“That’s okay. We can talk tomorrow. I don’t want to intrude on their time with you.” In all honesty, I could use an hour, a day, a week, maybe even a month to wrap my head around the fact that Madden Hughes is a multi-billion-dollar game developer. I never saw it coming, and while I have a lot to atone for in the way of an apology, this is just wow.
“You’re not intruding. They could probably use a woman around. They’re currently asking if they can paint my nails and toes. I’m not opposed to it, but I also know it’s my turn to do theirs after.” He sounds desperate, and I don’t mean to laugh at Madden, more like laughing with him. “You think this is hilarious, don’t you. It won’t be funny when you see the finished results.” I don’t reply right away, trying to keep him guessing while also trying to keep from envisioning him with his nieces, doing all the things uncles seem to do, without allowing it to hit me in the solar plexus.
“I have to feed Jolene and myself, then I’ll come over.” Giving in to Madden is easier now that I’ve had more than enough time away from him, even if that was self-induced.
“Don’t eat dinner yet. I’m about to throw some chicken wings on the grill. The girls requested macaroni and cheese. I boycotted that for French fries, even had to bribe them with ice cream,” Madden offers. It’s kind of hard to say no when he’s receptive to hearing what I have to say.
“Madden, you had me at I’m sorry. Send me your address. I’ll get Jolene fed, grab my nail polish gear, and head your way,” I tell him, already standing up from my place on the floor and shutting the top to the laptop. Jolene heard the magical word and is doing circles around the room while walking towards the kitchen.
“They have nail polish. You don’t have to bring yours.”
“That may be, but I’ve got stickers they can put on top with a clear coat and a lot of colors.” Maybe that was too much, but it felt like the right thing to do, to bring something along with me besides my dog.
“Fine. They only have one color here, so I’m sure they’ll enjoy that. I promise we’ll talk.” There it is, folks. Madden Hughes may be a millionaire or billionaire, but he’s not a dick.
“Okay.” Even if we don’t, the time together and seeing Madden, being around him, is enough, for now.
“See you soon, sweetheart.” I breathe easier for the first time in days knowing that in a matter of an hour, I’ll finally be around the man I pushed away only to realize I should have been holding on to him with two hands, and not because he’s wealthy. I am not, in fact, a gold digger in any way, shape, or form. Yes, we have a lot to talk about. I also realized life wasn’t the same without Madden in it, and I don’t ever want to lose that again.
“Soon.” We hang up. I do a happy dance. Jolene does the same as well as a bark that tells me she’s tired of waiting for her dinner. That’s good news for the both of us because I’m ready for her to eat, do her business, and for us to get on the road to Madden’s house.
THIRTY
Madden
I fuckedup when I didn’t return Hendrix’s text or the call. The meeting was supposed to last an hour, maybe two tops. It ended up that I had to stay overnight, wrap shit up in the morning, and then headed home directly afterwards, where Forest needed me to take the girls because he had a job that was out of town and our parents had appointments they couldn’t miss. As much as Mom tried to reschedule Dad’s, it wasn’t happening. So, as soon as my feet hit the ground, I was in Uncle Madden mode. Unfortunately, that meant every other facet in my life fell by the wayside, including Hendrix.
“Uncle Mad, someone’s at the door!” Cammy yells through the living room as if I couldn’t tell by the way Coop is barking, the doorbell is ringing, or the alert from the outside camera telling me someone pulled into the driveway. My house is a decent size in a gated community with a guard who’s worth a shit, and if he isn’t there, you either need to enter a code the homeowner gave you, or there’s a speaker box that has the numbers to the resident’s house to get in that way. In this case, when I texted Hendrix my address, I also gave her the code, so she didn’t have to go through the rest of it, seeing as how it’s now creeping into later hours and the security guard is gone for the night.
“You don’t say,” I mutter under my breath as I walk towards the front door, wiping my wet hands on a towel after washing them. When Hendrix said she’d come over, it was operation get the girls out of the pool, changed into their pajamas, and settled in full effect in order for me to get dinner started.
“Cooper, sit,” I tell him before opening the door, waiting for him to do as he’s told, giving him a small treat when he listens. I open the door. Standing on the other side is a hesitant Hendrix. Jolene is at her side, wiggling her whole body, leash attached, and that’s when I notice Hendrix’s hands are fidgeting holding what I’m assuming is a bag full of nail polish along with the leash. It’s her fingers that seem to move, each tapping from one hand to the other. I haven’t laid my eyes on her in what seems like weeks, was at my wits’ end to make her see the light, even gave her an ultimatum. Then she finally realizes that I wasn’t fucking around and reaches out. Had I known the shitstorm that was happening this week would, I’d have made time for her. I guess there’s no time like the present.
“Hendrix, come here.” No words come out of her mouth. Her eyes start watering, lip quivering, and as much as I want to make time for her to get things off her chest, all I can do for now is hold her in my arms. That’s what I do. My arms wrap around her slim body. She drops the leash. My eyes move to her dog, watching as she walks inside to where Cooper is, hoping that my dog doesn’t take advantage of Hendrix’s now that I’ve finally got her where I want.
“Ohhhh, Uncle Mad has a girlfriend,” Cammy says in a sing-song voice. Hendrix’s hands move to my sides, holding on to the cotton shirt I’m wearing like it’s a lifeline.
“Me want,” Piper’s voice echoes throughout the living room into the foyer, where we’re standing. Hendrix takes a deep breath. Her forehead is currently attached to my chest as she’s attempting to glue herself to me, and I know we’ve got maybe another thirty seconds before chaos ensues.
“Sweetheart, I want more than ever for you to stay right here wrapped around me, but we’ve got two girls who are about to swarm us, and they’ll have lots of questions to answers we don’t even have.” I kiss the side of her head, squeezing her to me once more as she gathers herself. “We’ll talk. I’ve got nothing but time as soon as the girls either pass out from pure exhaustion or Forest picks them up, okay?”
“Alright, plus you owe me dinner, and there are two girls who want their nails painted. Will you introduce me to your nieces?” Hendrix pulls back, the bag of nail stuff hanging on her forearm. The other hand moves to her eyes to wipe away a stray tear, and as much as I want to be the one to do that for her, it’s not my place. For now.
“You got it. They’re excited to have someone help them. I’m not their first choice.” Piper comes up beside me. “Up, pwease.” Her arms are up in the air. I bend down to pick her up.
“Hendrix, this is Piper. Piper, this is Hendrix.” Piper waves shyly at Hendrix then proceeds to stick her thumb in her mouth after she says, “Hi.”
“Hey there, Piper. I heard you and your sister were going to paint your nails. Do you mind if I join you?” Hendrix asks. Piper nods in response.
“Come on, we’ll introduce you to Cammy.” I turn around, spotting Cammy sitting on her bottom, worrying her bottom lip. My empty hand that isn’t holding Piper reaches for Hendrix’s, knowing this could go one of two ways—Cammy could take to her like a fish to water, or there’s a possibility it ends in a disaster. I’m hoping it’s the first option, not just for Cammy because she needs a female role model of sorts in her life that isn’t off her rocker. Plus I see Hendrix being my future as long as we get things taken care of.
“Cammy, I’d like you to meet Hendrix.” I do the introductions like I did with Piper, this time allowing Hendrix to do her thing. Piper is itching to get down, seeing as how Hendrix is now sitting next to Cammy. I let them do their thing. Cammy is hesitant at first, taking a few minutes to warm up. Meanwhile, Piper plopped herself on Hendrix’s lap, making herself right at home.
I return to my spot in the kitchen, watching them interact while I get our dinner prepped, cutting the potatoes to make homemade fries, marinating the wings, and sneaking in a salad that Cammy may or may not eat, but Piper has a healthy appetite and will eat anything you put in front of her. This week might have started out shitty, but it’s turning out to be a fuck ton better.
THIRTY-ONE
Hendrix