Lockwood Creek Book Two - This can be read as a stand-a-lone.
A Why Choose Story.
Maddy Lockwood was the Perfect Daughter and to save the Lockwood family she agreed to a marriage she did not want, but now she will learn the hard way that no matter...
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~ ~ Logan ~ ~
My guts crunched knowing I was well out of line, but it didn't stop me from cracking the door open enough so I could listen in.
Listening in to what? Maddy and Jackson talking.
I had wanted to talk to Jackson first, but Maddy had shaken her head, pressing a hand to my chest and then followed him out. Behind me, Casey carried on with her baking, humming to herself and thankfully paying no attention to me or our escalating family drama.
However, I could tell as soon as Maddy started talking, Jackson's walls shot up higher. His prickly tone was not interested in anything she had to say. And when I heard him ask the question regarding me and Maddy having sex, I should have felt relief, because it was finally out in the open. Not to mention I'd been too chickenshit to bring it up myself.
But it wasn't relief I felt—not even close. Instead, it was more like one of the bullets from a shotgun was tearing through my chest, its pellets shattering my heart into pieces. And feeling lightheaded, my fingers tightened around the smooth door knob.
I'd hurt him, my brother.
Sucking in some air, my stomach was about to eject itself and although I heard him say it didn't bother him. His lie soured on my tongue.
I knew my brother.
Goddammit.
I ran a hand through my hair, cursing myself and feeling as sick as a dawg for causing him more pain on top of all the other crap he was having to deal with.
Why hadn't I waited? Just one more day.
This was all my fault. And now he was taking it out on Maddy. Hurting her by pushing her away. Although that wasn't quite the truth. He'd been pushing her away for weeks. Me too.
But hearing we'd crossed that finished line was most likely the final nail in the coffin as far as Jackson was concerned. And I couldn't exactly blame him for being bitter? Angry? Hurt?
No. His hurt feelings were all on me.
But standing here, It wasn't just his hurt. Maddy's heart was breaking in two and that had my hands clenching, fisting. I didn't know whether I wanted to hug Jackson or punch him some sense in him.
But either way, I couldn't stand here any longer. And I was ready to throw my hat in and go out there when Maddy's words stopped me.
"Don't do that," she said, her voice much stronger than I'd expected after him just telling her he didn't want to be with her.
"I'm not doing anything Maddy that isn't the right thing to do. Go find Logan. Be with my brother."
"The right thing?" she spluttered. "You call this the right thing, Jackson?"
