Page 13 of Anti Player

I pinch my eyes shut then open them and swipe at my mouth. “This is embarrassing enough. Having you know isn’t cool.”

“But I know. I want to help,” she says.

“Of course you do,” I mutter. She has always wanted to help.

“Just spill it. We’ve known each other a damn long time.”

“Which is why I don’t want to go there,” I say, and we look each other in the eyes. Sometimes when she looks at me it feels like more, but that can’t be right. She’s just really pretty and kind, and she smiles at everyone.

She licks her lips.

“I’ve dated a lot of women,” I admit.

“Probably all puck bunnies, like Brett,” she scoffs.

“You aren’t wrong.”

“You know that Brett is messed up because of Mom taking Papa back all the time. My brother has a fear he’s like my old man,” she explains.

“I know that,” I say point blank.

“Then what is your story, Kaleb? You didn’t have your daddy around long enough to scar you,” she says.

“I don’t think that’s true.” I snicker.

“No?” she asks.

“My stutter,” I remind. Those words speak for themselves.

“He was an asshole. Pardon my French.” She laughs. Dad came from the French part of Canada. He eventually went back there. We aren’t in touch.

“He was, but I don’t think that is my issue,” I say.

“We are going to get to the bottom of it then.”

“That won’t be necessary. I went on a date tonight. I haven’t ever dated,” I share.

She watches me like she is maybe trying to get in my head or maybe understand what I mean by that statement. I don’t elaborate.

“That’s a start,” she agrees with a nod.

“I’m going to get to know this girl.”

She watches me with a crooked grin.

“What?” I ask curiously.

“Do you really like her? Do you feel all excited and tingly when she is close to you? Do you wish you could rip her clothes off?” Maddie asks, looking me in the eyes.

I swallow hard as my eyes eat up her legs and slowly drift over her body. She is wearing a gray tank top. Even though she has a bra on, I can see just how full her breasts are but it’s when my eyes land on hers that I feel what she is saying. That pull, that animalistic want to rip someone’s clothes off. I swallow again. I didn’t feel that way about Taylor, but I sure feel that way about Maddie. I mean Mad Pie. Damn.

“You should go back inside the apartment. Get some rest, Mad Pie. Things are always brighter in the morning. I’m going to check around to see if we can find you a job and get you back on your feet.”

She hops off the windowsill and hugs me. Her breasts press into me, and it takes me a moment to hug her back because I am so thrown off by how her body feels pressed to mine. Sparks aren’t enough to describe this feeling when it feels like a full-on fire.

“Don’t stay mad at Brett,” she says when she pulls away. “He may be a big ogre, but he wants the best for you.”

“Yeah,” I reply. “Go get some rest.”