Page 4 of Moonlight With Maddox (Mountain Men Fall Harder #6)
L eni
What the hell am I doing?
I attempt to pull back from what I can only imagine are Maddox Walker’s confused arms, but they don’t release me–-at least at first. Is it my imagination or just wishful thinking that I feel something hard pressing against my hip?
He clears his throat and lets me go, taking a step back to put some space between us.
“I’m sorry,” I say, feeling the heat color my cheeks and neck. “I just can’t thank you enough for what you did—showing up and saving Aunt Connie the way you did.”
Aunt Connie rubs absently on her arm again, but the amusement in her expression tells me that she’s enjoying this little show.
“It was nothing.” He shakes his head, his gaze turning back to my aunt. “I’m just glad I remember to bring your casserole dish with me that morning.”
“Speaking of which, I didn’t have a chance to make you something for this week.” Aunt Connie exaggerates her frown, but there is something brewing in her head, I can see it.
“I didn’t come here for that,” Maddox says, looking embarrassed. “I just wanted to see how you were doing. I didn’t know you had company.”
It’s at this moment it hits me that Maddox Walker has no idea who I am. A part of me hoped that he’d look at me and say something flirtatious about how I’m all grown up now, but his expression is unreadable, except for the faint crease between his brows.
I shouldn’t feel surprised or even a little hurt that Maddox doesn’t have a clue who I am. It’s not like we hung out in the same circles.
He was a handsome and broody senior when I was just a lowly and tongue-tied freshman.
The only reason our paths would cross every day is because his locker was two down from mine.
And the only time he took any notice of me was when my locker got jammed and I had a mini meltdown trying to open it so I wouldn’t be late for class.
He didn’t say a word as he gently pushed me aside and wrapped his fist on the metal door just under the lock, allowing it to pop open with ease.
I wanted to find just the right words to thank him then, but the ability to speak was completely lost on me. All I could do in that moment was watch him walk away toward his girlfriend, Angie, waiting for him at the end of the hall.
“Maddox, you’ve heard me brag about her, but I want you to meet my niece.”
His gaze flicks to me with a renewed sense of interest. “You’re Melanie?”
“Leni,” I correct him.
For the first time in my life, it feels like Maddox Walker isn’t looking through me, but at me. Like he’s seeing me for the first time, despite having crossed paths in school every day for a year.
“Well, since you’re here,” Aunt Connie cuts in, as she gives me a quick side eye and I realize the plan I’d seen her hatching a moment ago.
“Aunt Connie,” I warn, but she ignores me completely.
“You should take Leni to the Fall Festival tonight,” she says, her voice sweet as honey. “I mean she hasn’t seen how they’ve expanded it since she left. She was planning on going alone, but you don’t want to leave such a pretty girl all on her own, do you?”
“Aunt Connie,” I say again, and then turn to Maddox. “I’m sure you already have plans tonight.”
His brow furrows and a crease appears, watching me like I’m some puzzle he’s trying to solve.
“I don’t have any plans.”
Did he just say yes to a sort of date—with me? He’s probably just trying to be polite, unable to say no to my aunt’s attempt at matchmaking. My heart does a tiny traitorous flutter anyway.
“Fantastic.” Aunt Connie slaps the palm on her good arm down like the matter is settled. “You two will have a wonderful time. There really is nothing quite like the Fall Festival in Maple Ridge, you never know what can happen.”
Maddox clears his throat and takes a step back towards the door. “I’m just going to need to head home and change first.”
“Okay,” I say, trying to ensure my voice remains steady, and pretending my heart isn’t racing. “Meet me back here in an hour.”
As he turns to leave, I can’t decide what’s worse—my aunt forcing a date with me on my childhood crush or that small, reckless part of me that is actually looking forward to it.