“Maddox.You left your own game.”
“I did.”He says it without apology, his thumb tracing a slow arc across my knuckles.“I’m going to be wherever you are.That’s just how it is now.”
He presses a kiss to the tip of my nose, and his mouth curves as he reaches for my hand.“So, you want to come watch our boys win?”
I lace my fingers through his.“Lead the way, Coach.”
Chapter40
Grace
“Grace, your phone’s ringing,” Maddox calls from the bedroom.“It’s, uh, Chief?”
A snicker escapes me as I bound up the stairs, meeting him in the hallway.I hit speaker and hold the phone between us, my eyes finding his gunmetal gray ones darkening like storm clouds are rolling in.
Christmas is only three days away, and my quick text to Toby after the basketball game—the day Maddox came after me—had only told him I wouldn’t be back until after the holidays.
“Toby, you calling about the Vitale press release?”I’d woken that morning to an alert on my phone.
Since setting my sights on Vitale industries and Trintol, I’d set up alerts for any time either the company, the drug, or any of their executives, were mentioned online.It had been a constant chime at all hours of the day and night, back when I was still consumed by it.
“Yeah, among other things.Fucking bastards, they strung us along when this had most probably always been their end game.”
“Not surprising, though.I would’ve done the same thing.”
He grunts in response, and I take that as grudging agreement.
This morning’s alert had been a Vitale press release announcing their findings about Trintol’s flaws and their action plan to improve the drug for the betterment of all.They’d essentially taken the story we’d presented them—in hopes of a collaboration and saving the story—and handed an exclusive to another outlet, likely in exchange for control over the narrative.
“It was smart.”I share a look with Maddox, and perhaps he’s remembering his early morning wake-up when I’d been both surprised and also relieved by the alert.It was finally over.“Weaselly, definitely, but smart.”
“Fuck ‘em,” Toby growls.
Maddox holds back a chuckle, a smirk pulling at his mouth—his first real glimpse at the man he’s heard so much about.
“Listen, Buchanan, you’ve made your point.Now, tell me when I can expect you back.”
Toby hadn’t been thrilled with my text, but he also knew the holidays were upon us, and since he’d taken me off Vitale, I was in a position to call the shots—for the moment, at least.
My gaze drifts to Maddox, who’s more invested in this conversation than he’s letting on.We’ve talked about what comes next, and I’ve told him my plans are to stay here in Winslow Grove.But it’s one thing to say it out loud to the man I love and another thing entirely to face my boss and make it real.
“Well, I’d wanted to do this in person and had planned to when I came back to LA, but since you’re asking?—”
In true Toby fashion, impatient and never comfortable being kept in the dark, he cuts me off.“Buchanan, cut the shit.What are you talking about?”
“I’m not coming back to the paper.I quit.You’ll have it in writing by?—”
“Come on, you’re overreacting.”Incredulity and irritation war in his voice.“I had to take you off the board.That was the only way Vitale would get in the sandbox.Backstabbing bastards.”
A snort escapes me despite how much I need him to take me seriously.He’s more upset about the double cross than I am, and that’s saying something.I’ve come a long way.
“Toby, this has nothing to do with that.”My tone shifts, quieter than before.“I know that story consumed me for way too long, but I’m glad you benched me.Glad you made me leave town.”
Unable to help myself, I glance at Maddox—the greatest gift, and one I never could have received if I hadn’t been benched.
He holds my gaze, something soft and certain moving across his face, and he reaches out to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear like he can’t not touch me.Like he needs me to know, without a word, that he sees exactly what I’m choosing, and he doesn’t take a single second of it for granted.
“I needed the distance.”Among other things.