through every single detail of that night again as if he was Nancy Drew, looking for some overlooked clue. I’m thinking of buying him an oversized magnifying glass as a joke. I don’t think it’d go over well, though.
It’s silly that he’s this worried about it, and it’s partly my fault. I never should have told him I thought someone was following me the other night after work. I was walking to Ben’s firm from the library and that feeling overcame me, the same one I felt that night I was held at gunpoint. I could have sworn someone was watching me and it freaked me out, so I told Ben about it as soon I saw him. Now, I regret that. He thinks the same guy was following me, and he wouldn’t listen when I tried to convince him it was just the wind playing tricks on me.
He thinks it’s something more serious.
Even now, he’s in full lawyer mode. I’ve seen him like this before at his office. I’ve stumbled in on him while he’s on the phone with a client or wrapping up a meeting, and it’s like he’s Ben the Hard-Ass. Business Ben. I like it. I want Business Ben to bend me over his business desk.
Not the time, Madison.
My dad crosses his arms over his chest and his brows scrunch together to form one thick line. “That’s not really your concern.”
20
Ben
Not my concern?
Is he kidding?
I glance over at Madison, and she’s ten seconds from crumbling. Her gaze is on her untouched donut. Her hand is shaking as she reaches for her coffee. She tried so hard to get us all here this morning and force us to get along, and none of us is really putting forward much effort. We’re all too stubborn. I’m surprised our egos haven’t blown the roof off yet.
“Madison is my concern,” I say, turning to meet her father’s gaze head-on.
He wants me to kowtow to him, or better yet, he wants me to fulfill all the expectations he has for me. They want me to be heartless, to use her and leave her. Colten already said I’m not good enough for Madison, and it’s clear her father agrees. They both want to be right about me so badly they’d choose it over Madison’s happiness. I’d point that out to them now if it wouldn’t cause a scene.
Madison jumps to her feet. “Why don’t I top off everyone’s coffee?”
She’s already grabbing cups, but I won’t let her take mine. She doesn’t need to wait on us hand and foot. “I’ll get some in a second. Thank you.”
She nods and turns away. I glance back to her father in time to see him exchange a glance with Colten. I have no idea how long they’re planning on holding out. A year from now, will it still be like this? Two years?
No. That would tear Madison apart. She deserves better. She deserves to have us try, at least.
So I’ll go first.
“Mr. Hart, I’d like to apologize for anything I might have done as a teenager to ruin your perception of me. I’m sure we did some pretty stupid stuff back then and—”
“No apology necessary.”
What he means to say is, I don’t accept.
Fine. Let’s all just sit here and make Madison suffer. Pass the fuckin’ donuts.
The second half of breakfast goes as dismally as the first. When her dad and brother stand to leave, I hang back, giving Madison space to say goodbye to them without me hovering nearby, but then I’m shocked when her dad tilts his head out past the door.
“Ben, let me talk to you for a second.”
Oh good, I bet this is the part where he holds up a shotgun and threatens my life if I don’t leave his daughter alone. I prepare for the worst, but at the bottom of the stairs outside, he shoos Colten along and turns to me. His eyes are less hard than they’ve been all morning. He props his hands on his hips and turns to me. Madison tells me he’s a big softy. I’m wondering if that’s really the case.
“We don’t want Madison to worry. That’s why I didn’t want to answer your question in there.” I instantly bristle. Withholding information from Madison isn’t the way to keep her safe. She’s not a child. “Madison and you both gave statements about that incident, but it wasn’t enough to go on. The perp was wearing a mask. His height and build weren’t all that unique,