Page 44 of Made
He’s right. I haven’t missed brunch in forever, and if I do, I always call. Having an addict in their lives isn’t easy for your loved ones. I did a lot of dumb, mindless, destructive shit backin the day, and logically I know they have every right to be upset. But still, I’m a grown man.
“I was busy, and I lost track of time.”
Something in my tone sets off King’s spider-senses. His eyes narrow, and he peers over my shoulder into my apartment, his PI instincts kicking in. Ellie’s purse and gym bag are right there on the floor in the hallway. Exactly where she dropped them when I dragged her inside.Fuck.
“Likebusy, busy?” he asks.
Double fuck.Mason is Ellie’s boss, and I don’t want to make this awkward for her at work, but there is clearly a woman’s purse in my hallway. And I just remembered I have fucking cum stains on my shorts.Triple fuck.“Yes, that kind of busy.”
Mason might look less shocked if he caught me smoking a joint. “Who with?” Straight in there with the obvious question.
King rests a hand on his shoulder. “Let’s get out of here and give Maddox some space,” he says, and I suspect he recognizes her purse. It’s the distinctive purple one she takes everywhere with her. He meets my eyes, and I nod slightly. I could hug him for being so tactful, but Mason is a different matter. He’s too intrigued to let this go.
“Who, Maddox?” he asks again.
“None of our fucking business, Mase,” King says, which makes my brother scowl. He glares at King and then me.
“Why does it feel like you’re both hiding something from me?”
“Maybe because you’re being a nosy asshole?” I suggest.
He doesn’t take the bait, instead craning his neck to see over my shoulder into the apartment. He freezes, closes his eyes, and groans. I know immediately that he’s seen it too. The goddamn purse of destiny.
“Ellie?” he angrily whisper-shouts. “MyEllie?”
His Ellie? What the fuck. He’s my brother, and he’s gay, and he’s with his new husband…but I still feel a flare of possessiveness. She’s nothisEllie.
I fold my arms across my chest, unusually defensive. About that and the hypocrisy. Mason hooked up with King when he was working for Jamestech. Drake fell in love with and married his secretary. It’s not like workplace relationships are exactly frowned upon in my family, and I don’t even work with Ellie. “Yes, Ellie. My best friend, who is now also my girlfriend.”
I could face palm myself for saying that. What gives me the fucking right to say that? To her boss, to anyone? We haven’t actually discussed the terms of our new relationship. I’m pretty sure we’re on the same page—at least I hope so—but it’s also not right that I made that assumption. She has a say in this, after all.
“Now, I should really get back to her.” An image of her hits my brain. The thought of her warm naked body beneath my sheets already has my already stiff cock leaking in my shorts. Not that I can blame him. Poor guy hasn’t had sex for four years, and he’s excited. Very fucking excited. “Bye,” I say, thankful the lower half of my body is hidden by the door.
“Then bring Ellie to Dad’s. You missed brunch, but dinner’s still on the table,” Mason suggests. He’s quick to anger, my brother, but also quick to calm. This is his olive branch after what he knows was a hasty initial reaction.
I check my watch. “Not literally on the table, I hope. Cause dinner’s over four hours from now.”
Mason rolls his eyes while King chuckles. Everything feels right in the world again. “Just bring her to dinner, Mad. Everyone already knows her, already likes her. She’s practically part of the family anyway.”
“So, no pressure then, huh?” King says, shooting Mason a look, warning him to stop pushing.
But Mase is right, and after waiting for six months to make a move, I have no intention of taking things with Ellie slowly. Not unless she wants to. We’ve waited long enough. “I’ll be there for dinner, I promise. And I’ll talk to Ellie. If she wants to come with me then she will. Now, will you guys just fuck off? I told you, I’m busy.”
Mason smirks, knowing exactly what I’m busy doing. “Tell her it will be nice to see her out of work for a change.” He ruffles my hair like I’m a little kid, but it’s kind of nice. “I’ll tell everyone you’re fine and we’ll see you later, dickface.”
And there he is, back to his asshole self.
I watch him and King walk away, shaking my head as they go. I can’t help but feel gratitude for them and the rest of my family. Despite their overprotectiveness and this morning’s untimely fucking interruption, I know it comes from a place of love.
There was a time I thought I no longer deserved that kind of unconditional love, a time when I walked away from it. There were ups and downs and rows, but they never stopped loving me, not for one solitary second. I’m lucky as hell to have that considering some of the things I did and the many the ways I fucked up.
It brings a lump to my throat that I have to swallow past to breathe.
That was another life.
Chapter 19
Ellie
