What am I thinking? Eyes like gemstones? I never talk about girls like this, not even Jasmine.
But Madison isn’t just some girl. She’s the girl I’ve had a crush on for years.
I remind myself that she’s the girl I could never, and can never, have.
I think about her lithe body pressed against my hardness in the club. What could have happened if I’d never turned on the lights? I picture myself lifting her into my arms in the dark, her long legs wrapped around my waist. In my mind, I press her against the wall of the club room, roughly pulling her tight dress up around her waist and down below her breasts. I feel my cock twitch at these dirty thoughts and quickly try to distract myself so I don’t get a full hard-on in the middle of the living room with everybody around me.
“Dinner’s ready!” Kay finally announces. I’m starving and ready for this endlessly uncomfortable day to be over.
Oh no! As I make my way to the long table in the dining room, I notice the tiny pieces of paper resting at each table setting. I forgot that every year Kay makes place cards and decides where everyone sits. She mentioned once that it takes the pressure off her guests deciding where to sit, and she likes to put the foster kids who were in the house at the same time together to give them a chance to catch up.
Normally, I’m seated next to Axel, who usually sits across from Clara. I quickly realize that Kay probably put Madison next to Clara, meaning she could be sitting directly across from me.
I quickly find my name, then look across the table and my suspicions are confirmed: Madison will be facing me. I reach my hand across the table to try to grab her place card and move it before anyone sees, but Kay appears out of nowhere with a steaming dish and whacks my hand with a wooden spoon.
“Don’t you dare, Maddox!” she says good-naturedly. Then she lowered her voice to a whisper. “Madison’s mother is on a cruise with friends, and it’s her first holiday without any family. Why don’t you be extra friendly with her today?”
If only Kay knew just how friendly I wanted to be to Madison.
Now I feel bad for ignoring Madison. I know a little about her family situation. You don’t spend that much time in the same house as somebody else, even if it’s your sibling’s friend, without learning a few things about them. I know her father passed away tragically when she was little and that all she has is her mother. I guess she always spent Thanksgiving with her mom before today, and this will be her first time without her dad or her mom. I can sympathize with that.
I resolve to get over myself and say something nice to Madison, even if it’s awkward.
Everyone else starts bustling in and seating themselves around the table.
“Hey, Madison,” I say as she sits down across from me, smoothing her dress underneath her ass.
Don’t think about her ass.
“Hey,” she responds, looking puzzled. I can’t say I blame her; we spent most of the day carefully ignoring each other.
“I’m glad you’re here,” I say, trying to be warm but only managing to sound formal and stilted.
“Are you?” she says softly, her eyes flitting around to make sure no one else heard her.
“Yeah,” I say loudly, not wanting her to get the wrong idea. I’m not hitting on her, I’m just trying to be nice, like Kay said. “You won’t believe how good Roger’s potatoes are. They’re out of this world!”
I hate how cheesy and fake I sound, even to my ears. What is it about this girl that turns me into an idiot? Why can’t I just be natural?
“Potatoes?” she murmurs skeptically, raising one eyebrow at me and frowning. It’s like I can read her mind: Last time you saw me we were getting hot and heavy in a sex club, and now you’re talking to me about potatoes?
I’ve got to get it together.
“I heard that your mom is away on a girls’ trip or something. That’s awesome for her, but I bet it’s a little weird for you,” I say sincerely.
“It is,” she agrees softly, looking down at the table.
“I get it,” I say, and she looks back up and meets my eyes. I feel a mutual understanding pass between us.
“Oh, well,” she laughs, breaking the moment. “At least this year I get to have turkey instead of Chinese food!”
I smile back, happy that things are a little less tense.
For the rest of the meal, I mostly chat with Clara and the others at the table. Everyone has a decent buzz on from drinking beer and mimosas all day, and when I stand up from the table to go use the restroom, I feel the alcohol catch up to me.
Instead of the guest bathroom on the main floor, I head upstairs to use the one Axel, Clara, and I used to share.
As soon as I’m in Clara’s bathroom with the door locked, I hear someone jiggle the handle, trying to get in, followed by a knock.
“Just a minute!” I yell irritably, feeling a wave of nostalgia, remembering fighting over bathroom time with Axel and Clara. I bet it’s one of them standing outside the door now, so I take my time finishing up and washing my hands, just to be petty.
Something about coming home to where you lived when you were younger just makes you act like a kid again, doesn’t it?
I’m smiling to myself as I finally open the door…
…and run smack into Madison.
8
Maddox
Madison’s standing with her arms crossed, leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom door, waiting to use the bathroom. When she sees it’s me coming out, her eyes widen. I thought at first that perhaps she followed me upstairs, but now I can see she’s surprised that I am the one she was waiting on. She must have wanted to use the more private bathroom too.
I smile at her weakly, unsure of what to say. Even though we were able to talk a little bit at the table, we haven’t been alone together since that night in the club, and I wasn’t expecting to ever be alone with her again. I feel my heartbeat quicken as I envision grabbing her and pulling her into the bathroom with me, bending her over the sink, and…
I feel that familiar twitch in my cock again and shake my head to rid myself of these thoughts. I’m afraid of what I might do or say if I don’t get out of here quickly.
I try to brush past her, but her look of confusion hardens into one of anger and frustration. Her tiny nostrils flare as she steps to block my path. I’m surprised to find us chest to chest, face to face. As uncomfortable and bewildered as I am, I can’t help but notice that her green eyes have little flecks of gold in them.
“What the hell is your problem?” she hisses.
I’m taken aback. I thought we had a nice conversation over dinner. What is she so upset about? I move away quickly so she can’t feel the hardness in my pants. I don’t want her to know the effect she has on me.
I open my mouth, but can’t come up with an appropriate response.
“Nothing,” I mumble and try to side-step her. She turns and stands in front of me so that I can’t move past her down the hall. I’m annoyed, curious, and turned on as hell.
“Why do you always treat me like this?” she seethes, folding her arms over her chest protectively again. I can see her cleavage rise and fall as she breathes heavily in her anger.