Choosing how to love.

Not Interested.

"Oh great." "What?" Maddy looked up from her lunch and Lacy was holding her phone. "It's Jacob. He wants to know what happened last night and how you are. He is upset that we left without a goodbye. What should I say?"

"Whatever you want." "Maddy, I'm asking you. We aren't sure if he had anything to do with it or even knows what Scott did." Maddy was a little taken back with Lacy. How could she even consider talking to Jacob after knowing what Scott did? 

 "And are you going to believe him either way?" Maddy looked right at her and Lacy looked a bit embarrassed. "You are right. I will just blow him off." She shook her head and tucked her phone away, but Maddy could see this was an issue.

"You really liked him, didn't you?" Maddy asked, feeling guilty. "Yes, but I love you, and you are right, even if he wasn't aware, it was his friend and there is no way we would know if either of them were being honest. It is best if we do not even entertain either of them."

"I'm sorry." "Me too, but it is not worth it." "Maybe you could..." Maddy's words drifted off when she saw him. There was no doubt in her mind that it was him, and as much as she wanted too, she could not look away.

"Maddy?" "Huh?" "What is it?" Lacy turned but had no idea what Maddy was looking at. Maddy heard Lacy call her name a few more times, but the man standing behind the glass had her full attention. He might not see her, but she saw him.

"Madilyn?" Lacy snapped Maddy back. "Huh?" "What are you looking at?" "Oh. Nothing." "Not nothing. Your jaw is hanging open." Lacy was laughing at her and she felt her cheeks flush.

"Don't turn around, but Holton is here." "Really? The guy from last night?" "DON'T LOOK!" Maddy snapped as Lacy turned, then she sank in her seat as people looked at her.

"Where?" "He's in the room in the back. I thought it was him earlier, but figured I was crazy, but now, I am sure." "Are you going to go say hi?" "NO!" "Why not?" "Why would I?" "The man saved you last night." "He didn't save me." She knew he sort of did though, but still she was not going to talk to him.

"Say hi. Maybe he will ask you out." "I'm not dating him!" "Why not?" Maddy could not believe Lacy's audacity. Like he would ever like her. She was...well, she was not Lacy.

"Maddy, he must like you if he was watching you enough to see Scott do that." "He was just scanning the room. I am sure it was on accident." "Come on, you believe that?" "Yes, I do. He was rude to me. And I am not interested." "He paid your bar bill and a cab ride home. He more than saw you."

She had no come back for that one. "He wasn't just a random guy. He scoped you out." "I have no idea why." "You are pretty, sweet, kindhearted, and love to make people happy." Lacy tried. "Thanks." She knew Lacy was trying, but today, even though she kind of felt pretty, it was not enough for him.

"At lease wave to him." "If he looks this way. He probably does not even remember what I look like. He was intoxicated." "So were you." "I couldn't forget that face though." "Maybe he can't forget yours either." Lacy giggled and it made her feel better. Maybe she should.

HOLTON

"You could go say hello to her." Uncle Tim nudged him. "I am not interested." "In saying hello or her?" "Her." "Could have fooled me. You have been watching her for almost an hour." "Have not." "Yes, you have." He knew that he had, he even sat near the window to eat, so he could see her.

He watched her laugh with her friend, and noticed the way she held her fork, and how she made silly faces. She was so animated in everything she did, and it made him smile.

"And there it is." "There what is?" He dropped his smile and turned back to Tim. "The smile. The stupid lovesick smile." "I am not lovesick. I barely know the girl. I met her for all of twenty minutes last night. Hell, I don't even know her last name."

"Go find out." "I am not interested in her. I am just making sure she made a full recovery from last night." "By staring at her?" "Yes. She was rather intoxicated." "I hear an and." "And I was worried about her getting home."

"How worried?" "I got her a cab home." He groaned, knowing he would never hear the end of it now. "You got her a cab, and worried about her, but you don't like her?" "Correct." "Are you lying to yourself or just me?" Tim's laugh was loud, and he noticed some of the room looking at him.

"Not lying to anyone. I do not like her. She had a close call last night, and I worried, ass a decent human being." "Close call? What happened?" Tim was suddenly serious, and he realized it was because Tim was matching his mood. He was serious.

"Some guy tried to put something in her drink. I saw it, stopped her from drinking it and then got her home. She was drunk, so was her friend." "You just walked up and saved the day?" Tim was enjoying this way too much.

"Ok, so I was a tad bit rude to her the first time I met her, when she stopped at the bar for drinks. I was watching her so I could apologize when she came back up. And then yes, I saw him drop it in her glass behind her back. I was not staring at her, I just noticed. I warned her, she was upset, I called her a cab, and made sure she got out of there."

"Did you get her number?" "No." "Why not?" "Tim, it wasn't like that. I did give her my card if she needed anything." "And?" "She called this morning to thank me." "Did you call her back?" "Yes, I got her voicemail and just let her know that she was welcome." He grumbled knowing full well he wished he could go back and say more in the message.

"Have I taught you nothing?" Tim groaned. "I do not like her." "How long are you going to try and lie to me?" "All day. Besides, she thinks I am a jerk. She told me many times last night." Holton exhaled.

"Jerk means I like you in girl speak. Go over there, say hello, and I will watch. I can read her." Tim pushed him to the door and as much as he did not want to prove Tim right, he did want to see her again.

"Fine. If she throws water on me or says she hates me, I am never forgiving you." "She won't." "How do you know?" "Because she is looking at you right now." "What?" Holton turned and saw her, their eyes meeting, and she gave him a bright smile as his heart raced, but then she looked away.

"Point proven." "She just smiled." "And blushed." "How can you see that from here?" "Go say hello. Ask her to dinner." "No. I am not dating her." "Suit yourself. Might be missing out on greatness." I doubt that." Even as he said it, there was a tingle in his chest. Was that excitement? Ok, maybe he should just say hello.