Page 12 of Madden

Talking to Shelby right now, though? It's a beacon of hope in what has been one of the darkest periods of my life. "I am. Thank you for any help you might give me. What time do you want me to come by your office?"

She pulls her phone out, and scrolls through her calendar. "I have time at one, does that work with your schedule?"

I'm this close to telling her I'll meet her at any time, I don't even care if it's midnight. "That's perfect, I'll be there. Should I bring anything?'

"If you have your guardianship paperwork and his social security card, that would be great."

"I have both, and I'll be there."

She waves at me. "I'll see you then."

I wave back, turning toward the box of cereal I'd replaced on the shelf. Against my better judgment, I grab it back and put it in the buggy. I know I've blown my budget by doing this, but I want him to have all the things he never has before. The things I wanted as a kid and my mom couldn't give to me.

In the end, what is money if you can't enjoy it while you're here on earth?

Stephanie is sittingon my bed, watching me contemplate which shirt I should wear. The minutes are counting down until Madden gets here and I'm terrified I'm not going to be ready when he shows up. "What do you think about this one?"

It's a shirt I haven't worn in almost a year, I was worried it would be tight, but it's a little loose.

"How much weight have you lost?" Steph asks, going to her stomach and bending her knees so that her feet are up around her lower back. "I know you haven't been eating as much as you should, but it's never been as apparent as it is in that shirt."

"Only around twenty pounds." I shrug and since my clothing size had a two in front of it previously, I definitely could afford to lose some.

She rolls her eyes. "There's nothing wrong with you, or what you look like."

"I never said there was." I retort back, as I step into my bathroom and put on a pair of older jeans that used to not fit. Maybe they do now. "Just that I could stand to lose some weight and it wouldn't make that much of a difference. How is this?" I press my palms into my thighs, brushing the material.

"You look hot. You really should be proud of yourself, Bec. I love your hair. It's gotten so much longer, and it suits your face."

I haven't been able to afford to get my hair cut, but I don't want to admit that to Steph. "Thanks." My phone beeps. "He's in the complex. I'm going to go down and meet him. Will you be okay with Mick tonight?"

I've already verified this with her, but I have to again.

"We'll be fine. I grabbed some popcorn, and I'm going to rent the movie on Prime that he's been talking about. We'll have agood time - so you go have a good time." She wags her eyebrows up and down.

"Stop." I giggle, throwing one of the shirts I had tried on previously at her.

Her sing-song voice follows me as I leave the room. "Don't do anything I wouldn't doooo."

"I won't." I grab my purse. "Have fun and be good." I give a finger wave to Mick.

"I will. You have fun too." He doesn't look up from the iPad in his lap, which I've become accustomed to.

When I leave, I shut the door quietly and take a breath. I haven't been out on a date in two years, and now I'm about to go out with one of the hottest men I've ever met. Good Lord, don't fail me now.

CHAPTER 9

MADDEN

I observethe building numbers as I head back toward the one that Bec and Mick live in. I looked at this complex when I first moved here, but then I was paired with Donut, and I knew an apartment wasn't going to work out.

I come around a corner, and quickly press my brakes as a couple of small kids run out in front of me. They stop in the middle of the road with a shell-shocked expression on their faces in the headlights of my truck. I give them a wave to let them know they're okay to cross.

Under my breath, I mumble. "Where are your parents?"

I make it back to building ten, and there Bec is. She's standing underneath the light, which I approve of. No woman should stand out here at night without being in the light. I wave out the window, and she comes around the passenger side. She gets in before I can park and open the door for her.

"Hey." She smiles as she makes herself comfortable.