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Chapter 17 - Maddox
Normally, when the guys and I were in New York, we’d be partying like animals. We’d be out every night until the early hours of the morning.
But this time it was different. Even Garrett kept to himself, hurrying to his suite as soon as we were done for the day. After a long day of interviews and TV show appearances and radio shows, we’d all head back to our hotel with no mention of parties or drinking or drugs or women.
None of it mattered anymore.
I got back to the hotel and sank down on the leather couch in the suite’s living room. My phone buzzed.
“Hey, Hillary,” I said, closing my eyes and leaning back. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to check in with you. Do you remember what we talked about? Maggie is pushing to have the will thrown out, so if we don’t act within the next week, you’ll end up with nothing. Maddox, I care about you like a son. I’ve known you since you were little, and I don’t want to see you end up with nothing. It’s not right. It’s—”
“I’ve found someone,” I said.
The line went quiet.
“Hillary?”
“You… you found someone to marry?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh,” she said, not even trying to hide the surprise in her voice. “Great. Okay! I wasn’t expecting that,” she laughed. “May I ask who she is?”
“My makeup artist.”
“You’re going to marry your makeup artist?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you sure that’s—”
“Yes, I’m sure,” I said, the frustration bubbling up inside me. “First you want me to find a wife, and now that I’ve found one, you’re second-guessing it. Do you want me to get married or not?”
“I want you to do what’s best for you, Maddox.”
“And you want to keep that hefty retainer I’ve got you on.”
“This is about more than money, Maddox. Your sister shouldn’t end up with everything. It’s not right.”
“Good. Well, I’ll take Lacie to the courthouse on Monday. Have you got the paperwork sorted out? Once I’m married, do you need anything else from me?”
“No,” she said quietly. “Maddox?”
“Yeah,” I said, sighing.
“I hope she makes you happy.”
A smile stretched over my lips as the door opened. Lacie’s gorgeous face appeared and she flashed a brilliant smile at me.
I cleared my throat. “She does,” I replied. “I gotta go.”
I hung up the phone and stood up as Lacie walked towards me. She wrapped her arms around my waist and tilted her chin up towards me. A smile floated over her lips and I leaned down to kiss them, savoring her sweet taste. She pushed herself away, staring up at me and grinning.
“You still want to marry me now that you’ve had the day to think about it?”
“More than ever,” I said as my heart thumped.
