Playing With Fire (Guarded Hearts) (16 page)

She blushed that beautiful shade she did. "You definitely know what I like, Mr. James."

I ordered our food and hoped Maddy would like what I picked out for her. The restaurant had a dance floor and a song came on that I recognized. I grabbed her hand and she looked up at me. "Dance with me?"

"I'd love to."

I walked her out to the dance floor. They were playing Carrie Underwood's "
Ever Ever After."
As I listened to it, I realized how much it related to Maddy. She just needed to let me in and I'd give her a happily ever after. I kissed her once the song was over and we walked back to our table.

The waitress brought our food and I ignored the fact that she lingered by me a little too long. Girls were always very obvious in their attempts, even when I was with Maddy. "I know it makes you uncomfortable when girls flirt with me and I get it. I just want you to know that I've been there and done all of that, but I've never been happier than I am with you."

After dinner, we walked to my car and when we got there, Maddy pulled me into a hug. She snuggled into me like she did when we were in bed. "Thank you for today, Carter. It was great."

I lifted her chin with my finger and kissed her. "We still have one more stop."

"Really? Where?"

"It's a surprise, but I intend for it to also be another first, Miss Stevens."

We pulled up to Midnight and I knew right away she recognized it. "You've taken me dancing before, babe."

I smiled. "Yes, but tonight I'm going to get you drunk."

She laughed. "Is that so you can take advantage of me later?"

"Maybe…if you're lucky."

She grinned at me and started walking to the door. "Oh…if I'm lucky, huh?"

I walked her over to the bar and she started looking over the drink list. I saw the bartender, Paul. We went to high school together. I gave him a nod to say hello. Maddy tapped me on the shoulder and whispered in my ear, "Aren't they going to ask for ID?"

"It's okay. I know the bartender, you're fine."

She turned to Paul. "Can I get a Sex on the Beach?"

I saw her cheeks blush and had to take advantage. "Damn, baby, I could have given you that." She elbowed me in the stomach. I liked it when she was feisty. Oh God, Anthony was rubbing off on me.

"I'm going to go to the bathroom."

"Okay, babe, I'll be here." While I waited for her to come back, I started looking around and saw the last person that I wanted to.

Alyssa walked up to me and put her hand on my arm. "Hey, Carter, you look good. Ditch your girlfriend already?"

I hated her so much. She screwed me over in high school. Now, she was trying to screw up my relationship with Maddy. Alyssa was one of those girls who considered herself superior to everyone else. She wore the most expensive shit cause she thought it was impressive, but nothing could cover up how ugly she was inside. I snatched my arm away from her.

"No, Alyssa, I didn't. I'm with Madison so you need to take the hint and stay the hell away from both of us." Paul tapped me on the shoulder and handed me Maddy's drink. Just then, Maddy walked up beside me and I knew she wasn't happy that Alyssa was here. I leaned in and gave her a kiss, trying to reassure her. "Here's your drink, babe."

"Thanks." She smiled at me, but I could tell it was forced.

"Do you want to dance?"

"Sure!" There was the genuine smile I was looking for.

I sidestepped around Alyssa and led Maddy onto the dance floor. Once we got away from Alyssa, I pulled her close to me. "She came up to me, babe. I told her I was with you and to go away."

"Okay. I just want to forget about her and enjoy tonight, though."

"Sounds like a plan." After three hours and about five drinks, Maddy was drunk and was having a blast. I decided it was time to go, because I knew she was going to be feeling it in the morning. I settled my bill and started walking to the door with Maddy. Alyssa stepped in front of us. Damn, she couldn't take a fucking hint.

"You weren't going to say goodbye, Carter?" She put her hands on her hips and pushed out her chest, as if that would change my mind about her. She looked like she was going to hug me and I was just about to tell her where she could put her hug.

Just then, Maddy swatted her hand away from me. "He didn't say goodbye to you on purpose. He's mine, not yours." She grabbed me and kissed me. "Remember that next time, you bitch whore." Maddy grabbed my hand and started to lead me to the door. Drunk, angry Maddy was fucking hot!

I drove us home and Maddy said she was feeling sick. Damn, I let her drink too much. Everyone else was in bed or out when we got home. I took Maddy to the bathroom because I had a feeling she would need it.

"Why did you bring I…me in here?"

Just then, I felt her lurch and rushed her to the toilet. She emptied her dinner and, I have to say, I'll never look at crab cakes the same again. "Stay here, baby. I'm gonna get you a change of clothes."

"Okay, cutie Carter!"

She was adorable, even now with her head resting on the toilet seat. Maddy got sick a couple more times. After about an hour, I could tell she was done. I helped her change out of her clothes and put on pajamas.

"Remember, cutie Carter, no boom-boom in your room-room."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. I helped her wash her face and brush her teeth. I handed her a glass of water and Tylenol, hoping it would ease her pain in the morning. We went into my room and lay down together. I wrapped her in my arms.

"Carter?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"Will you take me to the beach?"

I thought she hated the beach. Was that just an excuse not to go? "I tried to before, but you said you hated it."

"I don't hate it. I just said that."

"Why would you lie?"

"Because the only time I've ever gone to the beach was with Chris. He got mad at me for wearing a bikini and looking like a whore. He took me home and beat me for the first time that day. I'd like to go there with you, though."

Fuck! I hated that motherfucker with every inch of me. I wanted to change that memory for her. "I'll take you tomorrow, babe."

"Okay. I love you, cutie."

"I love you, too, Maddy."

Madison

The next week went by really fast. Carter had taken me to Myrtle Beach that day
,
just like he said he would. He got us a hotel room that night, because he said he couldn't wait to get me in a bed that wasn't in his dad's house.

We went to the beach, but it was chilly so Carter didn't get me in a bikini like he wanted to. We also went mini-golfing, had dinner, and did some shopping. It was a really great day and to thank Carter, I wore a bikini in the hotel room for him.

After that, we went back home and got into our normal routine. Carter loved giving me "firsts" on a daily basis. Whether it was a movie, food, or anything else he could think of.

Today was New Year's Eve and I had to work at the coffee shop in the afternoon. Carter was already at the club helping with prep for tonight. I wished we could have been together, but it was one of their busiest nights and there was no way he could get off.

Jason was hanging out at the coffee shop with me while I worked. I really liked Jason. He put up this façade of being an asshole, but he wasn't. The fact that he was willing to sit here with me was definitely an example of that. "Here is some more coffee for you, J. I really don't understand how you can drink it black, though." I scrunched up my face and he laughed at me.

"Thanks, Mads. How are you?" I knew Jason was worried about how I'd handle seeing Chris again. School was starting in a week and I had a class with him this semester. Luckily, Carter was in that same class with me, but I was still anxious about it.

It was an amazing feeling that Jason and Shawn had accepted me into their group. Shawn had renamed us the Fantastic Four and everyone, begrudgingly, accepted it. He was on vacation with his family until next week so I hadn't seen him in a while. Most times when Carter couldn't be with me, Jason was here. I heard him before Christmas telling Carter he thought he could protect me better than Shawn.

"I'm doing okay. Not looking forward to it but I'll deal. I have to get back behind the counter, though. Enjoy!"

I was cleaning up behind the counter when I heard the bell "ding," letting me know someone had come in. I looked up and my world came to a stop. He looked so different, almost normal.

"Madison?"

No. This couldn't be happening. "Why are you here?" I barely got that sentence out. I was having a hard time breathing at this point.

"Your boyfriend found me. He said you missed me and really wanted to see me."

Carter called him? Why would he do that? The walls felt like they were closing in. I felt Jason run up beside me.

"Mads, are you okay?" I couldn't answer him. I could feel myself slipping away at this point. "Who are you? What did you do to her?"

"I'm um…I'm her father."

"Shit! Why are you here?" I could feel Jason's arm around me.

"Her boyfriend called me and said she wanted to see me."

No, Carter wouldn't do that without talking to me first. Would he?

I could feel the memories flooding back as much as I wanted to stop them. I felt myself sink down to the floor.

"Daddy, I don't want to leave!" The school called this lady and now she wanted to take me away. "Tell them you want me, Daddy! I love you!" I'd lost Mommy already. I didn't want to lose my daddy too.

"That's just it, Madison. I don't want you. Why would I want a child who killed her own mother?"

Daddy always said that, but I didn't kill Mommy. I loved my mommy; I still do. I wished she were here instead of Daddy.

"I told her to take you when she called me. You can be someone else's problem now. I can't even stand the sight of you."

I didn't want to go away. I was scared of going to a stranger's house.

"You are not a good girl, Madison. No one will ever want to love you."

"But, Daddy, I love you." He turned his back on me, and someone came down the stairs with a bag full of my stuff.

I didn't want to leave.

I didn't want to be alone.

I just wanted to be loved.

Everything seemed so blurry, and it was like I was watching what was happening instead of living it. I felt Jason put me in his arms and take me to the car. I could hear him talking to someone, but everything sounded so muffled.

Carter

I hated that I was working tonight. I wanted to spend it with Maddy.

"Hey, Carter!" John was calling my name from across the club. I looked up at him as if to ask him what he wanted. "Someone is on the phone for you. Says it's an emergency."

An emergency? As I was walking over, I pulled out my phone. I had five missed calls from Jason. I started running to the phone, imagining the worst. "Jason, what's going on?"

"Carter, what the fuck were you thinking man? You called her dad?" He was yelling at me, and I was pretty sure I heard Maddy crying in the background.

"What are you talking about? What happened?"

"Madison's dad showed up at the coffee house today. He said her boyfriend called him and told him she really wanted to see him. I think she's having an anxiety attack. I'm taking her back to the house now."

"What about him?"

"I told him to go away and not come back. He asked if she'd be okay and I told him if she wanted to see him, she'd get in touch with him."

"I'm on my way." It was a miracle that I got home in one piece and without any tickets. I ran through the door and Jason was standing in the living room. "Where is she?"

"I brought her into your room. She's lying down now. So you didn't call him?"

"No, I didn't, but I have a good idea who did."

"Carter, why haven't we gone after that motherfucker yet?"

"I don't even think he's back in town yet, J." My cell phone rang and it was work, probably wondering why I ran out of there like a crazy person. "Hello? Yeah, I had an emergency…I can't right now…you don't understand-"

Jason tapped me on the shoulder. "Carter I'll stay here if you need to go." Jason cared about Maddy more than he'd admit. He had a sister, Sara, who died when he was twelve. Maddy was his new adopted sister. He'd protect her just as well as I would.

"All right, count this as my break then…yeah, I'll see you in less than an hour." I hung up, hating that I needed to keep this job. "Listen, Jason, I just want you to know how much I appreciate everything."

"It's no problem, Carter. I feel like she's a part of my family." I knew he meant that, and it was the only reason that I felt even a little okay with going back to work.

"All right, well, I need to be back soon. I'm gonna go see her." I walked into the bedroom and Maddy was curled into a ball, crying. I crawled into the bed and wrapped her in my arms, but she stiffened.