"Ah! Really, Hadley, that's all you have to say?" Chris voices his outrage. "We need a plan." He says, coming closer.
"Okay..."
"Bitch, snap the hell out of it!" Chris, yells clearly irritated.
"I'll just tell him the truth, Chris. That I'm with Maddox and plan on staying with him." I state, calmly even though my heart is racing. Alex loves me? It's too much for me to wrap my head around. For two years?
"What if he tries to change your mind? Think about it, he's waited for two years. He didn't even tell me! When I confronted him today, he was embarrassed he's liked you since you were sixteen. Even if you were always more grown up in looks and behavior, it's still weird, he know that.
"If he sees the way I am with Maddox tonight, he'll change his mind and go back to New York, I'm sure of it."
"We have to get back. Hurry up and change. Remember, act normal." Chris reminds me.
"Yeah, I know. I'll just stick by Maddox or Tyler, that will help. Oh, Maddox was right! He told me Alex loves me today when I came in to look for him. He was upset seeing Alex touch me and said he was sure he had feelings for me. How can I be so blind?!"
"He fooled me, too. We need a straight guy's perspective. A straight guy would know how to handle this."
"We'll talk to Tyler." I say, going to my dresser getting out my dark green string bikini. I start putting it on and find flip flops then I grab a towel. "Let's go." I rush. I don't want Alex to suspect anything.
We walk back and I ask. "So, who do you think is the hottest?" We both start laughing, breaking the tension.
"Well, you definitely bagged the hottest. But if I liked big black guys, oh wait, I do." We look at each other. "Spencer." We say, at the same time opening the backdoor. We're still laughing when I'm picked up and carried to the pool.
"Tyler!" I scream.
"Yeah, babe! That's it, scream for me!" He yells, jumping in the water.
I swim to the surface and laugh. "You suck, Tyler!"
"No, that's your job or hasn't Maddox taught you how to do that yet?" He questions, quietly but Chris who's behind me hears and starts laughing.
"Pervert!" I yell, laughing with Chris.
I look around for Maddox. Damn, he disappeared again! Alex catches my attention when he comes out of the house in only his swim trunks. I look away quickly, but not before I see his muscular arms and broad shoulders. As far as bodies, go he may have a slight advantage over Maddox. But it's only because his thighs are as big as tree trucks and his forearms are as big as my legs. Maddox is more sculpted, where every muscle is toned to perfection. Ugh, stop comparing Alex and Maddox, Hadley!
"Hey! Earth to, Daphne!" Tyler, jokes.
"Sorry, what is it?" I ask.
"Care to share it with the class, babe?" He asks, amused.
"Don't call her babe." I hear Alex say as he gets in the pool.
"You too, huh? Are you collecting boyfriends, Hadley? Does Maddox know?" He asks, raising an eyebrow teasingly.
"I'm going to ignore that. Its fine, Alex." I say. "Speaking of boyfriends, where is he?" I question, knowing Alex will hear. I turn to look for him again and I see him coming our way with only his tight black Calvin Klein briefs on.
"Damn, he is fiiine." Chris declared.
I laugh. "You're wearing your undies in the pool?" I question, when he's standing above me.
"Please don't call them undies, it's too close to panties. And yeah, I am. I didn't grab a suit." He explains, getting in.
"Maddox, did you know Hadley's collecting boyfriends?" Tyler asks, mischievously.
"Shut up, Tyler, I am not." I deny.
"You're nothing but a heart breaker... Poor, innocent Logan was the first to fall, then me, now Alex. How many more must perish before she's stopped?" Tyler shouts, in a Shakespearean way.
"Wow, nice acting chops, Hamlet." I say, making Tyler laugh.
"I don't understand why you guys just don't do what I do. Think of her when you yank it, like any normal person." Luke declares, earning some laughs.
"What!" Maddox yells.
"Gross." I reply, disgusted.
"I'm joking, Maddox. I can pull a piece of ass, I don't have to yank it myself... I just make sure she's blonde and from behind it's easy to pretend its Hadley." He states, and starts running because Maddox is going after him.
"Maddox, stop, he's joking!" I yell, laughing.
"Yeah, I don't think he's joking." Tyler comments, shaking his head.
"Maddox, I'm going to take my top off if you don't stop!" This makes everyone stop and look at me.
"What? It will work." I whisper, shrugging my shoulders at Chris, Alex and Tyler.
Maddox who was only five feet from Luke says, "Don't ever repeat what you just said." He turns around and comes back to me.
"What! No, go get him, idiot. You're ruining everything!" Adam yells, disappointed he's not getting a free show.
Maddox keeps walking. I am going to think of something nice to do for him. A soaking wet Maddox in wet briefs is a very nice sight and many things come to mind.
"Don't look at me like that, kitten, unless you mean it." He says, smirking.
"Could you imagine if he had his glasses on too? I'd die!" Chris squeals.
I laugh turning to Chris and Maddox makes his way behind me, pulling me against him, kissing my exposed neck. I need a distraction so I ask Tyler, "What's the plan for tonight? Are we still doing something?"
"Yep. Party at my house. What happened to Logan's face? It looks particularly ugly today." Tyler asks, just noticing.
"I punched him." Maddox answers.
"Really? Why? Wait, let me guess, he made a move on Hadley?" Tyler replies, making a tsking sound.
Maddox nods his head yes and continues to kiss and suck my neck. I can't take anymore and turn to face him. "Stop." I scold. He growls, his discontent but stops.
"You wouldn't happen to have a gay brother, cousin or hell, a distant relative would you?" Chris asks, making us laugh.
"Nope. I got nothing." Maddox replies.
"Tyler, are you sure you want to have a party at your house? We could just stay here. People can leave whenever they want."
"Why wouldn't I be sure?"
"Your house is too nice for parties." I state.
"Oh, don't worry. I hired security, the party will be contained. I also got a D.J. which reminds me, I need the names of bands you like."
"Go Radio, Artist vs. Poet and Twenty One Pilots." Alex answers.
"There you go." I say, pretending it's not weird he knows that about me.
"Oh, shit! I almost forgot, come with me a minute and the gay guy too, we'll need his help." Tyler orders, climbing out of the pool, then turning around he pulls me out.
"I'll be right back." I tell, Maddox.
"My name is Chris, not 'gay guy'." Chris says, pretending to be offended.
"Sorry, I forgot it and I'm in a rush." Tyler apologizes, going inside. "Where's your room?" He asks. I take him to my room and shut the door.
Turning to us quickly, Tyler says without hesitation, "Uh, what the hell is up with Alex Pillar? I'm pretty sure he wants to rip Maddox to shreds. You, babe, have a serious problem."
"I know, what do I do?" I ask. "Chris and I don't know what to do about him."
"So you know he wants you then?"
"Yeah, he told Chris this morning."
"Is he here to tell you or something?" Tyler asks, looking to Chris who shrugs.
"I have no idea." I reply, panicking. I hate hearing he loves me; it makes me wonder about things. I guess I always had a bit of a crush on him, not that it matters. I'm with Maddox I remind myself.
"Well, I'm sure he'll end up confronting you and telling you." Tyler says. "What are you going to say?"
"That I love him, but I'm in love with Maddox."
"Well, there goes my playoff and World Series tickets." He says, smirking.
"Tyler, this is serious. I don't want to hurt him, so don't say anything, please."
"I won't. Just let me know if you need any help. I really don't think having Maddox will stop him from trying to get you. I see the way he looks at you, he's a goner."
"Why can't I see this?" I ask, irritated at myself. "I've known him so long. I don't want to hurt him. Invite all the nice single girls you know to the party and we'll try setting him up, you know, make him forget about me." Why did that hurt a little to say? Why do I all ready feel jealous of the other girls I'm going to throw his way?
"We need to get him back to New York." Chris says, knowingly.
"We need to get back. I just noticed we left Maddox with Alex, I won't say anything but Maddox will." Tyler says.
We leave my room and head to the kitchen where Tyler picks up printed out maps and directions to his house. We walk outside, "Hey! Everyone we are continuing this party at my house tonight at nine. These are the directions." Tyler shouts, putting them on the patio table and puts an beer bottle on top to keep them from blowing away.
The three of us go back to the pool where Alex is sitting on the edge dangling his feet in the water talking to Chase and Adam about baseball. Maddox is standing in the pool watching me walk towards him. At the edge of the pool, he lifts me in keeping his hands around me.
Tyler stands on the edge where I stood, "A little help, Maddox. Me next." He says, holding out his arms and pouting.
I laugh. Tyler might be a goofball but he knows how to make me feel better.
Chris pushes Tyler in. "No, me next." He states, acting just like Tyler.
Alex pushes Chris in. "Don't treat my only fan like that." He demands, winking at me. I feel Maddox tighten his arms around me.
Chris and Alex leave shortly after to go back to the hotel to rest before tonight. Once Alex was gone, I felt the tension drain out of Maddox.
"We should leave, too, I want a nap before tonight." I say.
"Yeah, let's say our goodbyes." Maddox replies.
After our goodbyes and promises to come and spend time with Mary and grandma, we grabbed my presents and put them in the car. Maddox starts the engine and says, "I don't want you to drink tonight."
"Why?" I ask, confused.
"You could be pregnant." He answers looking at me. He's tense waiting for my reaction.
It was like a bucket of cold water hit me. I have to be careful for another two weeks, until my period hopefully comes.
I take a deep breath. "You're right, I won't drink." I agree.
Maddox takes my hand kisses the back of it. "You know I'll take care of you and our child if anything did happen, right?" He says, looking at me with his intense eyes and I melt.
"I know. We just have to be careful from now on, I want to be ready when I have kids unlike my parents."
"I understand. Monday I'll have my secretary call and make you an appointment to get on birth control. I think we both know I can't be trusted. I lose my self control with you. I'll have her set up the appointment at a time when I can come." He says, pulling out of the driveway.
At his condo we both take a shower and I plead with him to let me just sleep. He sets the alarm for seven so we should have a good two hour nap. I hope tonight goes well and no drama happens. That would be nice. Too bad we never get what we ask for.