Kissing Madeline (Dearest #3) by Lex Martin

Author:Lex Martin [Martin, Lex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B00WRDSPSW
Published: 2015-04-25T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

- Maddie -

We never say we’re more, but our early agreement seems too rigid for what we are. I mean, we’re definitely friends, and I’m wholeheartedly enjoying the benefits, but somehow Daren seems more like a boyfriend than anyone else I’ve ever dated.

Maybe it’s the way he smiles at me when he thinks I’m not looking. Or the way he puts my feet in his lap while he’s studying film. Or even how he likes to wrap his arm around me when we’re watching TV. Whatever this is, I like it.

Sometimes I stay over. Most of the time, though, I go home. I don’t want to make assumptions, so I try to take it day by day despite my typical need to plan out my life in five-year increments. But I love that he always tells me to stay.

And while I want to define what we have, I’m afraid to burst our bubble, to mess with our equilibrium. So we don’t talk about what we are, and we don’t share how we feel.

I shake my head, determined to keep this simple. What we have works, and it’s two parts thrilling and one part terrifying, but I’ve decided to be a big girl and trust him. Because even though we’re sleeping together, I’ve come to think of him as my friend first and not just my lover.

The weight of his stare catches my attention.

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing, Clutch, but it’s not working.”

His laughter tells me I’m right.

Even though I don’t look up, I know Daren is watching me. I ignore him, but I can’t hide my smile. We’re hanging out at his place another evening. I told him if we worked for another hour, I'd play Plants and Zombies. After that one win, I've been on a huge losing streak, but I like to talk smack, and he's too much fun to rile up. I love how serious he gets. How his jaw tightens and his lips thin out. Even how he yells at the screen. Boys and their video games.

At least it's something fun we can do while we're camped out at his place. It’s one of the self-imposed restrictions we’ve made. We can’t go anywhere public. If we’re seen together in any kind of social setting, that could suggest we’re involved romantically. Spencer made a lewd comment about us after taping our weekly segment, which I don’t totally understand. The jerk told me to flirt, to make Daren seem appealing.

Maybe I’m doing it too well.

My stomach twists. I hate sneaking around. I’ve finally given in to biting my nails again, which means I have to hold the mic a certain way on camera so you can’t see how neurotic I’ve become.

One thing is for certain. I can’t blow this. I might be moonlighting as a sports reporter, but if I’m to be taken seriously in news, I can’t be seen having an affair with the guy I’m covering each week.

Despite how guilty I feel

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