Page 77 of The Love We Make

Chapter 26

Madison

My friends and I had made it earlier than we normally did to 678. Which wasn’t a terrible thing because we got a great table. But it left me with a lot of time to think about Ty.

And Ethan.

And whether Ty would even show up.

Luckily, Kristen didn’t attempt to try and get me laid. I wondered if she saw it on my face that the “dust was gone.” That Ethan knocked it off, and then some, and I no longer needed her dumb jokes and games.

I flushed just thinking of Ethan. I had had another long week wishing I could talk to him and only getting glimpses of him through the TV when he pitched.

He was sucking so bad.

I wasn’t sure why, but it took everything I had to not call or text him. I was always the shoulder he leaned on when things were tough. Now, thanks to my rule, I couldn’t see him.

But it was my rule. I could break it. Right?

Only, I remembered how he was when we left each other in New York. He had already reverted back to best friend Ethan and he would hate hearing from me right now. He would think I couldn’t handle the distance. That I had gotten too attached to obey my own rules.

I wasn’t doing that to him.

So I wallowed in my own misery, hoping this night out with my friends and Ty made everything clear again.

I hit the dance floor solo, hoping to get out of my head. The music and movement always made me feel free and happy. And I was doing a damn good job when I felt hands touch my hips.

I hated when guys took liberties like they had the right to touch a woman. It always made me cringe. Kristen told me she loved it, so I am sure I was just being “little innocent, small-town Madison” in those moments.

I turned around to see who was getting too close but relief instantly washed over me. It was Ty. His touch had felt foreign on my hips like his hands didn’t belong there. But it wasn’t out of the blue that he grabbed me. So I smiled big at him, hoping he couldn’t sense my initial discomfort.

“Hey there,” I said as I placed my hands on his shoulders.

“Hey,” he said quietly, deeply. “You been out here dancing alone long?”

“Just a few songs. Glad I have my dance partner here, though.”

He smiled and we began to move to the beat of the song. The dress I was wearing was tight and inched up every so often from the movements. Between each song, I had to pull it back down and start over.

“You gonna disappear on me again?” He teased.

“Ha, ha. Not if Chase doesn't show up.”

He laughed and threw his head back. “Not a chance.”

I actually didn’t know if that was true. I was almost sure Ethan had backed off theChase and Ethan Stalking Mission, but since this was my first night out since my weekend with Ethan, I trusted nothing.

After another few minutes, my body relaxed into the movements with Ty. We were having fun, laughing at random things, and enjoying each other’s company. But something still felt off. Like no matter how attractive Ty was, or how charming he was, I was ruined.

That is exactly how I felt—ruined.

I calmed myself down by reminding myself it had only been two weeks. I needed to give myself a break. Ethan had been playing a role, to give me the best weekend of my life, but it wasn’t real. I had to remember that.

Ty and I agreed on one more song before we would grab a drink. Which was fine by me, because on the dance floor is where I felt safest. Where I felt the most alive. I wanted to keep that as long as possible.

As the song winded down, I felt a shiver run down my back. I looked up to Ty to see if he had noticed, but he was looking over my shoulder, his jaw hard and eyes in slits. I started to look behind me, to see what he was looking at. But before I had the chance, a new set of hands landed on my hips. And this time, I didn’t cringe or tense up.

I knew exactly whose hands they were. I knew that touch.