Just tell her to get out.
Tell her goodnight, have a good life, and get then fuck out of here.
“Thank you for the ride,” Maddie’s hand slides out from under mine, and I watch as she clasps hers together on her lap.
She’s looking out the window again, lip caught between her teeth. Thinking.
You’re a fucking sap. She’s an adult. She can do this on her own.
I put the car in park and turn off the engine. “I’ll walk you up.”
Her eyes move to meet mine, “Okay.”
I berate myself the entire time it takes me to climb out of the car and around to Maddie’s side. Nothing good can come from this. More time with this sexy little creature isn’t going to make my life easier.
By the time I reach her, she’s already on her feet.
“Got everything?” I ask, peering into the car.
Maddie holds up her little bag, “Yep.”
My hand easily drifts to her back as we start up the short sidewalk to her front door.
Just to the door.
You’re only gonna walk her to the door.
Make sure she gets inside, then you’re out of here.
She sways a little, and when I move to steady her, she snakes her arm through mine, holding my arm against her side.
I don’t notice the softness of her breast pressing into my elbow. I don’t notice it at all.
Carefully, we move up the handful of stairs before we finally stop directly in front of her door.
“Oh crap, hang on,” Maddie grumbles, digging into her purse.
She leans her head on my shoulder, or just below it, since she doesn’t quite reach that high. I can hear her mumbling something about locks and codes and someone named Beckett.
My muscles tense.
“Who the fuck is Beckett?” The question bypasses my internal filter, snapping out into the night air.
“Hmm?” Maddie clearly doesn’t notice the jealousy in my tone. “He’s the one…” she trails off. “Ah-ha! Here it is.”
Her head raises as she holds up the key.
He’s the one? What the fuck does that mean?
“That’s great, Baby.” She starts to move so she can unlock the door, but I hold my arm down against hers before she can pull away, trapping her in place. “You were telling me who Beckett is?” I’m being an overbearing brute, but she doesn’t seem to notice.
“Oh, right,” she laughs, rolling her eyes at herself. “He’s the one my best friend is marrying. He’s good with locks and stuff.” An alarming amount of relief expands in my chest. “Marrying,” she repeats the word, annunciating each syllable. “That doesn’t sound right.”
The way she scrunches her face is adorable. And I should tell her. Or say something. But I don’t.
Good god, it’s no fucking wonder I’ve been single for so long.
Maddie leans back into my side, having forgotten about the key in her hand and the task in front of us.