up.

Or, more specially, how
she
would react.

The tea house was crowded, but Hunter already sat at a table. He raised his hand when she entered and Madeline’s heart thumped with happiness.

Hunter stood and leaned over to kiss her lightly on the cheek.

“Hello, Madeline,” he said.

Madeline smiled. “Hi.”

He waited until she seated herself before following. A ceramic tea pot already sat on the table, with two cups and a variety of sweeteners and cream.

“I hope you don’t mind,” he murmured, gesturing to the tea. “I ordered some black tea for us.”

“That’s fine,” she replied. “How’ve you been?”

“I’ve missed you,” he admitted.

“I’ve missed you too.”

He held out his hand and she took it, linking their fingers.

“This is good,” he said with a smile.

“Yes.” Contentment washed through her. This was easy. For some reason she’d been picturing something difficult between them to overcome, but maybe all she needed was space.

Madeline let go of his hand to pour them tea. Absently she put some sweetener in her tea and then picked up the cream and poured it into his.

“Is that the way Kevin drank his tea?”

She stopped in mid-pour. She looked from him to the tea to the cream and then back to him. “Oh my God.

He took the creamer away and sat it down. “I thought so.”

“I’m sorry,” she murmured and rubbed the spot between her eyes. “Yeah, he liked milk in his tea. How’d you know?”

“Because Lacey said you didn’t. Put two and two together.”

“I know you’re not him,” she whispered.

One cup of tea … it seemed so small and inconsequential, but in reality, it was a huge fucking neon sign. A monolith standing like a beacon to the past, it represented everything that had been wrong with her relationship. Kevin had been the voice in her head, provoking her, and she’d gladly taken his hand to let him dictate her future.

“God damn it, I know you’re not him,” she said again, this time with conviction in her voice. She banged her fist on the table, causing the porcelain to rattle a little. “You have never said one snarky thing to me. You have never made me feel inadequate. You have never criticized one thing about me. You’ve never done all that, yet I’ve continuously judged you. Compared you to him.”

“Madeline—”

She held up a hand. “Wait. Before you say anything nice to me, I want to show you something.”

Amusement gleamed in his eyes. “Oh yes?”

“Will you come with me?”

“Now?”

Madeline nodded.

“Oh,” he replied, looking around. “Sure. Let me pay for the tea.”

Ten minutes later they were driving away, back toward her home. She was very aware of Hunter glancing at her, but she kept focus on the road. The epiphany from the tea burned brightly through her, urging her to show Hunter what was no doubt something very insignificant. Yet it stood for everything. At least, it did in her mind.

Once she pulled into her garage, she hurried him along until they both stood in her kitchen. Madeline grabbed a coffee mug and put tap water in it before placing it in the microwave. Two minutes later, the beep sounded and she carefully took it out. Then she opened a tea bad and dunked it until the liquid turned dark.

“This,” she said, bending down to open a cabinet door. She took out a bottle of cheap brandy. “This is how I like my tea. A shot of brandy and nothing else. Obviously I can’t drink it in public, but when I’m home I like to have it before bed. Or, I used to. Kevin didn’t like the smell of brandy, so I never drank it around him. Eventually, I stopped it all together and put the bottle away.”

She opened it, sniffed it, and then poured about a shot into the hot tea.

“I understand,” he murmured.

Madeline looked at him. “Do you?”

He nodded. “You don’t have to hide who you are from me, Madeline. Your opinions, your feelings, your likes and dislikes. They’re a part of you. And I love you.”

The albatross of Kevin’s ghost disappeared, leaving her feeling strangely light. The urge to kiss him overtook her, and she rushed into his arms. He crashed his mouth down onto hers in a moment of raw, unfiltered desire.

She was free.

Free to feel.

Free to hope.

Free to love.

Epilogue

“Jesus!” Jason moaned. “You’re supposed to be a dude. How much crap do you have?”

Hunter hefted another box out of the moving van and walked toward Madeline’s house. “Quit your bitching.”

“He can’t help but bitch,” John replied.

“Yeah,” Jake said, nodding. “He bitches so much his middle name is Bitch-Boy.”

Jason shot them the finger.

Sarah patted him consolingly on the back. “Poor baby. They picking on you?”

Jason gave her puppy dog eyes and nodded. Sarah leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Lacey rolled her eyes at the lovebirds. “Come on, Jason Bitch-Boy, help John carry this dresser.”

He shot her a nasty look but complied, bending at the knees to lift one side of the dresser. Hunter stepped to one side to let him and John pass as they met in the doorway. As they disappeared inside, Portia barked excitedly. She had been in her cage all day, but it was best since the front door was wide open and no one could supervise her.

Hunter snagged Madeline around the waist and pulled her into him to kiss her on the mouth. She slipped her arms around him.

“Good?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’ve been looking forward to this for a while.”

“What? Me moving in?”

“Yes.”

“Me too,” he admitted. “So where are we going for these great Fourth of July fireworks?”

“The park,” she said. “We’re higher than the Strip so we can see everything for miles.”

“Bring some beer and sit back to enjoy the show?”

“Yep,” she said. “Sounds perfect.”

“The first of many perfect nights.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I love you, Madeline.”

“And I love you, Hunter.”

The End