Rescuing Madison (Book 1)

Chapter Nine

Madison's POV

"I really like you, Madison. I always have. Will you be my girlfriend?"

Holy crap. Jackson was seriously asking me to be his girlfriend?! I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face. I was jumping for joy on the inside. My heart was threatening to jump out of my chest. & He said that he has always really liked me. I could die happy now. I realized I hadn't answered him when the smile on his face started to fall.

"Yes, I'll be your girlfriend!" I almost yelled at him. I blushed from my outburst, & looked down. "I've always liked you too."

He laughed. "You don't know how happy that makes me."

That made me look up. I couldn't help but smile when I saw how big his grin was. "I'm so incredibly happy right now."

"Well, I think we need to go on our first date as an official couple."

I would seriously never get sick of hearing Jackson refer to us as a couple. "I think we do also."

"We'll go on Saturday since you work tomorrow."

"That sounds good to me."

He smiled at me again. "I can't believe you said yes."

"Did you think I'd say no?"

"I was a little worried that you might say no."

The embarrassment on his face made me laugh a little. I grabbed his hand. "I would never say no to you, Jackson."

He reached over to me & ran his hand down my cheek. I had felt sparks from his touches before, but now that I knew he really liked me, they felt different. More intense.

He started to lean down towards me & I felt myself get a little breathless. I leaned closer also. Then a car honked, & we jumped apart. I groaned & he swore. Why did this keep happening to us?

We laughed, & he touched my cheek once more before starting the car. The next time he tries to kiss me, I was seriously going to make it happen. No matter what happens.

***

A couple days later, I was at home trying to find an outfit to wear on my date with Jackson. He was coming to pick me up at 7:30, & it was 6 now. He was taking me to some fancy restaurant that we had never been to before. It was the kind that you actually had to make reservations for. That had made us laugh.

I couldn't wear my usual outfit that consisted of jeans & a t-shirt. No, I needed to look nice. I had two dresses spread out on my bed. The only two that I owned. I kept looking between the two, trying to make my mind up on one. One was a dark purple, the other was a teal color.

As usual, my mind was running a million miles per hour. Should I even wear a dress? Has Jackson ever seen me in a dress? Will he want to see me in a dress? Will he think I look okay?

I finally gave up & grabbed a penny out of my purse. If it lands on heads, I'll wear the purple dress. If it lands on tails, it'll be the teal dress. I flipped the coin up & let it fall onto the floor. Heads. Purple it is.

I took the dress into the bathroom. I took off the pajamas I was wearing & slipped the dress on. It was almost knee length. It had lace sleeves that ended at my elbows. & It also had lace around the neckline. I was going to wear flats with it. I didn't feel like wearing high heels & accidentally breaking my ankle. That would totally be something I'd do.

I didn't have to waste any time putting make up on since I never wore any. My lashes were thick enough that I didn't really need mascara. & I couldn't put eyeliner on without looking like a racoon. I did spend a little time curling my hair, though.

When I was finished, I walked back into my bedroom & looked at myself in the mirror that I had hanging on the back of my door. Looking in the mirror was like looking at a completely different person. I never dressed like this, & I knew Jackson would be surprised. I used to wear dresses a lot a few years ago. But, now I felt too awkward in them.

I heard my phone vibrate on my night stand, & I ran to it. It was probably Jackson telling me he was on his way, since it was pretty close to 7:30. I opened the text & read it.

Unknown Number: You look absolutely stunning in purple, sweetheart.

I dropped my phone like it had burnt my hand. I put my hand over my mouth to stop the scream that I wanted to let out. I quickly looked to my bedroom window, & the curtains were open just a little. But, I wasn't on the ground floor or anything. I was on the 3rd floor. & There wasn't another apartment across from mine. How did someone see in here?

Could they still see me? That thought had my panic rising.

I grabbed my phone, ran to the corner of my room that's away from the window, & fell to the floor. I wrapped my arms around my legs. My whole body was shaking & I felt so cold. I knew I was starting to hyperventilate, so I was trying my best to catch my breath. My vision was starting to blur, & I was feeling so dizzy. I need Jackson.

That's when I realized that I was holding my phone. I turned it on, & the message was still on there. I started sobbing when I saw it again. I had to wipe at my eyes a few times before I could see clearly. My hands were shaking so bad that I could barely bring Jackson's number up. It took me a few tries before I finally got it pulled up. I pushed call & hoped he answered fast.