ALL Chapters & Episodes of Maddox Vested by Melanie - Page 6

All Chapters of Maddox Vested: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

69 Chapters

“How did Cami meet him?”“In one of her classes. I think he was a guest lecturer. They started talking and formed a friendship. He often asks for her advice on fashion. He is very sought after, but for Cami, he agreed to help Emmy.”“I like him. He’s a riot.” By the time I relayed the entire vest story, she was almost weeping with laughter.“Oh, I wish I’d seen that.”“It was the funniest thing.” I sighed. “It felt good to laugh.”She reached across, hugging my arm. “I know. It’s good to be back to normal, yes?”I dropped a kiss to her head. “Yes.” I stopped at the corner. “Through the park or the street?”“It’s late.”I chuckled. “The park is well lit.” I tugged her into my arms and kissed her. “I promise you’ll be perfectly safe.”“Park, then.”I steered her across the street, asking about her day. We took our time strolling through the small park. There were several other couples out walking and a few joggers getting their last run in for the day, and even a pretzel cart still open

Maddox Vested/Melanie

Reality hit me—cold, bitter, and excruciating.Once again, someone had denied me love, and I was letting that person see my weakness.I dashed away the traitorous dampness and cleared my throat.“Well, that changes everything, I suppose.”“It doesn’t have to.”I barked out a laugh. “Yes, Dee, it does.”“We can forget what happened, what you said. Go back to how it was twenty minutes ago.”I shook my head. “I can’t stop loving you, Dee.”A tear ran down her face. “And I can’t start loving you, Maddox.”I felt the fissure in my heart, the one that had begun to mend and heal the last few weeks, burst apart. My voice turned cold and distant.“Then I suppose it’s done.”Without a word, she turned and ran. And I let her.She ran from me. The love I offered. The life I wanted to share with her.I sat down heavily, my legs no longer able to support me. I had no idea how much time passed before I stood. Forcing my feet to walk, one slow step at a time, I made my way toward my condo building. M

Maddox Vested/Melanie

He would never be in my bed again.He had obliterated the final, absolute rule, and this time, I had refused him.The tears began again and I gathered his pillow close, weeping into the fabric, until sleep took me.A short time later, I woke with my eyes feeling like sandpaper and my throat dry and aching. I slid from the bed, padding down the hall to the kitchen. After getting a bottle of water from the fridge, I squinted at the clock. It was four in the morning, but I knew I was done with sleeping. The night had been filled with dreams—images of Maddox. His pain-filled eyes. His arguing. Worse, his pleading.Every time I shut my eyes, I saw him. His bereft expression. The shock of his tears.I set down the bottle, and sat at the table as a fresh wave of hurt drifted through me. My reflection stared at me in the darkness as I looked out the window. I ran a hand through my tangled hair, pulling on the twisted strands. My eyes were swollen, my face pale. My mother came to mind, and I r

Maddox Vested/Melanie

“The witness said he thought it was a woman,” Aiden muttered.Bentley pulled me into his arms, hugging me hard. “Okay, Dee. It’s okay.” He looked at Aiden. “Go.”Aiden pulled out his phone. “Yep. On it.”Bentley sat me down beside Cami, kneeling in front of me. She grabbed my hand and held it tight.“We’re gonna get to the bottom of it.” Bentley assured me.I could only nod. He tugged his hand through his hair. “He never told me any of that.”“I don’t think he wanted to talk about it.” I wiped my cheeks.A doctor came into the room, heading our way. Bentley sprang to his feet.The doctor looked grim. My tears began again.“He needs surgery. There are cracked ribs, contusions and deep cuts, and a serious head injury. We also suspect internal bleeding we need to find and stop. His brain is swelling, and we need to relieve the pressure.”I covered my mouth, trying not to scream.“I’m not going to lie, he’s in bad shape. The faster we get in, the better his chances.”My stomach lurched, a

Maddox Vested/Melanie

“Five days. His body needs a chance to rest and heal. This is the best thing to help with the brain swelling.”“Is there, ah, any permanent damage?” Bentley asked, a frown on his face.“We won’t know that until he wakes up. He’s young and strong. He’s not out of the woods yet, but he made it over a huge hurdle, and we have every reason to believe he will keep improving.” He wiped his brow. “He’ll be in recovery for a while, then moved to his room.”“I’ve arranged a private one,” Bentley said.“Yes, I’ve been informed you want the best for Mr. Riley.”“Can we see him?”“Our, ah, regulations state visitors must be family, but I understand an exception has been made in this case.”Bentley crossed his arms. “Yes. And we are his family.”The surgeon tilted his head in acknowledgment. “It will be a while until he’s in his room. Two people at a time and for short periods—he needs his rest.”“All right.”“The staff will let you know when you can go in.”Bentley and Aiden shook his hand, and h

Maddox Vested/Melanie

The next few days developed into a routine that I found I relied on. Bentley arrived every morning, Sandy midday, and Aiden late afternoon. Reid came for a couple of hours daily, though his times varied. Cami spent the evenings with me, and now that Emmy was feeling better, she came as well. The hospital staff was very good at ignoring the fact that often there were more than two people in Maddox’s room at a time. We were quiet, and I was certain Bentley had made a large enough contribution, nothing was said.I got to know the nurses and doctors by name. The care and professionalism they showed helped keep me calm.I made sure to give each person some alone time with Maddox, taking the opportunity to shower, go for a walk, speak to the office, or some other task to stay busy. When it was Maddox and me, I would talk to him about everything. I discussed whatever I was working on for the office, what the nurses were gossiping about, or some silly show I had turned on in the middle of the

Maddox Vested/Melanie

After picking at a sandwich, I wandered outside and sat on a bench in the sun, enjoying the fresh air. I let the sounds fade away, concentrating on my breathing.In, out, in, out. Slow and deep—the same way I did when I sat by Maddox.“Dee?”I glanced up, startled at the sound of my name, blank for a moment until recognition set in.“Lori!”I stood and hugged my old therapist. She stepped back, holding my arms.“How are you?”Before I could respond, she frowned. “Why are you at the hospital? Are you okay? Is Cami?”My chin quivered, but I hastened to assure her we were both fine.“What are you doing here?” I asked. “This isn’t where you used to work.”“I do a couple of days a week here, plus my office hours, now.”“Oh.”She studied me. “Are you sure you’re okay, Dee?”Something in her voice broke me, and I covered my face with my hands, trying to hide my tears.“Okay,” she soothed. “Come with me.”“No, really, I’m fine.”She tugged my hand. “What did I always tell you during our sessi

Maddox Vested/Melanie

“How can you be so sure?”“Because you’re not the same girl you were all those years ago. You’ve grown and changed. You’re a woman. A responsible, caring, slightly off-kilter woman who loves a man and needs to stop denying it.”“Off-kilter?”She raised her eyebrows.I laughed. “Okay, off-kilter works.”“I’m glad to see you smile.”I sighed. “I don’t think I’ve ever cried this much my entire life. It’s not normal for me.”She tilted her head. “Maybe it’s time you did cry, Dee. You don’t have to be strong all the time anymore. Sometimes crying is your body’s way of ridding itself of the stress inside. It is saying ‘enough.’”Again, she made sense.She glanced at her watch. “Life is meant to be lived, Dee. We have one shot at it. Laugh, cry, love. Don’t hide in the shadows—take a page from Cami’s book. Grab it and live.”All the air left my lungs as I thought about her words.She stood, reaching in her purse. She handed me a card. “Please call me. Come see me and let me help you work thr

Maddox Vested/Melanie

It happened when I least expected it. Bentley was at the end of Maddox’s bed, texting on his phone. I was rubbing some cream into Maddox’s skin, while Aiden worked his other arm in a slow, steady circle.“He’s slid down a little, Aiden. Can you lift him a bit while I adjust his pillows?”“Yep.” He bent down, carefully sliding his arms under Maddox. I shifted and plumped the pillows, and Aiden settled him back on the bed.Maddox’s eyes were open and staring.Aiden froze, still holding him. “Mad Dog?”My breath caught. Bentley looked up, his phone forgotten. He leaned on the bed, his voice anxious. “Mad? Buddy?”Maddox blinked, his gaze flying around the room. His hand clenched, and I slid my fingers between his, squeezing it.“Maddox?” I whispered, the sound of my voice causing him to turn his head in my direction. I lifted his hand to my chest, cradling it close.He blinked again, swallowed, looked at Aiden, and spoke. His voice was low, raspy, and it sounded painful.“What the hell a

Maddox Vested/Melanie

“I knew you liked it. It was softer than the hospital ones, and I thought you would prefer it.”He made another noise. Shifted a little. He pushed at his glasses. They were new—as close as I could get to the other frames I knew he liked. “Did you have these replaced?”“Yes. I know they need adjusting, but that has to wait until you can get around. Your optician was very helpful getting a replacement pair.”“Yeah, they’re fine.”“Would you like something? Some ginger ale or a juice? A sandwich?”“I’d prefer a whiskey.”I had to chuckle. I could use one myself. “I don’t think that’s a choice.”“Figured. Maybe a ginger ale.”“Okay, I’ll go get you one.”“Are you leaving?”I paused at the door. “No.”He repeated his question from earlier. “Why are you here?”“Because you are.”Our eyes met in the diffused light. His were unreadable, the emotions once again hidden in the depths of blue. Then he sighed and spoke. “I’m angry with you.”My heart ached again, but I nodded because I understood.

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