Page 49 of Come Back To Me

“And to talk to Maddy.”

She sat still, staring at Jackson, and then she looked at me with frantic eyes. She wanted my help, and no matter what we fought about, I would always help her.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I told Jackson. He grimaced.

“Stay out of it, Squirt.” His expression softened. “Please, Maddy. Just five minutes.”

“You don’t have to,” I whispered. I squeezed her hand, and she nodded. “It’s okay. I’ll talk to him.”

She got up, and the tension in the room seemed to dissipate. But it didn’t last very long.

We were all staring at each other, trying to make sense of how the evening had turned, and it stayed that way for five minutes before the sound of Maddy’s cries broke the silence. I jumped up, and walked into the hallway. Maddy ran out of the living room, tears staining her cheeks, and a second later Jackson was behind her.

“Maddy, wait! Listen to me!”

Before he could stop her, I stepped in front of him. “No, let me get her.”

He wanted to argue, but someone stood behind me, my Dad I guessed, and Jackson let me go. Maddy was fumbling with her keys when I got outside.

I reached for them, but she shook her head. “I need to go.”

“Let me go with you,” I said, reaching for her keys a second time. “You can’t drive like this.”

I was starting to panic. I didn’t know why, but the thought of Maddy driving in such a state scared me.

“I love you, and I’m sorry that we’ve been fighting, but I need to be alone. I’ll see you later, okay?”

She opened her door, and I moved out of her way before she sped off, her tail lights lighting up the early evening sky. I turned around, and it was only Jackson and my Dad on the front porch.

“What did you say to her?” I asked Jackson. I would have yelled at him, but he already looked dejected.

“I told her the truth.” He tucked his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “She said she loved me, and I couldn’t say it back.”

“Why not? You love her.”

He dropped his eyes, and murmured. “I do.”

“Then why are you being a dumbass? Go after her.”

“Language,” warned my Dad, although it was a half-hearted attempt at berating me. I ignored him.

“Because the people we love, leave,” said Jackson. “I won’t love her if I’m going to lose her.”

My retort died on my tongue because I couldn’t argue with his logic, however idiotic it may seem to anyone else. We knew what it did to our Dad when our Mom died, and I could see why Jackson was scared to love Maddy.

“How do you know she’s going to leave?” I asked. “How is it any better to chase her away?”

My Dad sighed. “Kenzi, give me a minute with Jackson.”

“I think we’re going to head out anyway.” I stopped beside my Dad, and he bent down so that I could kiss his cheek. Then I turned and did the same to Jackson.

“You’ll make sure she’s okay?”

“Of course,” I told him. “But you’re going to have to own up to how you really feel about her eventually. You know that right?”

He shifted uncomfortably on his feet. Time to end his misery. I turned, and walked back inside, finding that no one else had moved from their seats. They all looked up when I entered the dining room.

“Dad’s talking to Jackson outside,” I said, looking between Liam and Aiden. I looked at Alex. “I want to go home.”

He frowned, but rose from his seat. His departure was awkward, and no one else really acknowledged him. Except Vaughan. He watched Alex like a damn hawk, even though he had someone there with him. Callie was looking at me, her head slightly tilted as if she were analyzing something. She wasn’t unpleasant, but a little quieter than what I thought Vaughan would like.

Ugh.

We needed to leave.

Now.

I said goodbye to my Dad and Jackson, and Alex drove me home. We didn’t say a word, but when we stopped in the lot outside the apartment he cut the engine and sat back.

“Do you want me to come up?”

“No.” His expression fell. “I need to spend some time with Maddy.”

He gave a short nod, and then unlocked the doors so that I could climb out.

“I’ll speak to you later, okay?”

“Yeah.” He stared out of the driver’s side window and I got out. I had to make things right with Maddy, and then I’d talk to Alex.