But now, things were changing.
She had it easy the first time she pushed me away. I let it happen. But I wasn’t going to make it that easy this time.
We had a conversation to finish.
And a game of one-on-one to complete.
When I pulled into my driveway, I immediately peered up to her bedroom window. Her light was on, as usual, but I didn’t see her gazing down like she was a real-life Rapunzel or anything. If one thing was for certain, Madeline was not a princess. She was more like a wicked witch disguised as a princess with her pretty looks and golden hair.
And if I knew her at all, she was likely planning on avoiding me because of how close I was to unraveling her last night. She knew I was caving in on her, and if she was feeling anything like I was—and let’s face it, she was—she wouldn’t be able to put up much of a fight.
I closed my car door with a loud slam, waiting to see if she would peek down between our driveways. But she didn’t. There wasn’t even a lingering silhouette behind her curtains.
I chuckled as I jogged up to her front door, using the spare key that was always in the same spot. When I latched the door behind me, I massaged a spot over my chest, rubbing away at the cotton that laid between my hand and my heart. It was thumping harder than usual. Fast and loud, climbing with each step I took to her bedroom.
My fist raised to knock, but instead, I dropped my head against the wood, placing both hands on the hard oak. “I know you’re in there, Madeline. Open up.”
I glanced down to the light pouring out from the bottom of her door, grinning at the small shadow from her standing just on the other side. “Let me in.”
I meant that both physically and metaphorically.
“Why?” she asked through the wood.
I chuckled. “Because we have a conversation to finish.”
Her sigh was barely audible. “You should go home.”
Did she truly think it was going to be that easy to get rid of me once she let me in?
“I’ll break down the door if I have to.”
I heard her soft laugh. “You will not.”
“Try me.” I grew serious, and I guess she knew me better than I thought, because she opened the door after only a few seconds.
The first thing I noticed was her glossy lips again. They were redder than usual, and I licked my lips as I continued to stare. Her blonde hair was silky and falling down over her perfect boobs. A thin, blue, long-sleeve shirt was the only thing keeping me from seeing her in that lacy bra that was taunting me from the top.
I didn’t give her a chance to say anything as I strolled inside her room. I immediately went over and sat in her chair, grinning at the book on her desk. It was the same book I’d picked up a few weeks ago when I’d snuck in.
“Doing a little naughty reading tonight, are we?”
Madeline shut the door behind her and rested along it. She was trying to put as much space between us as possible. Her pink cheeks caught my eye when she glanced at the book in my hand.
“What? No.” She shook her head quickly.
I leaned back and started flipping through the pages. I could see her squirming, moving back and forth on those cute bare feet. “You know,” I started, slowly flipping the pages. “I didn’t know you were an avid reader, Madeline.”
“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Eric.” Her arms crossed over her chest in her typical aloof behavior.
We had made so much progress last night, much to my dismay, but she had me hooked. She truly did.
I placed the book down slowly, not once taking my gaze off her. “Precisely why I’m here.” My heart was thumping faster, things inside my body going haywire with her standing across the room. I wanted her near. “You never answered my question.”
I expected Madeline to play coy. To pretend she’d somehow gotten amnesia in the last twenty-four hours, acting as if she had no idea what I was referring to, but to my surprise, she didn’t. “I want you to go back to ignoring me. I don’t like this, Eric. Stop fucking prying.”
“Mmm,” I hummed. “There she is.” Madeline rolled her eyes, crossing her arms even tighter across her chest. “There’s that prickly girl I’ve watched over the years, pushing everyone away when they get a little too close for comfort.”
Her expression never changed. She just continued glaring at me, her bow-shaped lips pursing.