Fated Series. Book #2
"Be possessive of me, own me, keep me, because if you do then nothing and no one else can." - Maddox.
My name is Maddox Vallero, and I'm dead.
Well, that's not quite true. I'm alive in the breathing, walking, talking sense-but...
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Sophia.
"Snowboarding is out of the question for you to bring up. Don't mention anything, okay?" I asked, looking Maddox up and down before he went into this interview. For a second, my eyes lingered on him, and I couldn't help it. He looked absolutely fine in his casual black button up, the first few buttons popped open, relieving his muscled chest. Black Italian style trousers that I'm sure he doesn't even realize are Italian, and black Chelsea boots. Oh and of course a golden chain, and the ring he's currently twirling around his finger.
"It's one of the only hobbies I have that's legal, Sophia, what else am I supposed to say? I like hacking private companies in my free time and digging through their secrets?"
I slanted him a look. "Make something up, Maddox. You're clever, you can talk yourself out of it." I replied flatly. I tried to prep him as much as I could, as much as he'd listen is more like it, but a few last minute comments were required. I'm convinced he's only half listening to me, and the other half of him is busy looking at me with a big grin. I'm not quite sure where his head is. Presumably where it shouldn't be because that's over.
Leaning on the wall, his head bobbed, the grayness in his eyes a shade darker and fixed on me. "I'm serious." I tried to explain, "If you even mention a slight hint, the paparazzi will literally camp on the mountain, waiting for you to show. You'll have to leave the state to snowboard. Are you ready for that?" I know how much he loves snowboarding, the joy and peace it brings him.
He chuckled, and the low way it came out squeezing my heart. "And be across state lines from you? That's a no for me. I could never."
My grip on the clipboard I was holding tightened, and I squeezed it closer to my chest. My manicured nails pressed into the glass with irritation, threatening to snap. Deep in my lungs I feel all the pressure, the way he's convoiced me that I could exist in a world where I'm loved, am in love, where I have a garden of fresh flowers growing. But now because of those flowers I can't breathe. Because of him, I can't fucken breathe. This close to him, even in this world where I know he lives, I can't find the space for myself to be. Be without him. "I'm serious, Maddox." I replied, in exhaustion, "Please quit with the jokes."
His sigh was more drained then my own as he pushed off the wall and straightened, before fixing his button up. "That's all I got, Soph, it's all I am. If I don't make it into a joke then it becomes real." he replied quietly.
"You think your past is a joke?"
His heavy nod hurt more than I cared to admit. "I don't think so, and you know this." I replied.
"I know you think I don't trust you—"
"Maddox." I sighed, not ready to start this conversation again, but he cut me off. "Sophia, listen to me, for once. I know you think I don't trust you, and I completely understand why you came to this conclusion. But it's not about you. Fuck, it's not about you, Soph, you're a damn blessing."
