Chapter 12

Maddox

Jason waltzes into the kitchen and gasps. “Are you making homemade chocolates?” I’m wearing a pink apron and mixing brown stuff-what else would I be making?! There are forms on the table!

“Dude, are you blind? Because it ain’t fucking dog shit I’m melting and mixing on the stove.” Jason slowly blinks, and I wonder if he is hungover or has an itchy eye or something. “Are they… For a girl?” I continue stirring. “Uh, yes? I’m sure as hell not giving these to you or anyone else on the football team.”

“Huh,” Jason smiles like the dumb, tall idiot he is. “I’m happy for you. You and Michelle are finally dating-it was about damn time.” I almost choke and spit out the water I’m drinking. “Dating?! We ain’t dating! We are friends.”

“Wait. You’re making homemade chocolates for a friend… Who is a girl… And you’re not dating?” “Yes, and yes,” I shake my head at Jason. I don’t understand his deal or why he is staring at me. “When did you become such a detective? I read that girls love to receive gifts, and homemade chocolate was on the top of that list. Nothing weird is happening here.”

Honestly, I’m trying to turn a new leaf with Michelle. That’s why I’m making these dumb chocolates for her.

Jason says something in Spanish and shakes his head at me like I’m the crazy one.

“Yes, chocolates are an excellent gift WHEN you are dating the other person! You don’t make homemade chocolate for just a friend unless baking is your hobby, which it’s not!” I lift my nose into the air, determined to ignore my best friend’s unreasonable opinions. “I’m sure friends can enjoy homemade chocolates too.”

“No, Michelle is going to get the wrong idea, but sure…” Jason sighs heavily at me. “Give her the chocolates and see what happens.”

“You know what?!” I snap at him. “I will! And Michelle is going to love these chocolates!” “Ah, because you’re so good at baking.” “Damn right I am.”

Jason snorts. “Talk about an ego.”

“Are you seriously dating that skittish girl?”

There is a gasp on the other side of the weight room. “Daniels is dating someone?”

“I heard he made her homemade chocolates.”

“Daniels? No way! I can’t imagine him buying gifts or baking! Are you shitting me right now?”

“No, I’m serious. I heard it from a reliable source.”

Fucking Jason

The gossip starts among my teammates as I lift over three hundred pounds above my head. I haven’t seen Michelle yet, and things are already getting out of hand. “That poor girl,” someone is laughing. “She doesn’t know that Daniels is a cold blooded bastard yet!”

him-girls are into douchebags. You glare at them, and they immediately want you in their bed. They wet themselves when they

belt out laughter inside the gym while I grunt and puff out a breath of air. Sweat covers my upper lip, chest, back, and entire face. My lungs are

to focus and mentally block out my teammates to keep pushing and wheezing. “So her name is Michelle Henriksson…

What the fuck?

to raise my

down at me, eyes severe and his lips telling me he doesn’t care about the other guys. He is all focused. “Guys, could you

Silence falls.

I hear is my own

Four.

Three.

Two

One.

the rack with a clatter, and I exhale while blinking up at the ceiling.

phone. “It’s been pinging non-stop for the last few minutes.” I lift myself up from the

“Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

of those from Michelle, which is odd. She usually isn’t brave enough to start a conversation with me unless it’s important. Michelle: This might

Can I ask a favor of you? Michelle: I will just ask it

I swear I’m not trying to take advantage of you! I don’t even expect to sleep in your bed or anything! My friends are just having this party, and someone I don’t like is coming

Michelle: Maddox?

Everything is taken

my eyes at

to cover up for something, and I don’t think she has found another place to

she answers

“Hi…”

going to play

“Maddox, it’s fine,”

“Where. Are. You.”

gulps. “At

in an hour. Where are

think I hear

just so you know, I don’t live alone; I have a

talking about the linebacker on your

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