Valentine's Day

Chapter 14

Maddie wiped the steam off of the mirror in Brian's guest bathroom exposing her make up free face. For a second, she smiled at her reflection just to put herself at ease. She had taken a quick shower while he pretended to cook. Luckily she had packed an extra set of clothes and didn't have to put her wet clothes back on. She took her time changing into her cutoff jean shorts and vintage blue camisole top with a lacy insert that gave her a decent illusion of cleavage. She examined her face and frowned. Her freckles were showing making her look like a twelve year old. She pulled out her small makeup back and dusted some bronzing powder and added some lip gloss. Just because she had to be on her guard with Brian didn't mean that she couldn't look good.

When she got downstairs, she found him standing in the kitchen in a clean t shirt and shorts. His dark hair was wet and he looked good enough to eat as he stood barefoot near the kitchen island cutting a tomato. "I hope you like grilled chicken," he said as he continued to slice. "I'm making us Cobb salad."

She lingered in the living room taking in his decor. "Sounds good. I'm starving."

He looked up for the first time and his eyes took in her lacy cleavage and bare legs. A devious smile spread across his face. "Oh yeah...what are you starving for...exactly?"

He was messing with her and she refused to let herself think anything of it. She moved toward a picture of the band together, Michelle clinging to his arm happily. "How long were you married?"

He looked down at his tomato as he used the knife to scrape it into the bowl. He reached for a lettuce and began to chop. "From beginning to end, a little over 6 years."

"Short marriage."

He shrugged. "We'd been together for off and on for years since we were in high school. We broke up a lot. We probably should have never gotten marriage but it just seemed like the next step. We gave it the old college try. Can you come here and help me for a second?"

Maddie didn't think them cheating on each other was giving marriage much of a try, but she didn't want to pass judgment because she really didn't know either of them. Or maybe she didn't want to pass judgment on him because he looked smoking hot at the moment.

She moved across the room and stopped next to him. "What can I help with?"

He pointed to the strainer on the cooling rack next to the sink. "Can you peel the eggs so I can slice them?"

"Sure," she nodded and moved to the sink to wash her hands. She fell into easy conversation with him as she began to peel eggs. "So do you cook often?"

He turned to flip the chicken in the skillet. "Actually I do..well when I'm not on the road. Its relaxing. Can you hand me that bowl?"

"I'm not such a great cook," she explained as she handed the bowl over. "I mean I can cook...I'd just prefer not to if I don't have to."

He nodded "I can dig that. It's not on my list of favorite things to do either but some times after months on the road, something homemade hits the right spot."

"Makes sense," she said as she peeled. "I used to cook back when I lived in Utah but here I don't really have to."

He stopped what he was doing to look at her strangely. "Why the fuck would anyone live in Utah...voluntarily?"

"Hey now," she said a bit defensively. "Salt Lake is really a great place..."

"Yeah but compared to LA or Long Beach...seriously....you're going to sit there and tell me that you left California for Utah because the weather was better there?"

She felt the color rise in her cheeks. "Well no..not exactly."

"Did you follow a guy there?" he asked seriously as he pulled the chicken out of the pan and placed it on the cutting board to slice. She looked down at the eggs and he laughed. "You DID."

"So," she huffed. "Like you haven't done stupid shit for love."

He considered and then laughed. "Lust maybe....love...not so much."

"Ah so you basically did stupid shit just to rack up notches?" she asked

He shrugged. "Yeah a long time ago."

He'd handed her a golden opportunity to delve a little deeper into the life and times of Synyster Gates. "Just out of curiosity, how many notches did you rack up? When you were racking them up, that is. And how long ago was that, by the way?" She already knew the answer. Shit, his history was all over the internet but she wanted to see if he'd admit it.

"Too many notches. I'm not proud of it, either, so no lectures," he said as he grabbed the salad bowls and began to serve the salad and chicken.

"You really think your notching days are behind you?" she asked as she picked up the knife and began to slide the eggs.

"Do you think your following guys to obscure states is behind you?" He countered as she scoop the diced egg on the salad.

She stuck her tongue out it couldn't help but smile back at him when he unleashed his sexy grin.

"Can you grab the drinks?" He asked carrying the salads to the table.

She nodded and brought the drinks to the table he had set for them. "You are so weirdly domestic,"she said as she took her seat.

"Weirdly domestic? That makes me sound like some kind of animal that you thought was wild," he replied.

"Aren't you?" She said taking in his tousled dark hair and slightly freckled face. He was so handsome that it almost made her feel like she was staring into the sun.

"I'm just me," he shrugged "I'm just like you...I just happened to play in a very popular rock band for a living. People forget that."

The tinge of sadness in his voice stopped her and she felt at odds with the man in front of her. Was he giving her an insight to his inner workings? Was he looking for a friend? "You know, if you wanted to talk...about...you know...your relationship...or anything" she trailed off as his brown eyes showed clear humor.

"The pain's too fresh for me to revisit," he deadpanned.

She stuck her tongue out at him as she stabbed into her chicken and he gave her wide grin.

"You're a wise ass," she blurted and he nodded as he brought his fork to his mouth, filling it with lettuce. She continued to eat as she looked at the complicated man in front of her. So much for insight.