Page 42 of Perfect Guy
I’m glad she opened up about what happened at school so we can go into this relationship without secrets or painful past interfering. I know it’s still something she keeps to herself, and I respect that. However, knowing about it can help me help her. I never want her to feel like I’m with her for reasons besides that I like her.
“I knew it!” Joy dances over to us with Brayden shaking his head behind her. She hugs Madelyn and then me.
I give my sister a warning look that she ignores and starts talking to Madelyn.
“Why didn’t you call to tell me?” She crosses her arms.
“Told you,” I look at Madelyn, who glares at me.
“I don’t know…” Madelyn shrugs, trying to avoid eye contact. A slight blush covers her already pink cheeks.
“Joy,” I warn.
“Don’t get in the middle.” She lifts her hand and shakes her head.
“I am in the middle of it,” I laugh at her ridiculousness.
“Fine,” Joy huffs.
“Babe, let them be.” Brayden places his hands on her shoulders and kisses the top of her head.
I’ve gotten used to seeing them together, but at times it’s still hard to accept. Now, I know the whole story about what happened, and Brayden’s proven to be a good guy, but that’s my little sister.
“You really need to get over this.” Joy interrupts my train of thought, pointing between her and Brayden. “Honestly, Canaan.” She pleads.
“I have. It’s been what…a couple of months since I’ve punched him?”
“More than a couple,” Brayden says flatly.
“Even better.” I lift a hand toward him.
I do approve of their relationship. I accept it. Hell, he comes to family dinners, and we have beers together and talk. If Joy could forgive him, I could too.
“I’m getting a drink. What do you want?” He smiles down at Joy, ignoring my jab.
“Cane…let it be,” Madelyn whispers. “She’s happy. He treats her right.”
I look over at her, her lips inches from mine, and smile.
“I know.” Instead of kissing her mouth, I brush my lips against her forehead.
Finishing my beer, I set it on the bar a couple of feet away from us. Wilder and Hallie are there when I return.
“Hey, Hal.” I hug her and shake Wilder’s hand.
Hallie is our second cousin. Our moms are cousins and grew up together before hers left for college and stayed on the east coast. Hallie moving to Mason Creek feels full circle.
“If this relationship is for the long haul, we won’t only be cousins, but in-laws. That’s kinda funny,” she whispers.
I laugh because I hadn’t thought about that. Will I marry Madelyn? I don’t know. We’re just getting to know each other as more than friends or acquaintances, really. I may have known Madelyn most of my life, but we hadn’t spent time alone until recently. We’d see each other out or when she was with Joy or when I’d hang out with Wilder. We never had deep conversations.
Wilder steals Hallie’s attention, and I go back to Madelyn, who’s talking to Camille and Joy.
“Wanna dance?” I lean in and whisper when I hear the music getting louder.
“Yeah.” She excuses herself, leaving her almost empty beer on the bar on the way to the dance floor.
“Don’t run off on me this time,” I wink.