The CEO and the Punk [Under High Editing]

7: Baby Hunting

Maddie tapped her foot as she looked around the baby store for the crib the baby would like. She reached a white wooden one on display, looking in at the small cars and the teddy bear in it. The sheets were a light blue color with some trucks on it and a few small pillows with animated trains and cars.

"Not a fan of the white crib." Chase said, walking up to her and looking in it. He pocketed his hands in his black trousers and looked at the other displays of cribs. "How about this one?" He asked, walking to one behind Maddie and she turned around.

It was a dark wooden one, just like how Maddie remembered. It still had the same turtle, the sheets were a violet color, with matching pillows and a thin black blanket draped across the end of the bed. She stared at the crib, frowning at it before fully turning and picking up the turtle.

"Why don't we get that one?" She nodded to the one across the small section. It was a black wooden crib with plain white sheets and small toys. Chase looked at it and walked over, seeing it. Maddie looked down at the turtle in her hands and felt sadness overcome her. She shook her head slightly and placed the turtle back and looked at Chase who was speaking to a worker.

Maddie saw him nodding occasionally before pointing to the crib he had previously pointed out. The worker and he walked over, Maddie looking at the blonde woman who practically had hearts in her eyes while looking at Chase.

"She said they have no more of the black cribs, but they have one more of this one in the back." Maddie looked at the dark wooden one and up at the lady who glared at her.

"We'll take this one." Maddie patted the crib and the woman nodded, telling Chase sweetly that she'll be back before turning away. "Someone likes you." Maddie commented, looking at Chase.

"I hope you mean you." He smiled and Maddie rolled her eyes, looking at the other baby aisle.

"I meant the lady." She spoke.

"Didn't notice." Chase shrugged.

"Not much of a lady's man, huh?" Maddie turned back to him and Chase sighed, resting his elbow on the crib.

"I used to have a fiancé, she only wanted me for the money. It was tough to accept so I denied it. I got in a huge fight with Esmeralda because she told me when she overheard my ex telling her lover that once I gave her the share, she was bailing. I yelled at her, and Ryland wasn't dating her at the time but he came in, defended her.

"The day of the wedding, I was ready. I had my vows memorized, I knew them backward and forwards. She was standing next to me in a white dress, which didn't really catch my eye. Too shiny." He smiled and Maddie slightly smiled. "Then Ryland ran in with Esmeralda, exclaiming to the whole church what she was doing and once I looked at her, I knew I couldn't marry her."

Maddie watched as Chase shrugged at the last part, looking from the price of the crib to her. They locked eyes and he took a step forward. "Wasn't there things that hinted that you shouldn't marry her?"

"Like signs?" Maddie nodded. "She got there an hour late, her dress was awful, she yelled at my grandmother, and she even glared at the priest when he wouldn't hurry up." He answered.

"We got it, would you like to take it now or have it delivered?" The woman came back, turning her back to Maddie.

"We'll take it now." Chase answered.

"Have it delivered by next week. We still need to paint the room." Maddie answered and Chase looked at her.

"You heard her." Chase smiled at Maddie as she set the turtle down. The woman nodded and gave Chase the receipt to pay for the crib and have the information recorded. The two made their way to Customer Service and Chase filled out the information, both paying for half and making their way back to the car.

"Where to next?" Chase asked, starting the car and backing out.

"The crib isn't here until next Wednesday, want to buy some paint and start painting?" Maddie asked.

"Isn't it too early? What if we pick girl colors and it's a boy?" Chase asked, pulling out of the parking lot and heading down the street.

"There are such things as neutral colors." Maddie commented and Chase looked over, going into the nearest hardware store.

"Then let's get these neutral colors." Chase parked the car and they both got off, Maddie pulling her jacket closer as the October air blew. Leaves scraped across the parking lot and she shivered a bit, rushing into the warm store and heading straight to the back. Chase caught up easily, following just a couple steps behind her to the paint section. Maddie was looking at a few different color papers, Chase standing next to her.

He reached for a light grey color, picking the paper up as Maddie picked it up as well. They both looked at each other before Maddie let it go. "Guess we found the color." She said and Chase nodded. They grabbed a can, taking a primer along and a few rollers and the tin tray. The two paid for it and headed back to Maddie's place.

"When should I come over and help you pack?" Chase asked as he parked the car in front of the dorms. Maddie yawned and looked ahead, thinking before looking at the time on the dashboard.

"How does this Saturday sound? You can come over at two and I can pack a few boxes." Chase nodded and Maddie leaned back into the chair. "Listen, about earlier, with the talk about your ex-fiancé, I'm sorry about that." She said, looking at Chase.

"It's fine." He smiled and Maddie blinked a few times before talking again.

"You know, the guy in the photo was my fiancé too." She answered. Chase continued to stay quiet and she rubbed the back of her neck. "We never actually made it to the wedding, but he was a good guy." Maddie stayed quiet and Chase finally got the hint that she wasn't going to say anything else.

"When you want, I'm all ears." Maddie looked up at him and unbuckled herself.

"Tomorrow, at six, meet me at their place. We'll start painting the room so it could be ready by the time the crib shows up."

Chase watched as Maddie got out of the car and walked in the dorm building, heading to the elevator and disappearing behind the doors. He looked back at the steering wheel in front of him, both his hands on the bottom of it before he rubbed his face and drove back home.
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