Lib Novel Page 41
“I interacted with him maybe a handful of times. Only when Anna had to work late and I needed a ride to the dorm.” Madison shrugs. “I didn’t matter to him. I was the help.”
I can’t imagine anyone feeling that way about Madison. But I know a lot of people in my circle who don’t look twice at those they consider the hired help.
“Did Robert find the woman?” Madison’s voice is even as she looks at Blake like he’s just her employer. That shit has to hurt.
“Maybe.” Blake rubs a hand over his face. “I want to make sure. We’re best when we’re all together.”
Her eyes narrow. “Did you want me to leave when the others get back?”
“No.” Blake’s brows furrow as he leans forward. “Fuck no. You’re part of us. You make us better.”
The door to the apartment opens. Noah and Seth walk in with the bags. They glance at the mulish expressions on Blake’s and Madison’s faces as they sort the food. When they look at me, I just shrug.
When everyone sits down, Madison plays with her food with her fork before setting it carefully on the table.
“I’m not perfect.” She holds up her hand and keeps talking. “I’m flawed, but I will never be a cheater. I’m terrified of this stalker because he does things I can’t imagine doing. Conniving, manipulative things.”
She takes a breath. “Like the women you’ve been with before. I know they abused the trust you gave them, and I wish they hadn’t. But I haven’t. I’ve trusted you from the beginning, and maybe that makes me naive, but what I feel for you is too big sometimes.”
She plucks at the shirt she has on. “These clothes, this apartment, this job, all of you. It’s like I’m living in a dream that I never want to wake up from. But then there’s this darkness lingering outside of us, trying to tear us apart.
“They pick at the pieces of us that are most vulnerable and poke and poke until we don’t trust what we’ve always known about each other.
“In what world would I get not one amazing guy but four? Is it messy and will we have growing pains? Yes, but it will hurt less if we all stick together. I know you trust each other, and I hope you trust me.”
She leans back and meets Blake’s eyes. “I’m not them. I’m not Andrea. I’m not Elizabeth. I’m not Rachel. I don’t want to tear you apart. I want to be the glue that helps hold you together. I want to be the one you turn to when you need help making the right and moral decision. If I’m being honest…”
She swallows and puts her hands on the edge of the table. “I want this to work long-term. When my employment ends, I don’t want this to end. I don’t want us to end. I don’t want another assistant to take my place here. In this apartment. In your beds. In your hearts. Because that’s where I belong.”
She picks up her fork and points it at Blake and Seth. “You hurt me today. I can understand your why, but I can’t forgive it right away. I love you both, but I need to know I can trust you to trust me. To know me like I know you at your core being. To protect my heart the way you protect my body.”
“Anything, princess.” Seth lowers his head. “Anything you need me to do, I’ll do it for you.”
“Time, boss. I need time to heal. Time to trust you again.” She turns to Blake. “I put my trust in your hands every day. I accept your protection of me and the things you do to me. Those women hurt you. Not me. I put all my love and faith in you from the beginning, Blake. You saved me in more ways than just physical. I just wish you could trust me too.”
“I do, tiger. I trust you. I don’t trust myself or my judgment. I don’t want to let my friends down again. But I let you down and I’m willing to pay the price. I will earn your trust back, love, because I can’t see a future without you in it.”
Their eyes hold for a moment, and then she nods.
When she begins to eat, we all dig in. Things aren’t going back to the way they were, but hopefully we’ll grow from this. Maybe even stronger.
Blake clears his throat after a few minutes. “Robert saw a picture of who he thinks the woman was.”
Madison’s eyes widen. “A picture?”
“In Courtney’s office.” Blake meets all of our gazes and says the one name I hate more than Elizabeth. “Andrea.”
Chapter 139
Ah-Ha Moment
Madison
Andrea! The woman who blackmailed the guys and started the rumors about them.
To me, she’s a ghost. A ghost with brown hair and blue eyes now, but a ghost all the same. She still haunts each of my guys. The things she broke affect our relationship.
“We need to figure out how she fits into the puzzle.” Seth leans back in his chair. His gaze meets mine, but the hurt is too fresh for me to hold his.