Connect Us ✔

Chapter 30

I'm in the shower when the doorbell rings. The sound of footsteps makes my heart jolt, and I turn off the water.

"Maddie?" I call, my voice echoing through the small bathroom. No answer.

I hurry out of the shower and almost slip. "Maddie?"

When I step into the hallway, a towel clinging to my waist and my hair dripping onto the tiles, Maddie is already standing at the door. "Maddie." I gently pull her away from the door and close it halfway, glancing over my apartment, which, as always, is a mess.

He gets up from his crouch, which looks pretty silly in his elegant coat. "At least we're even now."

"What?"

He looks me up and down and hands me a small bag. "Because you met Felix. Is she the someone you meant? The one who's always itching and scratching?"

"Oh." I think for a second, staring at the floor. "I still think there's nothing to see, but could you take a look since you're already here? My mother won't take her to a doctor. She'll just wait until her next dermatologist appointment." He nods once. "Great. I'll get dressed real quick."

I towel my hair dry and, after getting dressed quickly, check my phone. There's a text from my mother. I'll answer later. The little bag stays in the bathroom.

"Maddie, can you come outside with me?" She gets up and follows without a word.

I won't let him in. Of course not. Outside, he slips his phone into his pocket and smiles at her—and something about it makes me mad. Suddenly I understand why he wanted to keep me away from Felix. It just doesn't sit right with me.

"Hello again," he says, looking down at her. I close the door behind us. "Wanna tell me where you're itching?"

Maddie glances up at me. "It's okay, bug, he's a doctor. Can you tell him?"

She hesitates, fingers tugging at the hem of her top. "Everywhere," she murmurs, eyes flicking to me for reassurance.

"Where is it the worst?" he asks gently.

"My legs," she finally says, not quite looking at him, but close.

"Okay," he says, crouching down in front of her again. "Would you let me take a look at your legs, Maddie? Can I call you that?"

Maddie nods but takes a step back.

"You might wanna go back into the apartment, hmm?" He looks up at me. "Is that okay?"

I glance into my messy apartment as if that would change something. My hand goes to the back of my head. "God," I whisper. "Okay. Okay, fine. But don't you dare judge me."

Maddie slips her small hand into mine as we step inside. She hides a little behind me, her fingers warm and hesitant. I squeeze her hand and give her a reassuring smile. Right at that moment, my phone starts ringing and I curse.

"Hang on," I say, picking up as I walk a few steps away. "Mom?"

"Why the hell are you not answering?" she yells at me.

"Mom, I can't talk right now. I'll call you back in a few minutes."

"Is Maddie with you?"

"Of course she is," I say. "I told you before."

"You didn't say you'd pick her up," she says, her voice shaky as she takes a deep breath.
"Your father went there, and they told him some young man took her. Do you know how scared I was?"

"Okay, I'm sorry, I thought it was obvious I'd pick her up."

"God, Oscar..."

"I said I'm sorry, okay? I'm hanging up now."

When I walk back to them, he glances at his watch, impatience flickering across his face.
Maddie's sitting on the edge of the bed, hands knotted in her lap, while he stands nearby, waiting.

"Maddie, would you mind taking off your pants for a second?" Her face drains of color. She looks at me like I've just insulted her. "He just wants to take a look at your legs to see if you're all right." Maddie shakes her head and pulls her legs up to her chest. I sit down beside her. "He just wants to help. You might feel better after."

"I don't want to," she says, her voice high-pitched and shaking.

"Could you do it if I wasn't here?" She shakes her head again. "Maddie..."

"No..."

I lower my voice, leaning closer. "He won't hurt you. I promise."

"I don't want to," she sobs, tears spilling down her cheeks. I flinch a little. "Please, Oscar. I don't want to," she whines, her words breaking apart between sobs. I can't even look at her. It cracks something open in me.

I get up, cursing, shove him out of the apartment without thinking, and the door slams shut before I can say a word.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, walking slowly back to her. "Shit... I'm so sorry, Maddie. Please don't cry. I won't push you again." But Maddie can't stop crying. It's like everything she's been holding back bursts out all at once. Her shoulders twitch, and her sobs have to be loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

"I'm... sorry," I whisper again, standing beside her helplessly. I'm so lost, I don't even know what to do with my hands.

My phone vibrates, and since I don't know how to help her anyway, I glance at it.

You might wanna hide the bag this time