Us [18+]

Chapter 12

MADELINE'S POV ⛓️

I like how we got called to have dinner before Mitchell could say anything. I need to show him that I'm not interested in being friends with him.

Dinner was awkward. Silent. Because both Iris and Mitchell were trying to gauge my mood. I avoided eye contact with the both of them. They're the ones in a relationship, my opinion or feelings shouldn't matter.

After the table was cleared, I told Iris that I wanted to speak with her. Alone. She looked nervous but followed be, not before giving Mitchell a reassuring look though.

"Maddie, I know-" I didn't let her finish. I don't want to cry myself to sleep. I'm tired of letting this take too much of a toll on me. If she wants Mitchell, she should have him.

"You don't have to tell him about us. Your "exploration" has obviously made you very happy and that's all I'm here for- your happiness." She looked at me like I kicked her in the gut. How dare she?

"We're actually opening up our relationship." I gasped. I wanted to ask alot of things. This early? Wouldn't that strain your relationship? Who's idea was it? How did the other person react? But I could only bring myself to say one thing.

"If that'll make you both happy." I ignored the look on her face and all but shoved her out of my room before remembering.

"Jared called. The baby shower is next week. It's a girl and we were asked to wear neutral colours so we don't give anything away." Her face went from pain to joy to excitement to adoration on seconds. It was amusing.

"Oh my God," was all she managed to say.

"You can invite Mitchell. Tell him I'm going to bed and thank him for coming over." She looked at me incredulously. Like she couldn't believe I'll just leave him there. I sighed I'm defeat and pushed past her to the living room.

"Thanks for coming over, Mitchell. I had a great time," a fucking lie. None of us had a good time. "I'm going to bed now, goodnight you two," and I was turning on my heels towards my room.

I had nothing to do other than sleep. Julia is coming back tomorrow which means Mitchell is going to be there which increases the possibility of Iris being there. I also have to face Kayden. I've ignored his calls and texts all evening and I'm starting to feel guilty.

I picked my phone up.

M: I'm  sorry Kayden. I'm stressed, I love you. Then, I turned my phone off.

*-*-*-*

The next day passed by in a blur. Iris didn't show up, which I'm grateful for. Julia now looks at me differently, I couldn't care less to be honest. I kept my responses to Mitchell curt and put on an act when Kayden asked what was going on.

Iris wasn't home when I got there but that was to be expected. She texted me that she'd be spending the night at her place- probably with Mitchell.

I don't know if I'm overreacting or too relaxed about this. The love of my life just left? In a week? That's it, I'm telling Jared. I called him to make sure he was home, he was.

Our parents have always wanted us to live together. Like an empire sort of thing- they even built a villa. It has a house for every child. It's huge but nothing new. We all felt it was a bit smothering, though. Our parents finally settled on us spending holidays there.

I wonder if they'll come to Morty and Debbie's baby shower. They probably would. I was at Jared's before I knew it. I should have had Sean drive me, but it'll give me time to think and that's not something I want to do.

"Jared?" He's probably still in his office. I walked in there an sure enough, he was there, typing something I don't care about.

"Hey big bro." I almost broke down seeing him. I'm feeling things and I feel like I'm wrong for feeling them. Am I wrong for feeling like this? I don't know, and that's why I'm here. Maybe Jared knows.

Being the youngest of us, they've all always been protective of me. Kayden and Dexter were the kind to go put someone on their knees before I even finish my complaint.

While Jared was the one to make sure I was okay, then go put someone on their knees. Morty takes the slow approach. I don't know why he does that but he'll ruin someone's life so slow they'll have no idea what hit them.

"Princess." He stood. I didn't bother hiding, I've never hidden from Jared. I just let it all go. Whether I'm happy or sad, he's the first one to know. "Come here, baby." I walked into his arms and cried, again. First it was about my championship, now it's about Iris and Mitchell.

He rubbed my back soothingly and when I got exhausted, he carried my back to the living room where he told me to sit still and then returned with a smoothie. I took it, eagerly because I was parched and hiccuping.

He stroked my hair while I stared at nothing. When I finally looked at him, he smiled reassuringly.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I nodded and he waited for me to talk.

"It's about Iris," I saw the look on his face and quickly added, "she's okay. She's more than okay, she's happy." He raised a brow at me but said nothing.

I told him everything. From when we first had sex to when we said our first "I love you" to how we were in an undefined relationship for years and how that was my mistake. I told him about Mitchell and how he makes her glow and how I feel bad for being hurt and jealous.

He told me he knew there was something going on between us but that didn't even surprise me. Nothing goes by Jared. He told me that it was okay to feel that way.

I remember crying some more and then falling asleep curled up next to my big brother- just like when I was a kid.