Madie wasn't really smiling in this picture. It was more like a coy twitch of the lips that whispered a whole slew of naughty promises.

Soft strawberry waves framed her heart-shaped face, making me want to weave my fingers through her hair again. And even though evening shadows doused the photo, I could make out the necklace I'd gotten Madie for Christmas. It laid between her breasts, a dark glittering jewel. Art on top of art.

I didn't give a fuck about bra sizes or any of that shit. But I was obsessed with how I could cup her, squeeze her, how she fit perfectly in my grasp. Gazing down at my phone, I traced Madie's soft curves with my eyes before appreciating the darker outer ring of her nipple, which led to the pinkened tip. Exposed and waiting for attention, both nipples were hard.

A lot like I was right now.

I missed a million fucking things about Madie Lenertz—from her laugh to her kindness to her wild spirit—but right now, I missed having her here between the sheets with me. Without her, they were cold.

I wasn't, though. Shit, I was on fire inside, and I couldn't stop thinking about her.

This morning was particularly bad. For a second, I'd woken up and expected Madie to be there. I'd expected to be able to kiss her before finding a home between her legs. Fuck, I'd thought I was going to cover those nipples with my mouth and make her moan into the morning quiet. I'd been so ready to have her awaken beneath me. Or on top of me. Either way.

But then I remembered that I'd left Madie in Oakland. And I was here in Fresno with my throbbing dick in my hand, staring at her picture.

Did she think about me the way I thought about her? Did she wake up wet and wanting, aching and burning? Did she miss me in the morning, the evening, and everything in between?

It was like I was in goddamn high school again, trying to jerk off quietly so Caroline wouldn't hear me. But hell, thinking about Madie was the only thing keeping me going right now, so I didn't fucking care.

Eventually, I forced myself to emerge from my bedroom, wandering downstairs to find Caroline placing some photography prints in a few frames. She glanced at me as I walked into the kitchen before giving her attention back to the pictures.

Picking up an apple from the bowl on the counter, I took a bite. "Any word from the police?"

Caroline shook her head regretfully, and I clenched my jaw together. Staring out the window, I searched the backyard. The trees were knocking together, tangling with each gust of wind. It was wild out there today. How close was he?

It wasn't that I thought that the police would be able to march out there, find my dad, and arrest him within a week. But it was driving me crazy that he was probably somewhere just beyond our reach, and I couldn't even fucking contact him. I couldn't call him. I couldn't return a letter. I had no way to get a hold of him to say I'm right here. Come and get me, you asshole.

Not to mention, I hadn't gotten another letter from him since the one that described Madie.

"Bren," Caroline said, a warning note in her voice. Turning back around, I saw that she was staring at me. "Don't do anything stupid. I don't know what you're thinking, but I can see that look in your eye."

I swore beneath my breath. "I can't stand just waiting, Caroline."

"You knew that this was going to take time."

Taking another bite of my apple, I muttered, "I don't feel like I have time."

She cocked her head to the side. "Why?"

"Madie's..." I looked back outside only to find nothing there but swaying grass and a picket fence with chipped paint. If it wasn't so fucking cold, I'd go fix it up today. "You should have seen her face when I told her I wasn't staying."

"Oh, I can imagine it. It never feels good to be ambushed, Bren."

The way that Caroline said those words made me pause. I twisted toward her. "I didn't have a choice, Car. She wouldn't have gone otherwise. I'm already worried enough about you as it is. I didn't need her here, too."

Caroline's hard expression melted, and she set the frame down to walk over and pull me into a hug, which I accepted...reluctantly. I liked hugs from Madie, and that was about it. "You have far too much on your shoulders for someone your age," she said quietly. "You don't need to worry about me. I knew what I was getting into when I brought you home with me three years ago."

She gave me one more squeeze before letting go and leaning against her farmhouse sink.

Despite her words, I said, "I can still go stay somewhere else until this is all settled."

Back when I found that traumatizing letter from my dad, I had tried to tell her that I would find another spot to hunker down while I searched for him—a motel or something. But Caroline wouldn't have it.

And she still wasn't having it. She shook her head. "You're not going through this on your own. I understand that you want to protect Madie. Lord knows that she's dealt with enough in these past months. But you're not getting rid of me."

My chest tightened, and I gave her a look—one that said all the words I couldn't manage to get out about this entire mess.

Caroline gave me a look back. She understood everything, spoken and unspoken.

Sighing, she brushed her bangs out of her eyes. "I'm going to freshen up. I'm meeting a friend for lunch in a little bit."

I nodded and let my gaze wander back out the window. Another bite of apple later, I asked, "Who you going with?"

"Oh, just a friend." Her breathy voice drifted to me from the hallway, and I paused mid-chew.

"Just a friend, huh?" I turned and called after her, spying her heels as she disappeared up the stairs. I knew most of her friends' names, so what was she hiding?

Caroline didn't reply. The water started running above me.

Laughing lightly to myself, I tossed my apple core in the trash before flopping onto the couch. And then I waited, staring at my phone, praying that I would get a message—from Madie, Beau, Nessa, the police, my dad, anyone.

But there was nothing.

Caroline appeared back downstairs about twenty minutes later, looking particularly...nice for a Saturday lunch with just a friend.

I threw an arm behind my head and leaned back. "So who's the guy, Caroline?"

She rolled her eyes at me while digging around in her purse. But I didn't miss the way her cheeks pinkened. "Just a friend, Bren," she repeated. With a frazzled, breathless wave, she made her way to the door. "See you later this afternoon."

"Have fun with your friend!" I called, but I doubt she heard me before the door shut, the force of the crazy winds slamming it behind her.

And then I was alone. The smirk on my face fell gradually at that realization.

I hadn't been alone for...months.

Fuck this. I wasn't going to just sit here on Caroline's couch, waiting for a miracle. If my dad was going to come knock on the front door, he would have done it already.

Running upstairs, I threw on a change of clothes, bundled up, and stuffed my gun into my pants before heading into the heart of Fresno. I spent the rest of the day wandering around, giving dear old dad plenty of opportunities to catch me alone. By his letters, it seemed like he wanted to talk. So I waited on a park bench, my legs crossed, waiting to fucking talk.

I knew I probably shouldn't. I knew I should let the cops do their thing. But I wasn't about to play hard to get. Not when he knew about Madie, not with her involved.

But Luke Hadaway never showed. Giving up, I got a quick workout in at the gym and went back to Caroline's. She was there, making dinner. She raised a brow at my obvious attitude as I banged in through the door, but I just shrugged it off and went to shower.

Frustrated as fuck, I went to bed early that night. But I couldn't fall asleep—not until Madie called or texted me. I wasn't about to miss out on that.

She practically destroyed me the first week we were apart, not responding to anything that I'd send. I had to text Beau and Nessa for updates instead, just wanting to make sure that she was safe.

I maintained my confidence that Luke Hadaway wouldn't touch her, not there. Not when I was here, waiting for him, walking around like bait. But I still needed to know. I needed to know she was okay.

Which, she'd told me, she wasn't.

She wasn't okay.

But she was safe.

And I was still trying to get a grasp on that. Because even though I'd told Madie once that it was okay to not be okay...I wasn't cool with her feeling that way because of me.There was no way around it, though.

Glancing at my phone, I saw a message pop up from Nessa. Honestly, that was the second-best thing to getting a text from Madie. Because typically, if Nessa was texting me, it was candid pictures of my girlfriend. And shit, I loved that.

Opening the text, I saw that I was right. It was a picture of Madie, but I had very mixed feelings about this one. She had clearly posed for the picture, probably knowing it was for me. Judging by her massive smile, unfocused eyes, and lazy stance, she was drunk or on her way there. And if they left that dorm room, she was definitely going to be cold.

Because Madie had on a sheer top, and maybe it was just from the flash of the camera, but it completely exposed her bra and everything else underneath. And that shirt—if it could be called that—was tucked into a tight, little skirt. I'd never seen Madie wear anything like this before.

Sighing, I ignored my dick as it twitched in my sweatpants and texted Nessa back.

Please tell me you're having a girls' night in the dorm.

Her response was almost instantaneous.

Nope, we're going out! Thought you'd want to see what you're missing out on with your girl.

A groan slipped through my lips.

I'm well aware of what I'm missing out on, Nessa.

I ran a hand over my face, waiting for her reply. It didn't take long.

Madie wants to know if you like her outfit.

Fuck, Madeline. Such a tease.

I'm going to call her.

I didn't need to talk to my girlfriend through her best friend like we were in middle school.

Nooo. We're leaving now, and you guys will talk forever.

Sighing, I leaned back against my bed and called Madie anyway. But she didn't pick up, leaving me to swear beneath my breath.

It wasn't that I had a problem with what she was wearing or what she was doing. I just wished I could be there to make sure that no one fucked with them. It made me nervous as hell to have them going out like that. There were guys like Quinton everywhere.

And my dad was...somewhere.

Shit, I hoped to god that I was right. I hoped to god that somewhere wasn't Oakland.

🖤
My last update of 2020!

Huge, HUGE thanks to all the support, the friendships, the love, the laughs, EVERYTHING that you've all given me during this crazy year. Honestly.

We made it through.

Now let's hope Bren & Madie can, too.