Make Me Bad(68)

He thinks it’s something more serious.

Even now, he’s in full lawyer mode. I’ve seen him like this before at his office. I’ve stumbled in on him while he’s on the phone with a client or wrapping up a meeting, and it’s like he’s Ben the Hard-Ass. Business Ben. I like it. I want Business Ben to bend me over his business desk.

Not the time, Madison.

My dad crosses his arms over his chest and his brows scrunch together to form one thick line. “That’s not really your concern.”





20





Ben





Not my concern?

Is he kidding?

I glance over at Madison, and she’s ten seconds from crumbling. Her gaze is on her untouched donut. Her hand is shaking as she reaches for her coffee. She tried so hard to get us all here this morning and force us to get along, and none of us is really putting forward much effort. We’re all too stubborn. I’m surprised our egos haven’t blown the roof off yet.

“Madison is my concern,” I say, turning to meet her father’s gaze head-on.

He wants me to kowtow to him, or better yet, he wants me to fulfill all the expectations he has for me. They want me to be heartless, to use her and leave her. Colten already said I’m not good enough for Madison, and it’s clear her father agrees. They both want to be right about me so badly they’d choose it over Madison’s happiness. I’d point that out to them now if it wouldn’t cause a scene.

Madison jumps to her feet. “Why don’t I top off everyone’s coffee?”

She’s already grabbing cups, but I won’t let her take mine. She doesn’t need to wait on us hand and foot. “I’ll get some in a second. Thank you.”

She nods and turns away. I glance back to her father in time to see him exchange a glance with Colten. I have no idea how long they’re planning on holding out. A year from now, will it still be like this? Two years?

No. That would tear Madison apart. She deserves better. She deserves to have us try, at least.

So I’ll go first.

“Mr. Hart, I’d like to apologize for anything I might have done as a teenager to ruin your perception of me. I’m sure we did some pretty stupid stuff back then and—”

“No apology necessary.”

What he means to say is, I don’t accept.

Fine. Let’s all just sit here and make Madison suffer. Pass the fuckin’ donuts.

The second half of breakfast goes as dismally as the first. When her dad and brother stand to leave, I hang back, giving Madison space to say goodbye to them without me hovering nearby, but then I’m shocked when her dad tilts his head out past the door.

“Ben, let me talk to you for a second.”

Oh good, I bet this is the part where he holds up a shotgun and threatens my life if I don’t leave his daughter alone. I prepare for the worst, but at the bottom of the stairs outside, he shoos Colten along and turns to me. His eyes are less hard than they’ve been all morning. He props his hands on his hips and turns to me. Madison tells me he’s a big softy. I’m wondering if that’s really the case.

“We don’t want Madison to worry. That’s why I didn’t want to answer your question in there.” I instantly bristle. Withholding information from Madison isn’t the way to keep her safe. She’s not a child. “Madison and you both gave statements about that incident, but it wasn’t enough to go on. The perp was wearing a mask. His height and build weren’t all that unique, and there was no physical evidence left at the scene when my guys swept it later that night. We’ve increased the police presence around the library as much as possible, but the fact is, the guy will likely get away with what he did to her.”

My gut clenches.

That’s the last thing I wanted him to say.

“My fear isn’t so much that he’ll get away with it, but rather that it’ll happen again. What happens next time when I’m not there to intervene?”

My question seems to stump him for a second. “You seem to be taking this relationship with my daughter pretty seriously.”

I lift my chin and reply with one word: “Yes.”

His eyes narrow as he studies me in an unusually intense manner. It’s like he’s trying to read my thoughts. Then he shrugs and sort of chuckles—I swear the man chuckles—before he turns and unlocks his police cruiser.

That’s all.

I guess it’s a start.





Today is Andy’s birthday, the big 3-2. He’s having people over to his house later and I know Madison’s excited to go. She thinks she has the best gift ever for him. Now that he and Arianna are a couple—believe me, it’s all I hear about at work—Madison got them matching bowling league shirts with their names embroidered on the back.

She also ordered some for us, Kevin, and Eli, but she doesn’t think I know that. She’s pretty bad at keeping secrets.

We’re at her apartment, spending the afternoon together like we usually do, and I’ve just basically broken a hip trying to have sex with her on this damn futon. It was worth every second, mind you, but I’m about done with this place. The second I think she’ll actually accept, I’m asking her to move in with me. A part of me knows she wants to give in. That cold shower she’s taking right now can’t be enjoyable. She’s in there hissing under an icy stream.