The Truth In My Lies

20

A/N: This story is currently #31 in #badboynextdoor! Since I'm so excited, I'm updating early!! I haven't edited this, so if there's any errors please let me know. Happy reading ❤️

MADISON

SOMEHOW, I ended up falling asleep in the bathtub. I woke up when the water ran cold. When I got out and got dressed, I was surprised to see that Kaiden still wasn't home. It's dark out now.

I contemplate waiting on him to get home before I start making dinner, but who knows how long he will be. I end up making the spaghetti and garlic bread, and I eat mine at the table. Since Kaiden still isn't home by the time I'm done, I put everything up and clean the kitchen.

I put a movie on in the living room to distract me. I can't stop thinking about where Kaiden is or what he's doing. I'm so worked up, the only thing I want to do is sleep. At least then I won't have to worry about reality.

———

The door to the apartment slams open and I almost jump out of my skin. In my half-awake haze, I stumble off the couch and try grabbing for any weapon I can. The only thing I can find is the remote. I hold it like a baseball bat, ready to attack whoever just barged through the door.

"That wouldn't help you at all. Put the remote down, Madison." Kaiden rolls his eyes and walks back to his room.

"Where have you been?" I follow him. He could've at least called or texted.

"Work." He snaps and pulls his shirt off. He tosses it in a pile on the floor. I watch as his muscles flex when he opens his drawer and rummages through it. In addition to the tattoo he has of the dragon wrapped around the clock tower and the one on his trapezius, there's a new one under his ribcage. It's a skull with flowers growing out of it. From here it looks like roses. I still haven't got close enough to be able to read the one that's written on his trapezius.

"What kind of work?" I cross my arms over my chest and sit on the edge of the bed.

Kaiden stops and turns around to look at me. He shoots me a glare, then opens another drawer and pulls out a pair of shorts. Without warning, he unbuckles his pants and lets them pool around his ankles.

"Kaiden!" I screech and cover my eyes. He's wearing boxers and I didn't see anything, but still. He could've warned me.

"What? This is my room." He nonchalantly pulls on his shorts.

"I made dinner. I put the leftovers away because it was getting cold and I didn't know when you would be back."

He opens the door the bathroom, and leaves it open while he grabs his toothbrush and puts his toothpaste on it. "What did you make?"

"Spaghetti and garlic bread." I suddenly feel self-conscious. What if he doesn't like spaghetti and garlic bread?

He nods his head since his toothbrush is in his mouth. I decided to stop being creep watching him brush his teeth, so I head back into the living room. I know I told Kaiden I wouldn't sleep on the couch, but it's actually quite comfortable and I'd prefer to sleep out here than in his bed.

I find something on Netflix to watch as Kaiden rummages through the refrigerator. I hear him get a plate out and then put it in the microwave. Minutes later, he joins me on the couch with a plate full of spaghetti and a beer.