Touching Melody

11

Kyle

She’s As Broken As I Am





Maddie is so drunk I have to carry her to my Jeep. She keeps touching me, mumbling incoherently.

If I didn’t care about her, I’d be completely turned on. Which makes no sense, but that’s the truth.

I buckle her in and drive. Her dress is hiked up to her hips, revealing way too much. Or not enough. I try to be respectful, but the girl is stunning. Every magnificent inch of her.

“Where are you taking me?” she mutters, her head flopping from side to side.

“My place,” I answer, and put a hand in hers.

She tightens her fingers around mine, places her other hand on top. “I’ve missed you Kyle. I’ve missed home. I miss my mom and dad. Member when I was going to marry you?”

The last part makes no sense. Marry me? I don’t recall that conversation. But the idea that she ever considered her and me together in that way does something to my insides. I’ll be damned if I don’t melt a little.

“Shot. Blood everywhere.” Tears fall to her cheeks as she gabbles.

“I’m so sorry.” I can’t even feel sorry for myself, or mad at her for the way she’s completely ignored me the last seven years. There’s so much pain rolling off her I can feel it as if it were my own. And I realize she’s as broken as I am.

She laughs, and I’m surprised until I understand why. There’s a guy standing on the curb, peeing into the street. “Gross,” she says.

I chuckle. “Hold tight.” I place my arm across her body, protecting her. Make a right and pull into my apartment complex.

“You live here?” she asks when I open the door on her side.

“Yep.” I unbuckle her and she falls against me, her cheek on my chest.

“You smell good. Mmmmmm. Kyle. Kyle. Kyle.” Her voice breaks, and I realize she’s crying again. “Why?”

“Can you walk?” I ask, clearing my throat. I haven’t shed a tear since my dad died, and even then it was out of relief. A little sadness too, for what could’ve been. But seeing her cry, recognizing all of the sadness in her, is choking me up.

Maddie wraps her arms around my neck. “I left without saying good-bye. I shouldn’t have done that. But you stopped calling.”

I want to tell her my dad made me. Instead I lift her into my arms. “Hang on.”

She weighs next to nothing. Her body settles into my arms. Her head lying against my shoulder. She snuggles her face into my neck, and I feel the wetness of her tears. Every ounce of resentment I still harbored vanishes.

My apartment is at the top of the stairs. When I reach the landing I set her down so I can unlock the door. She keeps her arms around my neck.

Evan walks out of his apartment, a cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other. “Looks like you got your hands full, bro. Want some help?”

“Nah, it’s all good.” I lift Maddie into my arms and carry her into my apartment, shutting the door with my foot. At least I think it’s going to shut.

“What’s her name?” Evan asks from behind.

“It’s Maddie,” I say, annoyed that he’s followed me in.

“The bitch will break your heart all over again. I thought you were going to blow her off.”

“Get out,” I growl, annoyed. Maddie takes a deep breath and sighs; her lips press against my neck. There are so many things I want to do to her right now. Instead I carry her into my room and lay her on my bed.

“Whoa, she tramped it up tonight. No more Pudgy Mudgy, huh? Look at those legs. And that ass. ” He drops the butt of his cigarette into his beer bottle. His eyes rake over Maddie’s body.

“I’ve asked you nicely once. Don’t make me ask again.” I walk out of my room and into the kitchen. Grab a beer. Twist off the top. Evan follows me. Sets his empty bottle on the counter and grabs himself a new one from my fridge. He’s shorter and less broad than I am. He’s also a senior and a two-time kickboxing champion. I push him toward the door. “Move.”

Evan lifts an eyebrow, daring me to challenge him. “You gonna break your hand on my face again, cousin?”

“If I have to,” I say, thinking about the last time we fought. It was in the ring, right after my dad died. Sure, I broke my hand, but I also broke his nose. He may have two championship trophies, but I have three. “Leave.”

Evan smirks. “I don’t think so. This is too much fun.” He takes a pull on his beer.

I swear silently and try another tactic. “Look, man. I want to be alone with her.” I smile, letting him believe I have less than honorable intentions. “We have a lot of catching up to do, if you know what I mean.”

He smacks me on the arm. “Why didn’t you say that in the first place?” He peeks around my shoulder. “Damn, she’s fine. Mind if I have a turn when you’re through?”

It takes every ounce of self-discipline I own not to haul off and kick his ass. But I want him gone. “We’ll see,” I respond.

He ruffles my hair. “Have fun, little bro. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

I snort and smack his hand away. “Oh, I’m sure I will.” I walk him to the front door.

When it’s closed, I lock it. “A*shole.” I can’t help but smile though. Since my father died he’s treated me more like a brother than a cousin. But Evan’s got no respect for women—for anyone, really. Most of the time I go along with his idiotic plans.

With Maddie, it’s different. It always has been.