The Muse and the Fairy Tale (New Hampshire Bears #1) (18 page)

I didn’t answer.

“Few days?”

I remained quiet.

“You and I both know this isn’t healthy. You need to get out.”

I closed my eyes. Maybe if I pretended she wasn’t here, then she wouldn’t be. It worked when I was a child.

“Meadow Hylton.” She jumped to her feet and yanked the covers away from me. “You’re going to get up this instant, take a shower, and go outside with me.”

“It’s cold.” I growled and tugged at my covers, trying to hide under them again.

“No.” she was able to wrestle the blankets away from me one more time. “Get up now.”

I literally rolled out of my bed and stomped over to her. “You’re a bitch like Harlow.”

“No. We’re your friends, and we want to help you.” Maxima’s voice returned to being soft.

I don’t know what happened or why, but I just collapsed in tears. Maxima caught me in her arms.

“It’s okay; it’s all going to be okay.” She rocked me in her arms like a mother holding a child.

Affectionate was not a way I would describe myself. Sure, a hug here or there, but I’ve never sobbed into someone else’s arms. Nonetheless, here I was right now doing just the very thing.

I don’t know how long I remained in Maxima’s arms, but it did bring comfort, and for some reason, I felt better after the tears finally subsided.

“I bet you’ll even feel better if you take a hot shower.” Maxima unwrapped her arms from my shoulders and had a small smile on her face.

I nodded and did as she suggested. The hot water from the shower melted the grime, tears, and tiredness away from my body. When I finished, I didn’t want to do my hair or makeup. I slid into a pair of my black yoga pants and a large, over-sized sweater, and walked out of my bathroom to find Maxima sitting in my living room with…Harlow.

I hadn’t expected her to here. “Um…hi.”

“Hi.” Harlow stood and hugged me “I’m a bitch.”

I smiled. “I can be one too.”

“Let’s forget all about it and move on.”

“Deal.” We pulled away from each other, and I gave her a true smile. She was my friend, and I couldn’t fight with her. It felt unnatural to me.

“How about we all sit down and talk?” Maxima suggested and we listened. “Meadow, we want you to talk to us. Tell us what’s going on.”

I suddenly felt as if I was on a talk show, and the audience was watching me and judging my every move as I told them everything. Kyson, Angela, their meeting, my fairy tale, my mother, father, and every piece of my life. I sobbed, sniffled, yelled, whispered, and when I was finished, my two friends hugged my tightly.

I couldn’t remember telling someone my entire life story beside Kyson. Sure, people knew bits and pieces, but only Kyson knew beginning to present. Now, Maxima and Harlow were drying their eyes and faces of the tears they’d shed.

“Meadow, we’re your family. You should have told us long ago.” Harlow held firmly onto my hands.

“You can’t keep it bottled up.” Maxima covered our laced hands. “I’m wondering if therapy might help.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m serious.” Maxima looked down for a beat, and I glanced at Harlow who had a confused look on her face. “I had something happen to me when I was young, and I thought I could work it out on my own, but it…sort of…” She clamped her mouth shut, but we squeezed our fingers together, letting her know we were here. “It kept festering, and I finally realized I needed to talk to someone. As I get older, I know how to deal with it better since I went into therapy.”

Harlow and I were silent, but I know she was as curious as I was, and we wanted to know what happened to Maxima. Our adult rational side told us not to push it at all.

“I’m in no way an expert, but the way you lost your parents might be a reason why you’ve never been in a moderately serious relationship. When you fell in love, real love, and something went wrong,
this
happened.”

“I have to agree with her on this,” Harlow piped in. “You want the fairy tale, well, you had it. Yes, he was wrong in not telling you he had seen the bitch, but you went to his place and you knew in your heart, he
was
telling the truth. Do you believe Kian told you the truth, too?”

I nodded.

“Then what the hell, Meadow?”

“I’m scared,” I said it. I really said it. I was scared of everything happening between Kyson and I. We were in a serious relationship, and I didn’t know if I could handle it.

“Of what?” Maxima asked.

“Of him realizing I’m ten years older than he is. Of him seeing some twenty-something blonde or a sexy supermodel and dumping me on the curb.” I started crying again, and I removed my hands from theirs to hide my face.

It was probably childish to think this way, and I’d never told Kyson my fears. I’d fallen in love with him, but maybe I’d kept him at arm’s reach. If I’d handed him my heart and something happened to him what would I do?

Duh
! Hasn’t it already happened? Wasn’t I just in bed, moping about not having him in my life when he was on the other side of town? Shouldn’t I be with him right now?

Yes.

Maxima handed me a card that read:
Caryn Hammonds, Therapist
. “She’s really amazing, and I think it would help you.”

I took the card. After Mom killed herself, I thought about therapy, but there was no point at the time. I was too busy. I was in college and focused on my social life and schoolwork. That was around the same time I stopped caring about relationships with me. Sex was fun, and I kept my fairy tale in my mind.

Then Kyson came along.

“I’ll call her. Thank you both, so much.” I hugged my friends; tomorrow was going to be a new day.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kyson

When Angela left me, I was devastated but it was nothing compared to what I was feeling now. I didn’t even want to play hockey. Hell, I couldn’t have cared less about hockey, my stats, or anything related to it.

I wanted Meadow.

It had been three weeks since she’d come over to my apartment and three weeks since I’d talked to her. Even though I’ve driven by her house almost every day and night, I’ve not seen her leaving or any other vehicles in the driveway.

Today, when I drove by, my head dropped when I didn’t see her car there. Was she on date? Then I looked at the clock in my truck. Nine in the morning. Would she be on a date this early? Did she have a date last night and spend the night with the guy? Was it the same fucker as before? I couldn’t remember his name, but it didn’t matter because I was furious she was in someone else’s bed.

I had to get to practice even though I didn’t want to. Right now, I wanted to drive around Manchester until I found Meadow and beg her to come back to me. I know I should have parked myself on her front porch until she talked to me. I need to reason with her. I had to get her back.

Practice sucked, and it wasn’t just me in a foul mood. Apparently, Coach fell down some stairs. He had a gash on his forehead, which needed to be stitched and a black eye. He was harder on us than usual, but today, I just wanted it to be with Meadow.

Remington and Keaton cornered me, as I was about to get into my truck to find Meadow. I wanted to push them out of the way, but by the look on their faces tell me a different story.

“What?”

“Wick, you’ve not been yourself and everyone is noticing. Your game is shit, your attitude is worse, and we’re tired of it.” Keaton crossed his arms and planted himself in front of the driver’s door.

“Ask me if I fucking care?” I growled at him.

“Kyson.” Remington’s tone, softer than Keaton’s, made me look at him. “We’re your friends. We care about you, and we all know this has to do with Meadow.”

“You don’t know anything.” I reached for the handle, but Keaton blocked it.

“Listen, I hate to break it to you, but you fucked up. You shouldn’t have lied.”

“Who the hell told you?” I stepped back from them.

“Harlow,” Keaton answered as Remington said, “Maxima.”

I glanced between them. “So, you all have girlfriends, and you now sit around discussing my love life.”

“No,” Remington spoke up. “We were all concerned and nothing more.”

“I’m fine. Happy now?”

Neither said anything.

“Now, I’m leaving, and you can either move, Jaco, or I will move you.”

Keaton and I stared at each other, neither of us moving, until Remington slapped Keaton’s shoulder.

“Let’s go.” They both glared at me as they walked past me.

I couldn’t care less if they were talking about me in their spare time. Right now, I was going to talk to Meadow. I didn’t care how long I had to stand and knock on her door; she was going to listen.

My truck and I remained in her driveway for four hours. My legs ached, my butt was asleep, and I still didn’t move. I had planned to stay right there. I didn’t care if I ran out of gas or froze to death. She was going to see me.

My phone rang, and Kian’s picture popped up. “Hey.”

“What are you doing?”

“I have to talk to her.”

“Maybe you should stalk her Facebook page, because then you’d know she’s in Boston at a convention.”

I groaned.

“Come home, rest, and then you can talk to her in a couple of days.”

I hated when he was right, but I couldn’t stay here for days. Well, I could, but it would be a bit irrational. I started the truck and headed back to my apartment.

Kian was waiting for me on the couch. I could see he wanted to talk to me, and I almost walked away from him. Instead, I took the place right next to him.

We sat next to each other in silence, until he was ready to speak. Hell, until I was ready to listen.

“I remember what you went through with Angela and your breakup, but Kyson you’re different. I never saw you as happy as you were with Meadow. You’d finally fallen in love and you were walking on clouds. Now, look at you. Bitter, angry, and just a big ass.”

“It’s probably because the love of my life walked away from me.”

“Kyson, I know it sucks, but one, you can’t stay in her driveway or drive-by on a daily basis. Two, you should try texting her. Think about engaging in some small talk. You started your relationship with Facebook; try that again.”

It was a valid point. She said trust was the foundation of a relationship, and I needed to show her she could trust me. I didn’t care how long it took.

I’d wait for her.

I stayed in my room all night, because I didn’t want to be around anyone. I wanted to be alone and stalk Meadow’s social media.

You know, like any sane person would do.

I took Kian’s advice and messaged her.

I should have run after you. I should have called you every day and sent flowers, but I didn’t know what to do because I love you so much.

Begging wasn’t beneath me, nor was groveling. Hell, I’d do both if I needed to. As I laid on my bed, I tried to think what else I should say.

I made the New York Times Bestseller list.

I gasped when her message appeared. I wanted to type how much I loved her, but I stopped.

I never doubted it.

Harlow, Maxima, and I celebrated with lots of ice cream.

Wished I were there to celebrate.
I wanted to keep her talking and not dwell too much on our relationship or lack thereof.
How’s the signing?

Good. Eventful and trying, but overall, it went well.

I’m still waiting for my signed copy.
Damn, maybe I shouldn’t have pushed seeing her yet.

Maybe when I come back, I can drop yours off.

I wanted to call her and hear her voice, but I knew I needed to take baby steps.

Let me know when, maybe we could have lunch?
So much for baby steps.

There was nothing back. Facebook
showed me she saw it, but she wasn’t typing anything back. After I just told myself I wasn’t going to push her, I did. Damn it, I was an idiot.

I tossed my phone onto the other side of my bed, because I knew she wouldn’t say anything back.

I’d messed up again.

Sometime through the night, I fell asleep, but I think it was from exhaustion. I didn’t even look at my phone. It would only cause me disappointment.

I got ready for my day and headed to practice. I had been an ass to Remington and Keaton and maybe a lunch with them would let them know I was sorry.

When I asked them before we hit the ice, they were reluctant, but agreed. Coach seemed to be in a bit better mood and practice was easier today.

When we were finished, I was able to grab Remington and Keaton. “Hey, I’m sorry about yesterday.”

Neither of them said anything.

“Let’s head out for some lunch,” I suggested, hoping they would come along.

“All right.” Keaton spoke up, slapped my shoulder, and headed into the locker room.

I still had my phone, but I’d shut if off. I was sure Meadow hadn’t text back so I’d left it alone. I finished my shower and changed into some warmer clothes and headed to my truck. Keaton yelled they were heading to the diner and were already gone.

Surprisingly, the diner wasn’t packed, and when I walked in, I saw the guys and then I easily spotted Maxima and Harlow with them.

What were they doing here?

I strolled over and took a seat the table. “Hi,” I said skeptically.
Were they here to yell at me?

“Hi, Kyson.” Harlow seemed almost overjoyed to see me.
Is she drunk?

“The girls asked to come and join us. They want to talk to you.” Remington explained.

The waitress came by and took our drink orders. The guys and I ordered our food, but the girls said they weren’t staying. There was a bit of relief for me on that note.

When the waitress stepped away, Harlow was the first to talk. “Normally, I wouldn’t get involved with Meadow’s personal life. It’s really none of my business, but it’s now affecting her health, and I’m going to make sure nothing happens to her.”

“Her health?” I was mystified as to what she was talking about.

“Meadow has been dealing with a bout of depression,” Maxima explained.

“Is she okay?” Now, I was even more concerned than before; she’d told me about her mother.

“We’ve convinced her to get some help. And she has her first appointment tomorrow.” Harlow stated. “But the main issue is you.”

I sighed and shook my head. “I lied to her, but Angela means nothing to me. Just Meadow. I want her back, but I don’t know how. I never wanted to lose her; I love her.” Tears were building behind my eyes, and I knew I couldn’t show that much emotion in front of anyone. I didn’t want to look weak.

“It’s why we’re here.” Maxima patted my hand. “We think you and Meadow belong together too.”