Maddox

I've been looking for Sam for the past week in New York and haven't had any luck finding her. After tonight's game, I brought a ticket to LA, and I'm going to search her old town for her.

I hope my family will help me find my pregnant 'one-night stand.' I don't like the idea of her running through town unprotected.

I wonder if she's told anyone who the father of the baby she's carrying is.

I look at the boys on the field. "Alright, boys, make this game count."

There are three minutes left until the game is over. My team is in the lead, 50-16.

I want to score a conversion and a goal before the game ends. Samuels has the ball, and he runs down the field. He offloads the ball before he's tackled, and I run it down the field. I avoid three players, and then I'm tackled. I stand and give the ball to Curtis.

Curtis runs down the field and avoids a couple of players before throwing the ball back to me. I run over the try line and score for my team.

The buzzer goes off to end the game.

I kicked the ball over the goalpost, and it went over. The final score is 56-16.

I shake hands with the guys from the other team, then run off the field, take a shower, and get changed.

I step out of the change rooms and sign autographs for the kids.

I climb into my limo and tell the driver to take me to the airport.

At the airport, I check in and watch my stuff leave my sight on the conveyor belt. I walk through the checkpoints and take a seat at the departure lounge.

I ordered a drink at the bar.

At midnight, I board the plane and take my window seat.

***

At the LA airport, my aunt and uncle were waiting for me.

I run over to them and hug them.

My aunt looks at me. "What are you doing back here?"

I lift my bag onto my shoulder. "I'm looking for Samantha. She's pregnant with my kid."

"Are you sure it's yours? Her sister has told everyone that she's been sleeping with many people after you left."

"I don't believe what the sister said."

My uncle takes my suitcase. "Let's go somewhere for lunch. Lisa and I will tell you what we know about Samantha Black."

At Mason's Palace, we step out of the car and enter the building. It has chandeliers on the ceiling, and the walls are painted a creamy colour with black-and-white autographs. People are talking over each other and looking at the menus that are placed in front of them.

A girl walks over. "Welcome to Mason's Palace. Would you like a booth or a table?"

"A booth, please. I want some privacy while I'm here."

The girl turns to me. "Alright, Mr Colt."

She looks familiar.

She shows us to our table. "I'll be back with some menus," she says.

I remember how I knew her. She's Best Friends with Samantha.

The girl places the menus on our table. "I'll give you a few minutes to review your orders."

I watch her take care of other people around the restaurant.

A couple of minutes later, she returns with a notepad and pen. "Can I take your order?"

We give her our orders, and she walks away.

"Okay, what do you need to tell me about Samantha?"

"That girl has been kicked out of her house and disowned by her family for getting pregnant out of wedlock and trying to ruin her sister's life with your cousin. Samantha Black isn't the type of girl I want my nephew to hang around."

I slam my hand on the table. "It's a good thing it's not your decision on who I fall in love with. Your son and his wife ruined that girl's life. She has no one to turn to. I might have been the last person she could turn to, cause I'm the father of her child, and I turned my back on her because I believed the lies told by your son and his wife. Since it's clear she's not in town, I will finish lunch with you and head back to the airport."

Aunt Lisa shakes her head. "You can't leave Kayne and Gina want to see you.

The waitress walks over and places the food on the table.

How much did she hear?

The girl leaves our table.

***

Maddie

I can't believe Maddox Colt stands before me with Kayne's parents. "Welcome to Mason's Palace. Would you like a booth or a table?"

"A booth, please. I want some privacy while I'm here."

I turn to him. "Alright, Mr Colt."

I show them to a table. "I'll be back with some menus."

I pick up three menus and place them on the table for them. "I'll give you a few minutes to review your orders."

I walk around the room, filling cups for my patrons and taking orders for coffee/tea and desserts. I also fill a couple of glasses with water. After that's done, I return with a notepad and pen to take Maddox's table orders." Can I take your order?"

They gave me their order, and I walked to the kitchen and placed it with them. I then picked up tea/coffee for my patrons and took it to their tables. I also picked up the desserts that were ordered and delivered them to the tables.

I walk over to the kitchen window and look at the orders that are up. I take the food over to a table close to the Colts.

On my way to my customer's table, I hear my Best Friend's name mentioned and hear about her being disowned by her family.

I hate the Colts.

I place the order at my table and ask them if they need refreshments. They tell me they're fine.

I return to the kitchen window and pick up the orders for the Colts' table. I placed the food in front of them and left them to have a conversation about my best friend.

I yell at the kitchen, "Frankish, I'm taking my ten-minute smoke break."

I don't smoke, but I will use this time to call my Best Friend and tell her that Maddox is in town looking for her. I hope this information will bring her back home.

Since I know her too well, it won't bring her home. She's a stubborn woman, and she hates handouts. She's fierce and loyal—the type of woman you want as a Best Friend.

I pull her name up on my phone and call her.

"Hey, Maddie,"

"Guess who's back in town?" I say.

"I'm not in the mood for games. Who's in town?"

"Maddox Colt."

"What's he doing there?"

"He's looking for you."

I hear her sigh. "Does he know what happened between my parents and me?"

"Yes, his Aunt and Uncle took him to my work and told him over lunch. Maddox isn't happy, and I think he's ready to hurt people."

"Don't tell him where I am."

"I won't. Sam, please go to one of his games before you give birth to the kid. Take care of yourself, and I'll see you in two months."

"Okay, I'll show you around town and where I work."

"You got a job? That's great."

Maddox comes around the corner. "Maddie, is that..."

She hangs up on me.

I nod. "It was. She doesn't want to talk to you, Maddox."

"Do you know where she is?"

"I do. When I visit, I'm going to bring her home. I'll call you when she comes back. For now, Maddox Colt, you concentrate on winning games and making every fan proud to support your team. Don't stay here a second longer and get sucked into the lies the Colts tell you."

He sits on the ground. "Is it true about her parents?"

"Yes, it is. You were her last resort of happiness, Maddox. You believed the lies your family told, and you lost her. Samantha won't be gone forever. She needs time. She'd want you to be a part of your child's life."

He hugs me. "Thank you, Maddie."