𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑇𝑟𝑒𝑒

Chapter 18 ~ Fake

Willow

I had grown comfortable with Maddox around my shoulder. We are basically cuddling at this point and I think Maren is more than convinced that we are together.

She is still preparing dinner while we wait for Maddox's cousins to come over. I heard there was a baby so that's the only reason I'm not upstairs faking a sickness.

"I mean Michelle was a nice girl but she wasn't ready to settle down." Maddox comments on the tv show that we are watching at the moment. "Brianna isn't any better." I mutter which gets him to let out the deep chuckle that gets my insides going.

"Maddox! Get the door please!" Maren calls out as soon as the doorbell rings. Maddox removes his arm from my shoulder and the warmth instantly goes away but I make sure that my face doesn't show it.

I hear chatter going on near the door and I feel like I'm being mean by not getting up to introduce myself. I make my way over to Maddox and make sure to wrap my arm around his middle.

"You must be Willow!" A blond woman smiles at me to which I return. "That's me, you're Iris, right?" I made sure to gain my knowledge by asking Maddox questions on our ride here. "That's me! This is my husband Jason and our daughter Ella."

I look at the baby that is in Jason's arm and I 'awe' at her. Her eyes are baby blue and she already has dark hair like her father coming in.

"She is beautiful." I give both a smile. "Would you like to hold her?" Iris offers and I think my heart starts beating faster. I absolutely love babies, maybe not children, but I love tiny babies.

"Really?" I ask as Iris nods excitedly and has us sit on the couch in the living room. I sit in my original spot and cradle my arms ready for Ella. Jason gently places her in my hands as I hold her head and her bottom with my hands.

I let the world around me fade as I stare at the baby in front of me. I feel Maddox sitting down next to me and wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

He leans over and places a kiss on her forehead. I know for a fact Maddox loves kids of all ages and wants a whole football team. I can't help but have this vivid thought in my mind with Maddox surrounded by kids.

I may not be in this picture, but it's a beautiful one because Maddox is picture worthy.

"You guys will make beautiful babies." I could have sworn that the matter came from Maren as she called us for dinner. I walk over to the table with Ella and sit her down in the highchair. I take a seat next to Maddox as Maren serves us dinner.

🌿

"Dinner and dessert was amazing, Maren , thank you." Iris says as we all sit in the living room with some wine. Ella is passed out on the floor on her little mat.

"Johnson said he is coming over as well." Maren says looking at her phone. I hear Maddox groan from next to me.

The whole evening I hadn't thought about Maddox as Maddox. I thought of him as a man that I had found in the club and brought back.

It just now occurs to me how close we are. His legs are tangled with mine as his hand is on my leg. I won't lie, it feels like the most natural thing ever and it makes me sad. Sad that we couldn't just get along and be friends. Sad that we can't be a real couple because we would fight all the time.

I look at Jason and Iris who are cuddled up watching their daughter sleep and be surrounded by family. Part of me wishes I could imagine Maddox coming home with me and him, dad, Eli, and Reece hanging out at a bar and getting along talking like a family.

Mom would love him, she already does, so does Fay. Mayella loves him as well and I can just see the two of them ganging up on me and pulling pranks on me.

"Willow?" A voice calls out to me and I look to see another man standing in front of me and Maddox. "Hi, I'm Johnson, but you can call me john." He brings out his hand for me to shake and once I do the same, he brings me extended hand to his lips and gives it a gentle kiss.

"Nice to meet you." I smile. He takes a seat next to me so now I'm squished in between Maddox and John.

"So, what's your major?" John turns to me and starts up a conversation. "Journalism." He nods as he proceeds to ask me about college. I get so deep into the conversation with John that I don't even realize how late it is.

Iris and Jason had to leave an hour ago because Ella wanted to leave. I don't blame her.

I yawn as John talks about his career in hotel business. John is a very funny man, but if anything, I hate talking about business with someone I just met. It's not a very good impression.

"Tired?" John says and I nod. "Sorry, I just had a long day."

"I understand. I will let you get some sleep and I will see you guys for Thanksgiving?" He says his goodbyes. Maddox is almost passed out on the couch. After Jason and Iris left, he quieted down and the conversation was only between me, John, and Maren.

I gently shake Maddox out of sleep as Maren goes upstairs for bed. "Maddox?" I whisper yell. He moves in his sleep and makes an inaudible sound.

"Bedtime." I shake him. He mutters something and then proceeds to remove his hand from my leg that hasn't moved all night and removes our legs from the tangled mess.

He stands up first and then turns to me and offers a hand. Even in his tired state, he is a gentleman. My gentleman.

I take his hand because the wine told me too, and let him lead me upstairs where we go our separate ways to get ready for bed.

I come in from the bathroom in my pajamas and see Maddox laying on his stomach under the cover spaced out. I smile as I get into bed as well.

I think my clear conscience hits me because I look at Maddox and think about how this is all pretend and we aren't around anyone anymore. I look at Maddox and I only see an end to what this is. It can never be real.

I look around his room and see a basket full of blankets and snatch up the biggest one. I grab the pillow that was on my side and make a bed on the floor.

I have to remind myself this can never be real.

A/N

SPELLING AND GRAMMAR CORRECTIONS ARE ENCOURAGED!

JESUS LOVES YOU!