“Hopefully not too good,” I tease, causing her to laugh, and it’s music to my ears. “God, I’ve missed you so damn much. You have no idea, Mads.”
A second passes before she speaks. “I’ve missed you too, but I’m still pissed at you for keeping secrets from me.”
“I don’t blame you, and I more than deserve it after this fucking shitstorm I got us in. I’m content with spending the rest of my life trying to prove to you how damn sorry I really am,” I tell her earnestly.
“It might take that long,” she jokes. “Honestly, I’ve been concerned about you too, hoping you were okay with the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Knowing she was thinking about me makes me smile. “We’re gonna get out of this, baby. I’m just so goddamn happy you’re out of there and with Tyler,” I say. “He’ll keep you safe. You can trust him.”
“Yeah, considering he bought me tampons and chocolate, he seems like a good guy.” She chuckles, and then I hear him laugh as if it’s an inside joke between them. I’m jealous she’s been with him and not me, and while I shouldn’t feel that way, I’m envious of anyone who gets to spend time with her.
“He didn’t,” I deadpan.
“Yep, he did, but he’s the chump who fell for it,” she admits, laughing softly.
“Tell him what else you asked for…” I hear Tyler prompt in the background, but Maddie laughs and tells him to stop eavesdropping. Considering they’re in the same car, I chuckle.
“Do I even want to know?” I ask.
“Probably not. It was when I was trying to get under their skin because I was bored as hell,” she says. “Don’t worry, Eric got the brunt of my sarcasm and annoying remarks.”
Memories flash of when Victoria let me see Maddie on camera for the first time, and she and Tyler looked like they were having a great time. I’m glad he was able to ease her fear of being there and let loose a little, but the regret I have fills me deeply. She shouldn’t have been there in the first place.
“Good. Guy looked like a douchebag.”
“Even more than Hunter when I first met him.” Maddie cackles, and I do too.
It feels so easy chatting with her almost as if nothing has changed between us, but I know better. We’re not out of this yet. “Maddie, I’m really fucking sorry about this, for lying to you and ultimately getting you involved when I knew the risks. I never wanted any of this to happen, but I couldn’t stay away from you. I don’t think I can apologize enough—”
“Liam,” she interrupts. “I don’t blame you for this. I was upset and hurt at first, but after I’ve had time to process everything, I understood why you didn’t tell me. If the positions were reversed, I think I would’ve done the same thing to protect you and our relationship. I trust you, Liam. You’ve always had my best interests at heart, always tried to keep me safe and protected as if I’m going to break. I can’t fault you for any of that. I do hate the way things ended between us the last time, though.”
My emotions get the best of me, but I tuck them away as usual. “Me too. I’ve only always wanted the best for you, and there are times when I felt like I wasn’t, that I’d never be good enough regardless of how much you pushed. Doesn’t help your sisters are scary as hell,” I say with a grin.
“You’re right. Trust me when I say they already want to castrate you,” she slyly mentions. “Especially Sophie.”
“I know. I can’t wait to tell them everything and clear the air. They deserve to know the truth. I’m sick of lying to them, and I hate the way they looked at me, as if I’m a monster.”
Maddie snickers. “You’re not the monster. You’re just married to one.”
I sigh. “That much is true,” I agree.
“You’re breaking up a little bit,” she says, and I can hear Tyler in the background mention they’ll lose service soon. Considering they’re more than likely traveling down remote mountain roads, it doesn’t surprise me in the least. While I want to talk to her all night long, I know I can’t, and our time is coming to an end.
“Alright. I’ll let you go then,” I tell her.
“Okay, please take care of yourself. As long as you’re in Vegas around that psycho, you’re not safe.”
A grin touches my lips, and I find it adorable she’s concerned about me. “I can handle her especially since Tyler got me a Get Out of Jail Free card. Be careful, and listen to him, as hard as it is.”
She snorts. “Whatever you say.”
I grin at her sassy tone. Classic Maddie.
“And Mads?”
“Yeah?”
I hesitate for a moment, imagining a different way for how I’d tell her this for the first time, but if I’ve learned anything this past year, it’s not to take a second for granted. I can’t hold it in anymore. “I love you,” I tell her. “I love you so fucking much.”