Damaged and the Beast (Damaged #1)

“What about you?” Maddy asked me. “You ever think baby names?”


“Sure, but I’ve never really settled on any,” I lied, feeling protective of my names.

“I’m thinking a flower name for a girl,” Maddy said and I nearly sighed with exasperation. “Tucker wants something like Scarlett or Delilah.”

“Those all sound good,” I mumbled awkwardly, just hoping no one stole Lily or Colton.

“Having a baby young is cool,” Maddy said, watching me as Skye and Bailey checked out a few passing guys. “I’m still going to finish school eventually. That way my kids will take education seriously. I don’t really want a job though. Not one out of the house anyway. I like babies.” When I said nothing, Maddy squinted at me. “Don’t you like babies?”

“I guess. I don’t really know that many babies.”

“Oh. I babysat a lot growing up so I love babies. I’m really good with them and I could teach you.”

Suddenly, I understood Maddy’s interest in me and babies. I had always thought she was embarrassed to get pregnant the way she had or at having people judge her. Instead, she saw it as a way to keep a wealthy guy she actually loved. Now, she looked at me with my similar poor background and figured I could ensure Cooper stayed interested.

“I would appreciate the help,” I said, keeping my words vague. “No one in my family is very good with kids.”

Thinking I planned to ditch my birth control, Maddy smiled. “It’s not so weird being pregnant. Like I puked a lot in the beginning, but it was just certain smells that did it. Now, I feel fine. I’ll probably finish out the semester then go back to school in a year or two.”

“Unless,” Bailey interrupted, interested in us again, “Fuckwad keeps you barefoot and pregnant permanently.”

“Why would he do that though? If I was forever pregnant, he’d always have to drink alone. Don’t be dumb.”

“Don’t call me dumb, bitch!”

A standoff occurred and I had the urge to take off running from the food tent. It was stupid, but I remained very still until Bailey shrugged.

“Can’t hit a chick who’s all preggers. Wouldn’t be classy.”

Skye laughed. “I don’t want kids until I’m almost forty. I want to have plenty of time to party. Once I’m too old to have fun, I’ll have kids and they’ll be fun. Got it all planned out.”

“I have nothing planned out,” Bailey said, looking bored and ready to leave. “Why plan your life when you can just let it happen naturally?”

Both Maddy and I nodded like Bailey was onto something profound. Then, Maddy looked at me and smiled. I hadn’t really thought about her as a real friend because she and I never talked before. I didn’t even think she wanted to be my friend, but put up with me because she was with one brother and I was with the other. Yet, we weren’t so different. Maddy was alone in Ellsberg except for Tucker. Her friends were people aligned to Tucker. Her life was completely tied to the guy she loved.

As we returned to silently listening to the band play, I planned to make more of an effort with Maddy. Talk baby stuff since no one seemed interested in the subject except her. Maybe she was lonely and I was too self-absorbed to notice until now. I even wondered if she had a Tawny back home.

By the time Cooper returned with Tucker, I felt closer to Maddy even though we hadn’t spoken for the rest of lunch. I just saw her differently and suddenly I didn’t feel so alone in Ellsberg.

Cooper took my hand and we walked over to where Aaron listened to another band play. Sitting on the other side of the picnic table, I leaned against Cooper as Aaron sketched in his book.

“Anything?” Aaron asked Cooper.

“Not a peep.”

Frowning, I glanced between them. “What?”

“Patience,” Cooper said, grinning.

Aaron smiled too then returned to sketching. “Maddy wants her tribal fixed.”

“Of fucking course she does. No one wants a tribal anymore. It’s poser shit.”

When Cooper glanced at me, I nodded like I knew what the hell he was talking about.

Still smiling, Aaron sighed. “Can’t fix it while she’s preggers. Scratch that. Won’t fix it. If she gets freaked or something goes down, Tuck will kill me.”

His gaze still on me, Cooper nodded. “For my next one, I’m leaning towards something badass. Black and gray, maybe religious.”

“If you can give me the gist, I’ll draw it and we’ll start working.”

Cooper refused to look away from my face. Even when I glanced around like I was checking out the passing people, his gaze remained on me. Finally, I looked into his eyes and gave him what he wanted. A hint of a smile played at a corner of his lips then he ran a hand down the back of my hair. When I frowned because he was acting weird, Cooper glanced at Aaron who grinned. “She’s not very perceptive.”

“To be young,” Aaron replied.