Chapter 24

Michelle

I open the door with my elbow and carry the pizzas Maddox bought inside the kitchen. Maddox is still by the car, probably picking up all the bags of food he got me.

He is sweet, and I waltz into the kitchen wearing a smile.

I put down the boxes on the table and begin searching for a knife. I hear footsteps and expect to find Maddox behind me, but its Zendra and her latest conquer, Henrik. “Oh, you got me a pizza?” Zendra opens the first box and sends me an evil smile. She is definitely planning on stealing one of the boxes. I straighten my shoulders, and for once in my life, I speak up. “Uh, that pizza isn’t for you.” “But you got two of them?” Zendra shrugs. “I also don’t think you need to eat two of them, and I’m hungry. So thank you for the—” “That pizza is mine.” Zendra falls silent, and her eyes almost pop up from their sockets when Maddox strolls into the kitchen. He walks toward the pizza boxes and glares at both Zendra and Henrik.

Immediately, Henrik steps out of the way with a little yelp. The smaller male knows better than to challenge the pissed-off football player, and Maddox growls while closing the box. “If the pizza is cold, I will put you to blame.” Maddox’s intense eyes are set on Zendra’s face. She takes a step back. “Maddox, hi… I didn’t know you were coming over. I thought you and Michelle broke up?”

“Nope,” Maddox says. “I’ve just been blessed not to see your ugly mug around here lately… Also, you and that other roommate owe me money for eating from my stuff.”

Zendra’s jaw drops to the floor. “Excuse me?”

“Yeah, I bought food for Michelle, and I have a hard time believing she ate all of it, but it’s okay… Leave twenty dollars on the counter, and I will consider us even. The food cost more than that, but I’m feeling nice today. Just don’t do it again.”

Henrik holds up a finger as if he has a question, and Maddox narrows his eyes. “Yes?” “Uh…” Henrik scratches the back of his head. “What happens if we accidentally take from Michelle’s food?”

“Oh, let’s see,” Maddox pokes his scruffy chin with one finger and dramatically hums. “If you do it, I will beat you up since you’re a man, and if the girls do it, I will just spread to every jock on campus that you have an STD,” he winks at Zendra. “It will make it harder for you to continue living your life as a cleat chaser then.”

Maddox, who is paying her no attention. He looks at me

“Good idea.”

swagger. I rush after him, aware

down on my bed. He holds the pizza boxes, waiting for me to sit next to him before taking the knife from my hands. He cuts my pizza for me. “I really don’t like your roommates…” Laughter bubbles up my throat. “I’ve noticed.” “Why don’t you search for another place to live?” I’m handed my pizza box, and Maddox opens his own. “There must be better roommates than Zendra and Ciara.” My mouth is filled with salami pizza. “Probably not this late into the semester…” I

in confusion.

“Yeah…”

“But isn’t that weird?”

to say this.” By now, I’m more bewildered than before. “Is something the matter?” Maddox looks at me. His blue eyes roam over my face until my heart thuds from their intensity. He is taking up most space on the bed-and the air inside my room. “I like you, Michelle,” Maddox says without breaking eye contact. He seems to have a more challenging time than usual finding words. His face is all red, and he actually looks insecure.” And while I know dating should come first, you can… You can

a goldfish. My brain has not yet processed Maddox’s words, yet I manage to whisper. “If I want to what?” “Go out with

makes the rest of his words finally settle into my brain. Maddox likes me. He claimed I wasn’t his type, but

Because he likes me.

how often I think about his words; I still don’t

to whisper.

“Yes.”

sweat glands open. “Do you want to go out with

you out and then sees

moment I will be replaying years from now-when I am sitting alone, old and grey, and knitting socks in a house

me out on a date,

as my mouth. Luckily, my body chooses that moment to speak for me. I lean closer to Maddox and stand up a little from the bed to kiss him. Because he is there, and there is no better response. 1 It’s just a soft brush of lips,

blushing. “Better late than never, right?” His smile is slow. “I guess that’s true.” We stare at each

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