Authors: Melissa Johns
“She was posting all my secrets online and trying to get me to reveal information about my family business. Last night, a friend of mine notified me of her blog which listed everything that we had done together, with pictures.”
Madison gasped. “You can sue her, Mike.”
“Oh, I already have my lawyer sending her a letter. The website will be offline as of tonight but I have to do damage control.”
“You don’t have to tell me but what business is your family in?”
Mike shrugged. “We own a large department store chain. Her father had a mom and pop store which closed when our store came into the neighborhood. They lost everything and she was out for blood. I have a track record and she knew it.”
“What do you mean?”
“I was in and out of trouble a lot during my teenage years. My father hid a lot of information from the press so that it wouldn’t ruin the store’s image. I was rebelling.”
Madison nodded. “I’m so sorry, Mike.”
“Still happy that you moved next door to me?” he chuckled.
She smiled at him. “The jury is still out.”
He laughed. “Come on, let me walk you home.”
She got up and walked across the parking lot. He opened the door for her and she climbed the stairs. She stopped at her door as Mike leaned against his. “I have a question.”
His gaze moved to her eyes. “What’s that?”
“If you have money, why do you live in this small apartment? Shouldn’t you own one of those big houses along the ocean?”
He smirked. “The way I look at it, my parents are loaded. I’m not. I have my savings but I don’t like to touch it. I work at a local construction company and help my sister out with her store.”
She was surprised by his answer. “Hey, I have an extra ticket to see the playoff game tomorrow night. Do you want to come with me?”
He looked at her. “Are you kidding me?”
She shook her head. “It’s yours if you want it. I think you need to break and I promise you that we will have fun. Alicia is going too.”
He laughed. “My not so secret admirer.”
“Yeah, something like that.”
He opened his door. “Thank you for the talk tonight.”
“Anytime, it’s nice to find a friend so quickly.”
He smiled as he disappeared into his apartment. She opened her door and heard her cell phone ring. “Hunter, what’s going on?”
“I’ve been calling you for an hour. Is everything ok?”
“Sorry, I forgot to take my phone with me. I was talking with Mike.”
“Oh, your horny neighbor across the hall.”
Madison
chuckled. “Hunter, I love you. I gave you every part of me this morning.”
“I feel like shit that I had to leave you so soon afterwards. I’m sorry that we weren’t able to spend the whole day in bed together.”
Madison blushed as she sat on her couch. “We can finish what we started after the playoffs are over.”
“It’s a deal. Are you all set for tomorrow night?”
Madison panicked. “Yeah, you were right about Alicia. She’s sitting with my parents but I found someone else to give the extra ticket too.”
Hunter sighed. “Don’t you dare say Mike.”
“He’s going through a lot right now and he needs a friend. Hunter, I need friends too. Please trust me.”
He was silent for awhile and then answered, “You are right. I’m glad you found a friend and I will try my best not to kick his ass.”
“I’m going to bed, Hunter. Say good night.”
He laughed. “I really love you. See you tomorrow.”
“Good night.”
She laughed as she changed into her boy shorts and t-shirt. She walked over to bedroom window and opened it slightly. She could hear Mike talking on the phone. She decided to give him some privacy and settle into bed.
CHAPTER FIVE
It was around four in the afternoon when Alicia knocked on Madison’s door. “Hey girl, ready to go?”
“Yep, do I look ok?”
Madison asked.
“You look hot. I love that shirt. It doesn’t leave a lot to the imagination.”
Madison frowned. “Do I have time to change?”
Alicia laughed. “You are fine. I love that you are coming out of your shell. The shirt is great. I love that it looks like a jersey but slutty for a girl to wear.”
Madison laughed. “What else would a girlfriend of a hockey player wear?”
Alicia gasped. “Hey, I’m not wearing Carter’s number.”
“That’s because you guys have been together forever and all the romance is gone.”
She punched
Madison’s shoulder. “You would be embarrassed if you knew what your brother does to me!”
Mike knocked on the door at that exact moment. “I really don’t think she wants to know that information.”
Madison nodded. “Amen! I don’t want to know that my brother has a kinky side.”
Alicia smirked and turned back to Mike. “Hey sexy, what’s up?”
Madison jumped in. “I forgot to mention that he’s coming with us. He’s going to use my extra ticket for the suite.”
Alicia smiled. “Oh really, does Hunter know about this?”
Madison nodded. “Yes, I told him last night. He’s happy that I found a friend.”
Mike winked at her. “You look great, by the way. That’s a great shirt.”
Alicia grinned. “You guys ready to go?”
They walked downstairs and Mike opened the passenger door for her. He hopped into the back of Alicia’s SUV as they drove towards the city.
In typical Alicia fashion, she started her line of questioning. “So Mike, you are a big hockey fan?”
“I’m a huge sports fan in general.”
“That’s cool. You know that Longo is very protective of Maddy, right?”
Madison
looked at her. “Are you kidding me right now?”
Mike jumped in. “Yes, I do. I already got that strong impression directly from him.”
Alicia smiled. “I just wanted to make sure.”
Madison
laid her head against the car window and whispered, “You have got to be kidding me.”
Alicia remained civil for the rest of the trip. She pulled into the parking lot as the fans filtered into the arena.
Madison quickly sent Hunter a text stating that they had arrived.
She approached the will call window and claimed their passes. She handed Mike the extra ticket as they headed into the arena. Fans were cheering for their team as they passed through the security gates. A bunch of guys had pushed their way between her and Mike and she lost him in the crowd.
One of the strangers grabbed her around the waist. “Hey baby. God, you are a sexy thing, aren’t you?”
Madison
looked around for Alicia or Mike but couldn’t find them. She watched as the drunken idiot’s friends approached. “Where are you sitting, baby? You can sit on my lap if you wanted to.”
All of a sudden she felt their hands being removed from her as Mike pushed him up against wall. “You really want to touch Hunter Longo’s girl? How stupid are you??”
“I didn’t know man! I was just talking to the pretty girl.”
“Don’t even look at her again!” Mike released him and made his way back to her. “Are you ok?”
She nodded. “Thank you, Mike.”
Alicia hugged him. “You are a good guy, Mike.”
Mike looked over Alicia’s shoulder at Madison. Her heart skipped a beat as he pulled away. “I’m just being a good friend.”
Alicia grabbed her hand and led them through the arena. They hopped on the next available elevator and
Madison leaned against the back wall.
Mike leaned down and whispered. “Are you ok?”
She nodded. “Thank you again. I panicked. No one has ever grabbed me like that. I didn’t understand what was happening.”
Mike shook his head and looked at Alicia. “She really does have a self-esteem problem.”
Alicia wrapped her arms around her. “We love you, Maddy. One day you will realize that every man takes a second glance in your direction.”
Madison
rolled her eyes as they stepped out of the elevator. She tensed when she saw her parents standing in front of their suite.
Her mother looked at her. “Alicia, how nice to see you tonight, I didn’t know you were bringing
Madison with you.”
“Don’t worry. She’s in Hunter’s suite tonight. I just gave her a ride.”
Her mother looked over her body as she frowned. “I don’t approve of your outfit. You will be a disgrace to our family. Who dresses like that?”
Madison
took a deep breath and looked at Mike. He frowned and she could tell that he was put off by her comments.
“Mom, it doesn’t really matter what you think. I'm trying to become my own person."
Her father stepped out of the suite and looked at Madison. "Hello Madison. It's nice to see you. Alicia, a pleasure as always and who is behind you?"
Madison
turned back towards Mike. "This is Mike. He's my next door neighbor.”
Her father extended his hand to shake Mike's hand. "Mr. Sinclair, it's nice to meet you. I'm Mike Henderson."
Her father carefully eyed him. "As in Henderson's Department Store?"
He nodded. "My father owns the chain."
"Madison, you should have mentioned that. Mr. Henderson, would you like to join us in our suite tonight?"
Madison
just shook her head in disbelief. She was so embarrassed with the way that her parents presented themselves.
"Yes, you must join us. We have friends with us tonight that we would like you to meet."
Madison's mom pleaded.
Mike looked at
Madison. "Thank you for the offer but I'm Madison's guest tonight."
Alicia jumped in as if she could sense
Madison's discomfort. "Madison, let me show you the Longo's suite again."
They headed down the hallway as Mike finally spoke up. "What the hell was that?!"
Alicia smirked. "Did you enjoy meeting Maddy's parents?"
"I just can't believe what I witnessed. Are you ok,
Madison?"
She chuckled. "That's my life, Mike. It doesn't faze me." She lied.
He grabbed her arm and spun her towards him. "Don't give me that crap. I've only known you for about forty eight hours and I can clearly see it affects you. I'm starting to understand why you needed a clean slate and move here. I get it. I may not have a great relationship with my father but at least I know he's there if I need him."
Madison
straightened her back. "I'm done talking about this. I'm about to go see my boyfriend's parents and I don't want to be crying all night."
She walked towards the open door and was greeted by Hunter's family. "
Madison, you are sight for sore eyes!" Mr. Longo greeted her.
Hunter's mom walked up the steps and threw her arms around her. "Hey sweetheart, I was excited when Hunter said you were coming tonight. He told me that you are moved into your new apartment and starting college next month. That's a wonderful thing."
"Thank you, Helen. It's exciting to be here." She turned towards the door. "You remember Alicia."
"Of course, how are you?" she asked as she hugged her.
"I'm doing great. I wish I could stay but the in laws are waiting for me." She waved as she left.
"Mr. and Mrs. Longo, I would like to introduce you to Mike Henderson."
They welcomed him to the suite and Hunter's dad put a drink in his hand. "Let's go cheer on our boy!"
The players skated onto the ice and everyone stood for the anthem. Madison and Mike sat in the front row of the suite. "They seem really nice," he stated.
Maddy nodded. "They are wonderful. They are the parents that I always wanted."
"I wish I could say something that would help you with this."
She smiled. "Believe me, I'm ok. I'm surviving, day by day. That's the best I can do. I'm starting over. I'm heading down to the school next week to buy my books, finally starting a career and doing something that I can be proud of."
He watched her and finally spoke. "You are an amazing person."
She smiled and turned her attention back to the ice. She cheered and shouted for Hunter. Carter scored to tie the game late in the second period. Mike headed up to the bar and grabbed another beer. He handed a bottle of water to Madison. "With all the screaming, I thought you needed this."