Page 11 of Perfect Guy

Canaan

Fuck, I’m trying to fight it, but I can’t keep away from Madelyn. I don’t know what has changed from seeing her before to now, but I catch myself seeking her out in town, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.

I watch her taillights disappear and debate getting in my truck or going back into Pony Up. Combing a hand through my hair, I go back into the bar to pay my open tab and say goodbye to my sister.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at Mom and Dad’s for lunch?”

“Yeah,” I kiss her cheek and shake Brayden’s hand.

It isn’t late, and the last thing I want to do is lock myself at home. I should be exhausted after my shift yesterday at the fire station, but I’m amped up with energy and need to burn it. The wise decision would be to go home, but instead, I leave my car in the lot and walk across town to the water tower.

I begin climbing until I’m sitting atop the platform, looking out into the dark, star-stained sky. The only light comes from the street lamps, the firehouse to my right, and Pony Up across town. It’s not enough to dim the stars. I take a seat, letting my legs hang from the edge, and lean back on my hands. A deep breath moves through me. Despite it being summer, the evenings are cool enough that they’re inviting to stay outdoors.

Getting involved with Madelyn would probably be a bad idea. She’s beautiful, but I don’t want my dick to ruin a friendship. Not just mine with her, but she’s also my sister’s friend. I’m friends with Wilder. Hell, Hallie’s my cousin. Too much is at stake, and I’m way too busy to get a relationship between my demanding job and the firehouse.

I don’t want to hurt Madelyn. I also won’t fuck around with her. I remember my sister’s heartache when she was in high school. Although this would be a different situation, I don’t want to be the guy hurting anyone, especially Madelyn. I may date different women, but I’m always upfront about my intentions.

That doesn’t take away how I feel when I see her. It’s unfamiliar. I don’t know how to explain it. I can’t help but smile when I find her someplace or see her walk into work. Now, I’ll be seeing her daily at the job site. Dancing with her didn’t help. I kept my distance, but what I really wanted to do was pull her close, wrap my arms around her, and never let go.

I’m screwed. So fucking screwed.

I take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air. The stars twinkle to their own beat as I clear my mind.

A car door closes somewhere behind me. I sit still, hopeful that whoever it is will leave. I don’t hear voices and can’t see the car from this point. Maybe it’s a young couple, some teens. We used to climb the water tower all the time, too. First kisses, talks with friends, celebrations, you name it.

The ladder croaks with the weight of someone climbing, and I remain quiet. It’s not like this is reserved for one person. There’s enough space for more people. I keep my eyes trained on the sky so the person can have their privacy the same way I’d like mine.

“Oof…” A female voice hits my ears. “Holy shit…” I turn to the right and lift my brows. “How do you appear out of nowhere? I swear you’re going to give me a heart attack one day. First at the lake, and now this.”

I chuckle as Madelyn puts her hand on her chest.

“It’s not funny.” I can barely make out her face in the dark, but I bet she’s scowling at me.

“I was here first. No magic tricks.” I lift my hands.

“I didn’t see a car.” She steps forward, away from the opening, which is a good idea. One wrong move and she could slip.

“I walked from Pony Up. Shouldn’t you be home already?” I tilt my head.

“I didn’t feel like going home yet, so I turned around.” She shifts on her feet. “I’m gonna go…sit on the other side.”

I nod, giving her space. If she came up here, she probably wants to think the same way I do. Since my thoughts are plagued with her, I’m guessing she might be thinking about whatever it is between us after the way she left.

We’re both quiet on our side of the platform. After our awkward goodbye, it’s for the best. I’m not sure what I did wrong except sing the words to the song and hold her a little more intimately. I didn’t think that would cause her to react the way she did, so it came out of left field. I went from being nice-guy-Canaan to hitting-on-her-Canaan. Taking a step back is the right choice.

A soft sigh comes from her, and I smile to myself. Being up here is relaxing. It helps to let out whatever worries you have and focus on the magnitude of the universe.

“A shooting star,” she calls out.

“Where?” I look around but don’t see it. “I missed it,” I complain.

A soft giggle sounds from her. “It was on my side.”

“Did you make a wish?”

“Always,” she draws out the word.

“What’d you wish for?” I tease her a bit.