Bracing the Blue Line (37 page)

WE'RE TWO WEEKS into the new semester, and nothing has changed with Maddie. Although, she is hanging around me again, and she doesn't look like she's lost more weight, but she hasn't gained any either. Audra has made herself at home in the house and Grant and I are moving in with Lucy's brothers this weekend. Since this is Bo's last semester, he decided to stick through until the end. For now, we're sitting at the table in the kitchen, eating breakfast.

“Hey, Grant. Let me borrow your phone.”

He slides it over the table, and I pick it up. After putting my dirty dish in the dishwasher, I sneak off into my bedroom. I dial Dave's number and what do you know? He answers.

“Hello?”

“Don't hang up. This is serious.”

Dave sighs. “What in the hell do you want?”

“Don't you listen to your voicemails?”

“Not yours. What is it?”

“We need to talk about Maddie,” I tell him.

“I don't want to hear about any trouble you two-”

“Don't even start that bullshit, Dave. You need to listen to me because I need your fucking help. Maddie needs your help. I told you this shit is serious, so quit acting like I'm calling you to complain.”

He's quiet for a moment before he speaks again. “Okay. I'm listening.”

“Do you remember our senior party? Maddie showed up and we all ended up telling her to go home. You used to tease her by calling her Fatty Maddie.”

“Yeah, she was a little chunky because of how short she is.”

“Well, that fucked her up, Dave. That night is why she started running and exercising.”

“What's wrong with that, Winston?”

“Seriously? Did you not see Maddie at all over break? She doesn't eat enough and definitely not enough for how much she's exercising. It's worse now that we're dating, but she won't listen to me, Dave. When I bring it up, she shuts me out and says that she won't go back to being Fatty Maddie.”

“Shit,” he mumbles.

“Exactly. All I want is for her to be healthy and she's not. If she keeps this up, it'll be so much worse.”

“I'll try talking to her. Apologize for teasing her and I'll tell Mom and Dad. If she won't listen to us, then maybe she will to them.”

“Thanks,” I say, feeling better. I hope it makes a difference. We hang up and I go give Grant his phone back. If I don't hurry, I'm going to be late for class. Christmas with my family went pretty well. I told them I was dating Maddie and they were a bit surprised, but overall happy. I text Maddie in between classes, but I don't hear back until after lunch.

“Winston!” a pissed off Maddie yells as I turn to see her stalking towards me. When she reaches me, she shoves me as hard as her little body can, but it doesn't do much damage. “You told Dave?! Now my entire family is all concerned over nothing! How dare you!”

“Calm down.”

“No!” Her voice quiets down, but there's no denying the anger. “You do
not
get to talk about me to my brother. He is not your best friend where I'm concerned, so you are not allowed to speak to him about me, especially when you don't know what the fuck you're talking about.”

“Maddie.” I reach for her, but she steps away.

“No. I have to go, but I figured there was a little time to let you know that I'm pissed.” She turns and walks away as fast as she can.

Fuck. I run after her because I know her schedule, and she doesn't actually have a class to go to. I reach for her elbow, wrap my fingers around it, and tug just enough so she turns around to face me.

“Let me go,” she softly demands.

“No. We're going to talk. Right now.” I usher her towards the parking lot to my car. Once we're inside, I angle myself in my seat to face her. Her arms are crossed defensively and she's staring straight ahead. “Maddie, you wouldn't talk to me.”

“That doesn't mean you can tattle to my family.”

“Yes, it damn sure does. Just...tell me the way you see it then because I'm wondering if I'm part of the problem.” Maddie quickly looks at me, surprised. “You seemed fine before we started dating again. You ate, you exercised a normal amount of times every day, and you were healthy. Once we were back together, you went into overdrive or something. If you're more conscious with me, then I don't want to be with you. I don't know how many times I have to tell you that you're gorgeous the way you are for you to believe me. So, if I make it worse, you need to let me know.”

She glances at me again and sighs. “I know it isn't the reason why, but it was almost as if you wanted me to leave because I was fat, like Dave said. I didn't want to risk that ever happening again in the future with anyone else. And maybe you are right. I went a little overboard, but I want to make sure I don't lose you again,” she finishes in a whisper.

“I wouldn't ever leave you because of something like that. You should know better, Maddie. All I want is for you to be healthy.”

“Well, thanks to you, my parents want me to go see a therapist. I don't have a problem, Winston.” I open my mouth to interrupt her, but she beats me to it. “All I did was what I wanted to do. I ate a little less and worked out a little more. It might not have been the smartest move, but I wasn't starving myself. I mean, it sounds like it, but I still ate.” There was some struggle with her words, and I watch her for a moment as I collect my thoughts on how to respond. “I took what I was already doing to the extreme, I know that,” she adds.

“You should still go to a counselor, Maddie. Talk to someone about how you feel, someone who could really help, and start being healthy again.”

She nods, a tear falling from the corner of her eye. “I ate four donuts after Dave and my parents called,” she blurts out.

“With chocolate icing and sprinkles?” Those were her favorite. I'm not sure why she's bringing it up though.

Maddie nods her head again. “I haven't had one in years and after Dave called, I kind of broke down and bought some. Then I was angry and disgusted with myself that I caved, which is when I found you. I was on my way to the gym.”

“I'm glad you ran into me then.” I reach for her hand, intertwining our fingers.

“I missed you,” she whispers, looking down at our hands. “Do you really think I should go see someone?”

“What do you think?” This needs to be something she wants, I think. If I say yes, then her answer will be the same.

“Couldn't hurt, right? I doubt everyone will leave it alone unless I go anyway.” She gulps and her leg starts bouncing a little. A steady stream of air exhales from her lips.

“It'll be fine. Promise. How about we go see that movie tonight that we saw the preview for the last time?”

“Yeah, that sounds like fun.” She leans over to kiss me. “I do need to go this time, though. Let me know when you're picking me up.”

“HEY, GRANT,” LUCY smiles as she takes the seat next to me in the library. She reaches over, grabbing the back of my neck, and pulls me closer. Lucy presses her lips to mine with purpose and a lot of unhidden want. She's amped things up since break, not that I'm complaining in any way. Her cheeks are flushed when she settles back into her seat.

“Well, hello to you too,” I grin, making her laugh.

“I figured I better get it all out now before you go live with my brothers.”

“Are you sure you're okay with it?” She told me she was, but maybe she's changed her mind.

“Yes, of course. Are you sure you're ready to live with the looney Kennedy brothers?” she teases with a smile.

“As long as I have the beautiful Kennedy sister, I'll be fine.”

Lucy blushes, but rolls her eyes. “I don't see that being a problem.”

“Good.” After a moment, I add, “You know, there's one favor I didn't do and you haven't mentioned it.”

She scrunches her nose up. “Wouldn't it be rude to ask how come you didn't bring me anything back? And it's not like you have to do everything I ask. I'm sure this isn't the first time you couldn't do something for me.”

I raise an eyebrow at her. “Really? When have I ever turned you down?”

“Well, there was when...” her voice trails as she thinks. And thinks some more until her eyes widen and her lips part. “Grant Faison, why haven't you ever said no? I must be like the bossiest, neediest person ever. Why do you always help me when I ask?”

“Because I want to and I don't mind one bit.”

“Yeah, but it has to be annoying after a while.”

I shake my head. “Nope. I enjoy it, but we're off track. I did bring you something back from the Bahamas.” Her eyes light up with excitement, even though she stays quiet. “I left it at my parents and they've taken forever to mail it to me. That's why you haven't gotten it yet. It should be here today, though.”

“What is it?” she asks curiously.

“If I tell you, that'll ruin the surprise, Lucy. You can ride with me to the house after practice, if you want.”

“Luce.” We turn to see Patrick walking towards her. He looks anxious, which makes Lucy stand. “I need your help with something. Now.”

“Oh, okay.” She looks down at me. “I'll catch you later, Grant.” It's hardly out of her mouth before Patrick is pulling her away.

I swear, I don't think I'll ever get used to their relationship. It's all loyalty and dropping everything for one another without a second thought, much less a complaint. That's just one more thing to admire about her. She loves how close they are and all they do for her and with her. It's an amazing thing to see. And I wouldn't be me if I wasn't wondering what has Patrick all concerned. Knowing them, I won't ever find out either.

“BABE, WE'RE GOING to be late for class if you don't decide soon.”

We decided to stop by to pick up paint after her doctor appointment. Audra told me she knew what color she wanted the nursery to be painted, but we've been here for an hour now and she's changed her mind every time we go to get the color mixed. She originally said a purple and gray theme, like I'm a decorating/painting expert. But that turned into purple, blue, green, yellow, and all the shades in between.

“What do you think?” she asks, taking a moment to look away from the pallet of colors.

“I think that since the walls are already gray, you should decorate with purple stuff.”

She frowns. “Are you saying that so you don't have to paint?”

“No, that's not why. That makes the most sense to me, though.”

Audra looks back at all the colors before nodding. “Okay, we'll do it your way. No painting, all decorating then.”

Thank God. A decision. Hopefully, the last one. “So, we're leaving?” I ask, just to be sure.

“Yep. Let me go to the bathroom first.” On our way to the bathroom in the front of the store, she glances at me. “We haven't talked about hockey yet, Neil.”

“I know.” Time seems to be flying by and we've been a bit busy, so it slips our minds. Which is just a shitty way to say I've been avoiding it. “We both don't have to work tonight, so we'll talk over dinner, okay?”

She nods. I still don't know what I want to do, and I've been hoping that I could come to my own conclusion before talking to Audra. That might not happen and maybe I need to talk to someone other than my agent to figure it out. Hopefully, Audra is that someone for me.