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Maddox

“How long’s it been since you sat inside a school cafeteria, Maddox?”

“Last time was when we decided I should tag along for a full day of school with you as your cousin from Wisconsin.” I bite into my dry hamburger and chase my lunch down with bottled water.

“Why did we pick Wisconsin of all places?”

Kris’s green eyes sparkle. She knows the story but wants to hear me retell it. It’s what we’ve been doing this week. I spend lunch with her. We reminiscence. She hints at us getting back together. I change the subject to a topic that makes her less than thrilled to spend more time with me—my wife.

Waiting for my answer, she takes a sip of her soda. I stare at her mouth. She sets her soda down. Her fingers toy with mine. I hone in on her eyes. They shine with a different emotion. Hope.

Her eyes used to fill my dirtiest teenager’s dreams. Now, all I dream about is a girl with one eye green and one eye blue.

“We decided on Wisconsin the night I snuck into your room. You had a US map on the wall. I had a knife in my pocket. I threw it and the tip embedded on Wisconsin.”

“What’d you do afterward?”

Her voice is low, breathy.

“I gave you your first kiss.” We were fifteen.

“What’d I give you two years later, for your birthday?”

“Your virginity.”

Jesus, the good old days of thinking I knew what I wanted and who would be in my life for the long term. Until everything came crashing down when Kris broke things off between us.

“Why’d you leave and without me, Kris?”

She’s been skirting the question. We met for lunch at our favorite diner the day Blaise was with Cillian. We’ve met for lunch every day since I’ve been on the job site, taking my time getting to know the business owners and the people who live and work in this community.

My vision isn’t mine any longer. Their vision is what’s important. Blaise taught me that through our talks while lazying around in the cabana or taking nightly strolls on the beach.

The dark doesn’t scare her. She said the moon and the stars will always be high in the sky. That darkness cannot mask the light. The light is hidden but not lost. But vision is something she did lose in the darkness, and metaphorically, she would hate for me to rob the people of their vision. Our vision guides us. Gives us hope. She hopes through my handing over the design to the people, I’ll give them hope for a better life.

“Do we have to talk about this now? Maybe we should save it for somewhere more private.”

Yet she doesn’t have a problem setting her hand over mine and leaning in. Anyone looking on would think we’re sharing an intimate conversation.

“There you are, Maddox. You have surprise visitors.”

Joe’s booming voice rises above the kids’ conversations. My head snaps up. I dislike surprises. Cillian strides over to the table with a knowing smile on his face. I slide my hand out from under Kris’s. Dammit, why is he here and with Blaise? He was supposed to drop her off at our place by one. Then I’d go home and surprise my wife with crotchless silk panties, a silk scarf, and satin blindfolds.

“How are my two lovebirds?”

What game is he playing? Gritting my teeth, I show him exactly what his lovebirds are up to. I rise from my seat, head over to where Blaise is standing with her bottom lip caught between her teeth and her brows slanted low to her cute nose, and kiss the fuck out of her. In front of everyone. Long and hard. Our kiss is so hot, the kids whoop and holler. Yeah, I’ll show these boys and the men how it’s done. She kisses me back, answering my fervor with her fingers shoved in my hair and her body pressed up against mine.

The whooping and hollering fades from my mind.

All I feel and hear is Blaise. Her soft body. Those luscious curves I love. How sweet she tastes. Her moans that stroke my mouth as our tongues tangle. Her sex noises get me hard every time.

“Maddox.”

“Yes, baby?” I dislike her breaking off our kiss. Air is overrated.

“You’re in deep shit.”