Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 82973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82973 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Five days later, she was still struggling. They had toured Elvis’s home, seen lots of live music in Nashville, taken in the barbecue in Knoxville, toured some Kentucky whiskey distilleries, visited the Appomattox Court House Historical Park, wended toward Richmond, then hugged the Potomac heading north before making it into Washington, DC. She tried her best to focus on all the new sites and this alone time with her dad. He needed it now that his protracted divorce from her stepmom of five years was final and the woman had fucked off to Portland.
When they arrived in DC, Dad’s older brother, Uncle Martin, welcomed them with open arms. After VIP tours of the Smithsonian and most of the local landmarks, he’d suggested she think about joining his staff since it paid better than teaching and offered more upward mobility. Next, he’d insisted that she attend a benefit gala with him to see how she liked the people she’d be rubbing elbows with if she accepted the job.
Ten minutes into the grand affair, she’d met Todd Pershing, the senior senator’s grandson. He had taken to her immediately, setting her at ease. He’d danced with her, made her laugh, fed her dessert when no one was looking, then invited her to sail with him the very next day.
Nine days after she’d arrived in DC and following a handful of dates with Todd, who seemed attentive, surprisingly easy to talk to, and eager to see more of her, her phone finally rang just before bedtime. She glanced at the screen, expecting him or Haisley to be calling.
Matt’s name filled her display. Her heart stopped.
He was finally calling, almost a month after turning her inside out and nearly bringing her to her knees. After making her foolish heart flutter with hope and possibilities for the future? Now, he wanted to talk?
Madison reclined against the headboard, curled her knees to her chest, and stared at the device, wondering whether she should answer or make him wait, like she had. On the final ring before the call rolled to voicemail, she picked up. She wanted to know why he had finally chosen to call more than she wanted to punish him.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Madison. Sorry it’s been a while.”
She didn’t want to be impacted by the sound of his voice. She didn’t want to remember the way they’d shared pleasure, secrets, and themselves in the dark. His call proved she didn’t always get what she wanted.
“It has.” She had no intention of making this pleasant or easy for him.
“My dad had a…friend who committed suicide in his house, which almost got him in hot water with the cops.”
“Oh, my god. I’m so sorry for him.”
“Thanks. It was…a lot. He was freaked out. It’s been rough.”
For his father, absolutely. Madison’s heart went out to the man for both his loss and his legal troubles. But that didn’t absolve Matt, because she knew he had been in town for weeks and just never bothered to call. “I’m sure he struggled.”
“Yeah. I’m not calling to give you excuses.”
“Then why are you? Do you need someone to talk to?”
“No. I just need to see you. I need”—he paused—“you. Can you come over? I know it’s last minute. I know you might be out with your girls or… But I moved into my rental house, so I’ve got a bed and a sofa now.” His joke fell flat, and his laugh sounded hollow.
Fury burned her. After waiting four weeks to connect with her, he wasn’t explaining or apologizing or saying anything that might have mitigated how used and discarded she’d felt. Nope. He’d picked up the phone for a booty call.
The sex between them had been ungodly good. She wouldn’t deny that. But she refused to sacrifice what was left of her pride to spread her legs for a guy who only called when he wanted a piece of ass. She’d never done the friends-with-benefits thing before because she had self-respect and a good vibrator. She wasn’t changing her mind for him now.
“Actually, I’m in Washington, DC, on vacation with my dad.”
“Oh.” He sounded both surprised and distressed. “I didn’t realize you’d left town. Are you coming back soon?”
“Originally, I was supposed to be home the day after tomorrow, but I might stay permanently. I’ve been offered a job here. And since I arrived, I’ve been seeing someone. He’s attentive and adoring and everything I could have asked for.” She probably sounded a little petty, but didn’t he deserve it?
“Wow.” He blew out a breath. “I haven’t even thought about anyone except you in the last month, but…okay. Sure.”
Wait. He’d assumed she would wait around for him? Without any communication? And was trying to make her feel guilty because she hadn’t? No. Absolutely not. He wasn’t pinning this on her. “I had no idea what you were thinking, since we haven’t talked. I appreciate the invitation to come over tonight and…whatever, but—”