False Illusions (False #1) (16 page)

I may or may have not thought of that. “Still he lied.”

“And so has Marcus,” she counters. “But tell me this. Does he make you feel like the only woman in the world?”

“Yes,” I automatically answer.

She smiles as if I just solved my problem.

Rolling my eyes I huff out. “I’m still not ready to forgive him.”

“Of course you’re still hurt. I’m not saying take him back right this second, but think about it. Give yourself time to just be on your own.”

That’s what I’m going to do. Take time for me.

When we’re outside waiting for cabs my mom pulls me in for a hug.

I hold her tight, I’m so happy we had this dinner.

“Madison, I’m so proud of you. I can’t say sorry enough for the Marcus situation, but your father and I are so happy that you’re happy.” She kisses my cheek. “Oh, and your father is dropping that asshole after the fight.”

I burst out laughing.
Go dad!

Later in the night while I get ready for bed I feel lighter than I’ve ever felt. I started my long awaited career and I have my parents back, without Marcus.

Life is coming together all I had to do was try.

Good Enough- Empire Cast

Not one fucking text. Not one fucking call. Fuck, not even a note brought by an owl from fucking Harry Potter. Not a peep of a thank you for the gift. Or the roses. It's been almost a week and nothing. Is this what it has come to?

Yasmine lied. My sister told me jewelry makes everything better and I stupidly believed her. I didn't even bat an eye at the price of the charm bracelet that Yasmine said was a must have. I don't know what women like, I was clueless. The charm bracelet was supposed to guarantee at least a thank you so I could try and talk to her. But nothing. Not a single word.

The first time Madison left me sucked, but I was lucky enough to pull her back in. This time I was miserable. It felt like part of me was missing, and I was too scared to think about what that might actually mean.

You love her
.

I know I love her. I admitted that already.

I groan. Fuck. Does this empty pit I feel the symptoms of being in love? If so, cupid can come take his arrow out of my ass now. He hit his mark, now can he just get her back for me?

Today was an off day, which meant I didn't have to set foot in the gym. I had all day to mope around the penthouse and randomly get upset that I still haven't heard from her.

I need a new approach, and this time I wouldn't be asking my little sister, she'll have me forking out another grand. Not that Madison isn't worth it, but I need a different path. Clearly she doesn't care how much I spend.

Refusing to ask anyone for help, I turn to google. Google knows everything.

Google led me to three places. A print store, a bookstore and Macy’s. I wasn't supposed to spend money, but it was way less than a grand and my new googled gifts were thoughtful, according to ‘Tiny Buddha’.

Chris insisted he tag along, but I threatened him not to say anything. He laughed and muttered “pussy whipped” under his breath.

I ignored him.

He has no idea how crazy I'm going, or what lengths I'll go through just to get her to acknowledge me.

Looking at the items once I get back to the hotel, I nod to myself. I have officially gone nuts. This is the most sappiest shit I’ve ever done.

“So is this box going to be a winner?” Chris nods the shipping box I'm packing.

Frowning as I tape the box up. “That's the plan.”

He nods “I hope it works. I'm tired of seeing you like this.”

“Like what?” I inspect the box.

He snorts. “Like a love sick puppy. Bro, you have it so bad. Does she know you're in love with her?”

“Is it that obvious?” I ran my hand through my hair.

Chris eyebrows shoot up. “Um, yeah. So I take it she doesn't know.”

Does she know? Can she see it like Chris can?

I shrug. “I have no idea. I haven't told her.”

I’m hoping for this box to show her for me. If she doesn’t respond to this, then I'm just going to have to accept that she is done with me, and I can't even blame her. But I'm sure hoping like hell because I need my baby doll in my corner on fight night.

“I could really go for some pizza.” Chris flops on the couch. “Do you have Chromecast?”

I squint my eyes. “What the fuck is that?”

Rolling his eyes he stands back up. “Just order the pizza and I'll be right back.”

An hour and a half later I'm regretting treating myself to pizza. I told myself one slice, but one turned into a whole box and now I'm dying on the couch watching Kevin Hart with Chris on the flat screen. I need to invest in a Chromecast , the whole time I've been watching Netflix on my laptop.

Automatically I think about Madison and how we used to lay in bed watching Netflix on the laptop. She never complained, just snuggled up next to me. These memories are killing me. It’s been weeks since I felt her next to me, kiss me, talk to me.

Chris is right, I’m pussy whipped in the worst way. Jokes on me.

I miss her so fucking much. So. Much.

“Just give me a chance, baby doll. Just a chance,“ I say into the empty bedroom. Running my hands through my hair I grip it. My pride won’t let me shed a tear, but fuck I was dying inside. How could this blonde haired, grey eyed woman work her way into my life and heart in just a matter of weeks.

I’m so fucked.

I Almost Do- Taylor Swift

Knock, Knock

The knock at the door startles me. I have been living here for three weeks, and the only visitor I’ve had was my ex-lover. A knot forms in my gut. Was he back again?

Slowly I walk to the door, this time checking the peephole. Relief untangles the knot when I see it’s a delivery boy. I open the door and quickly sign for the package.

The writing catches my eye. It might not be Yoel at my door, but in a way it is. He sent another box. I glance at the charm bracelet that I haven’t taken off since Emma put it on for me.

How can he possibly top this? I still haven’t said anything. That makes me a bad person, right? But, yet here’s another package addressed to me. My mom is right. If I was truly just a game piece he wouldn’t be trying to get me back.

Taking a deep breath I cut open the box with my handy dandy letter cutter.  I wasn’t prepared for this. My heart stopped. My breath caught as I pull out a beautiful
black frame that holds a black and white picture. Tears pool in my eyes as I remember this moment. We were in bed one night playing around with the camera on his phone. In the picture I’m smiling as his presses a kiss to my cheek, he’s shirtless, his tattooed arm holding me against him.

A note falls from behind the frame onto the couch. Picking it up I read it and the tears fall, I can’t hold them back.

I miss this, baby doll

Is all it says. I miss this too. I miss it so much.

After placing the frame upright on the coffee table I go back to the box, this time pulling out a book wrapped in brown paper. Frowning I unwrap it. My jaw drops. Pride and Prejudice. We watched the movie once, he thought it was corny.

I open the book and see that he has written on the inside cover.

You be Elizabeth Bennett

And I’ll be Mr. Darcy

Perfect love story.

I can’t help but smile, wiping tears from my eyes. Now look who’s corny.

Sitting on the couch holding the book close to my chest I stare at the photo of us. I miss him. I miss what we had, even if all we had was inside that hotel room.

Grabbing my phone I find his name and my finger hovers over the call icon. Could I do this? Can I hear his voice and not totally lose it? No. My heart was still healing, and I refused to let him hear me cry. I have been doing this for the last couple of nights, picking my phone up and putting it back down. I’m torn, but I have to at least let him know I received his gifts, that I still care.

I tap the text icon.

Me: Thank you for the gifts. I love them.

I hit send before I can chicken out. Now my heart is racing because we haven’t spoken in weeks.

My phone dings making me jump. That was fast. I look at the time on the cable box. It’s ten in the morning, which means it’s seven in Vegas. He hasn’t left to the gym yet.

Yoel: I’m glad you like them.

Then my phone dings again.

Yoel: I miss you.

My heart tightens. I’m not ready for this.

Me: I miss you too. I just need time.

Yoel: I have nowhere to go. I’ll be here waiting.

He has nowhere to go? What about after the fight? Won’t he go home to Atlanta?

I want to ask what he means, but I know I won’t be ready for the answer so I put my phone down and pick up the frame. This was the sweetest thing a man has done for me. Marcus and I never had pictures of us around our condo. We never had pictures ever that wasn’t taken by a reporter.

Even though my mind tried to convince me that everything with Yoel was fake, my heart knew deep down every touch, kiss, caress, moment was genuine.

Yet, I still needed time to heal from his mistake.

Carter was staring at me again. He has been doing this a lot lately, and I was ready to throw my pen at his eye. If he had a question he should just ask. I’m sure he knows who I am.

Rolling my eyes I look back to my screen. I decided to write an article on that documentary Emma was telling me about. I watched it over the weekend when I wasn’t staring at the picture of Yoel and me. In my own opinion I think the guy is innocent, half of America thinks he’s innocent.

I wanted to call Yoel the moment I started watching, but remembered that I told him I still needed time. Ever since that package came, I’ve wanted to call him and forgive him, but I knew that we needed to talk about what happened, I wasn’t exactly ready for that conversation and I know we can’t pretend it never happened. 

“So.” Carter taps his pen on his desk.