Page 57 of The Renegade Billionaire

“Hold up a minute. You played football?”

“You don’t have to sound so surprised.” I laugh, only slightly offended.

“I just, you, when you helped Ethan tape his laptop back together, you never mentioned anything.”

“No,” I agree. “I didn’t. It wasn’t a great time in my life.”Have there been many good times? “Plus, Grey was the athlete. I just worked my ass off so he didn’t leave me behind. Not that he would’ve ever done that.”

“He’s been a good friend to you.”

“The best,” I agree. “Greyson’s my family.”

“What about the rest of your family?” She slowly lowers herself back into position next to me, and I don’t waste a second before I’m pulling her in closer to my side.

But a familiar pang clogs my throat, and the sigh that escapes ruffles the flyaway hairs on Madison’s head. “My parents and siblings aren’t good people, Madison. They only ever saw me as a problem to pawn off on someone else.”

She swallows and tucks her head against my ribs. Is she hiding?

My hand skates down her back in what I hope is a soothing motion that’s probably more for my benefit than hers.

“My grandparents were amazing, though. Did you ever watch reruns ofMister Rogers’ Neighborhood?” I ask.

“No,” she says quietly. “I was more of aSesame Streetkid.”

I nod, allowing my hand on her back to calm my racing thoughts.

“Well, my Nana loved it, and so did I. When I was six years old, I told my dad I wanted to be a helper when I grew up.”Madison’s chest stops rising in the calming rhythm I was taking strength from—she’s holding her breath.

“What did he say?” she whispers.

My jaw clenches at the memory, and I’m thankful she can’t see it. “That helping anyone but myself was a sign of weakness, and it was more proof that I was a mistake.”

“He’s a jerk.” She slides her chin up my side to look at me. “Sorry, but your dad is horrible. He doesn’t deserve you.”

Emotion rumbles deep in my chest—she’s defending me. But before I can comment on it, she nuzzles into my side and hides her eyes.

We lie in comfortable silence, and I finally watch for the shooting stars that make her so happy.

“My parents sent me to live with Pops because I caused too much trouble.”

Something like acid crawls across my skin.

“I guess I was a lot like Pops as a kid, but my parents never tried very hard. I think when I came to live in Happiness, I buried that side of me. I became the perfect kid so someone would love me. I also became obsessed with love.” She laughs, but it’s a hollow sound. “Why did some people get love but others didn’t? I wanted everyone to experience it, even our pets. I started having pet weddings when I was eleven. In middle school, I was setting up friends with the best boyfriends I could find. By high school, I was actually good at it…well, for everyone but myself. I’m still working on deserving that love, I guess.”

“Hey.” Without thinking it through, I drag her up to straddle me and cup her face. A single tear slides down her cheek and over my thumb. It’s a magical thread that weaves around my heart and connects my spirit to hers.

She lowers her chin but leans into my touch.

“That’s why I hate being called the small-town sweetheart. It makes me feel like a fraud.” Her words are so damn sad thatmy stomach clenches. “I know it’s terrible because they all mean well and want what’s best for me. What I’m saying is, sometimes parents suck.”

I nod, too angry and wound up to say anything useful. Instead, I pull her down to rest against my chest. She settles on top of me, and I wrap my arms tightly around her back.

Have I ever grown close to anyone else this quickly? Even Greyson had to follow me around the playground for two months before I agreed to be his friend, and our grandfathers were the best of friends. If our fathers hadn’t been bitter rivals, things probably would’ve been different. But holding Madison intimately is the most natural thing in my life.

“I’m sorry your parents made you believe you didn’t deserve love. But they’re wrong, so fucking wrong, sweetheart. You deserve love more than anyone I’ve ever met.” It’s not enough. Not nearly enough, but when I think about what I would’ve wanted someone to say to me every time my parents told me I was a mistake, I decide to go with honesty. “If I’ve learned anything from my shitty family, it’s that I am not their mistake. I choose who I want to be, how I want to be, and who I’ll be in the future. So do you, Madison.”

Her body sags into mine, and I rub her back. Eventually she relaxes even more and emits the most delicate snore I’ve ever heard. I press a kiss to the top of her head, then allow my head to fall back to the bed of the truck with a dull thud.

That’s when I see it—my first falling star under the Georgia moon.