Page 157 of Between Secrets and Obsession

“Now on to your other questions. We’re out of Montana, but honestly, I think it’s best if I don’t tell you where we’re heading. If you don’t know, then she can’t torture it out of you. You’ll be the first person she confronts, but I can assure you, Maddie will be more than safe with me.”

I haven’t seen her in two weeks, and I miss her so much.

“Now don’t go fallin’ in love with my girl.”

“I dunno if I can resist. She’s pretty charming.”

Maddie chuckles in the background, which confirms she heard the whole conversation.

I groan at the thought. “If you weren’t saving my ass, I’d be kickin’ yours.”

“You have nothing to worry about, man,” he reassures me, but Tyler would never betray me.

“Can I talk to her?” I ask eagerly.

Tyler laughs. “I’m surprised it took you this long to ask.”

He takes me off speakerphone, then I hear her sweet voice that calms my racing heart.

“Hi.”

I nearly fall to my knees in relief.

It takes everything in me not to bombard her with questions. “Mads, are you okay? I’ve been worried sick about you.”

“Never been better. Your friend has been taking good care of me.”

“Hopefully nottoogood,” I quip, causing her to laugh, and the sound is music to my ears. “God, I’ve missed you so damn much. You have no idea, Mads.”

A second passes before she speaks. “I’ve missed you too, but I’m still pissed at you for keeping secrets from me.”

“I don’t blame you, and I more than deserve it after this fucking shitstorm I got us in. I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to prove to you how damn sorry I am.”

“It might take that long,” she says. “I’ve been concerned about you too, hoping you were okay with the Wicked Witch of the West.”

Knowing she was thinking about me makes me smile. “We’re gonna get out of this, baby. I’m so goddamn relieved you’re out of there and with Tyler. He’ll keep you safe. You can trust him.”

“Yeah, considering he bought me tampons and chocolate, he seems like a good guy.”

He laughs as if there’s an inside joke between them. I’m jealous she’s been with him and not me, and while I shouldn’t feel that way, I’m envious of anyone who gets to spend time with her that isn’t me.

“He didn’t,” I deadpan.

“Yep, he did, but he’s the chump who fell for it.”

“Tell him what else you asked for…” Tyler prompts, but Maddie laughs and tells him to stop eavesdropping. Considering they’re in the same car, I chuckle.

“Do I even wanna know?”

“Probably not. It was when I was trying to get under their skin because I was bored as hell,” she admits. “Don’t worry, Eric got the brunt of my sarcasm and annoying remarks.”

Memories flash of when Victoria let me see Maddie on camera for the first time, and she and Tyler looked like they were having a great time. I’m glad he was able to ease her fear of being there and let loose a little, but the regret I have fills me deeply. She shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

“Good. He looked like a douchebag.”

“Even more than Hunter when I first met him.” Maddie cackles, and I do too.

It’s so easy chatting with her as if nothing’s changed between us, but I know better. We’re not out of this yet.