She didn’t answer me and Scott barked at her, “Answer us, Madison. Where the fuck were you?”
I looked up at him, anger burning through me again, but this time directed at him, “Back the fuck off, brother. In fact, everyone get the fuck out of here,” I bellowed, and when no one moved, I added, “Now!”
People started moving out of the room and Scott stood there glaring at me for a minute or so, and then he left too.
I pulled back a little from Madison, to look in her eyes, “Baby, what’s going on? Talk to me.”
Her eyes slid to mine and the heartache I saw there stabbed me in the fucking heart. “I went to Bec’s house. I just sat outside and remembered stuff, you know, the good times we’d had, even the bad. J, I miss her so much. I can’t believe she’s gone. Even though we weren’t friends anymore, I always thought we’d patch it up.” The tears were streaming down her face now.
“Fuck,” I didn’t know what else to say. I was useless at this shit, so I just pulled her close again and held her, letting her get it all out.
Eventually she unwrapped her arms from me and wiped the tears from her face. “Sorry. I guess it is really hitting me, now that I am back here,” she apologised.
“No need to say sorry. But the next time you want to take off, for fuck’s sake, let one of us know where you’re going. Okay?”
She scowled at me, “Okay.”
I doubted she meant it. Madison did whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. “Nix is back apparently. That is why we were all pissed at you. Plus, and you might find this hard to believe, we all care about you.”
She stayed quiet for a moment appraising me, and then she offered, “Thank you. I’m going to bed now. Goodnight.”
She left and I stood in stunned silence; she had surprised the fuck out of me and I hated to admit it but my heart was starting to want what my dick wanted.
Chapter 11
Madison
I woke up the next morning feeling low. Remembering Bec last night had been hard and I was thankful that J had been there for me when I got back. That was a hard thing to admit to myself. I just wanted to hate him and not have anything to do with him, but then he had to go and be nice to me. And the things he did to my body. God, I was so messed up about him. He’d been back in my life for less than a week and here I was, wanting him all over again.
I decided to put thoughts of J aside and focus on my plan to move back here. First order of business would be to call Gina and let her know I wouldn’t be coming back to work. Thank goodness I had saved some money to get me through until I found a job here.
I grabbed my phone and dialled her number. “Hi, babe,” she answered.
“Hey, Gina. I have some bad news for you.” I decided to get straight to the point.
“You’re not coming back are you?”
“I’m so sorry to do this at such short notice but no, I am staying here. My friend’s kid needs me,” I answered her, really regretting having to do this to her.
“I understand, and actually wondered if you might end up staying. You’re just lucky I love you, otherwise I would send Zane after you,” she threatened, but I heard the smile in her voice.
I shuddered at that thought. Zane was Blake’s and Gina’s brother, and a man you didn’t mess with. I had only met him a few times and he scared the living shit out of me. I never asked Gina or Blake much about him because I really just didn’t want to know who or what he was.
We chatted a bit more and I promised to visit her often before hanging up. I scrolled through my phone and hit Blake’s number.
“Baby girl, how are you?” he said as he answered his phone.
“Have you got a few hours?” I asked, jokingly.
He chuckled, “That bad? Do you need me to come and sort shit out?”
The thing about Blake was that, he would do that for me. In a heartbeat. “I appreciate that but no, you’ve got your own things to take care of and I’m a big girl; it’s time for me to sort out everything I walked away from years ago.”
“Yeah, I guess it is. How’s J? Still being a caveman?” I could hear the annoyance in his voice.
“J will always be a caveman, it’s just who he is. I’m so confused about him, Blake.” I decided that perhaps a guy’s perspective might be insightful.
“In what way?”
I hadn’t ever told my friends much about my relationship with J so I figured it was time to open up a bit now; especially if I wanted advice. “I left Brisbane because he told me to. We had been broken up for about six months but I thought we were going to get back together, and then he told me he didn’t love me anymore and that I needed to leave. He was the one who lined my job up with Gina, through another club member who knew her, I think. He said I needed space from the club to get my drinking sorted. He broke my heart but I thought I was over him. Now I’m not so sure. And he is running hot and cold with me; one minute being an asshole and then being nice. I don’t know what the fuck to make of it all.”