And Madison’s about my size. I’m sure she’ll fit plenty of things in my closet.”
He hesitated, and Madison almost thought he’d relent, but in the end he said, “I’m sorry. There’s a lot going on at work.”
“It would be nice to have you close in case we get bad news from the tests.” Patricia’s face was grave.
Jared sighed. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
Relief flooded through her. She wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t have to deal with his family by herself, or because the thought of being around him for the next few days was appealing. Maybe a little of both.
Irene beamed and smoothed her hair. “Great. Let’s all meet at the house so we can start planning. I’ll prepare the guest room.”
Jared stiffened. “No need. We’ll stay in a hotel.”
“Oh, that’s silly. You’ll stay in our home. There’s plenty of room.”
“There’s plenty of room in a hotel, too.” He clasped Madison’s hand and stalked down the hallway, leaving her no choice but to go with him, or be dragged.
When they were out of earshot, she said, “That was rude.”
“She has no right to tell me what to do.” His footsteps quickened, and she fought to keep up.
“She’s your stepmother, and she deserves respect.” She tried not to sound out of breath.
They rounded a corner and arrived at the elevators.
“Marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper. And it means even less to someone like my father. She’ll be gone next year.” He let go of her hand and pressed the call button.
Shock rang through her at his callousness. “She’s family, whether you like it or not.”
“And soon, she won’t be family anymore. That’s the way it works around here.” The elevator dinged and opened its doors. Jared stepped in, and she got the feeling the discussion was over.
She followed him, pressed the button, and let the doors swish shut. His hands were stuffed in the pockets of his tan slacks, and he avoided her gaze.
Maybe he wanted the discussion to be over, but she wasn’t ready for that. “You should apologize.”
He glowered. “And you should mind your own business.”
Anger arose in her. Who did he think he was? “You don’t even know what you have, do you?” She forced the words out, her fingernails digging into her palms.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I can’t believe you. You treat everyone as if they’re beneath you. You’re rude, mean, and thoughtless. You step on the people who love you, like they’re not even worth your consideration.” Heat crept up her neck and her stomach clenched.
Surprise and then another emotion she couldn’t read registered on his face, but before he had a chance to say anything, his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, glanced to see who it was, then took the call. “Yes?”
The doors slid open, and the two of them exited to the main lobby. Jared nodded, then said, “All right.” He stuffed the phone back in his pocket.
Madison was too mad at him to say anything. She stalked ahead of him toward the sliding doors that led to the parking lot.
“Wait.” Jared grabbed her arm, heat searing through her with the contact.
She whirled around to face him, words fighting with her tongue to get out. “You’re surrounded by people who love you. People who ignore your mood swings and tolerate your bad manners because they’re your family, and that’s what a family is supposed to do. Well, I have news for you. Not all families are like that.” Tears sprung to her eyes, and she turned and fled the building.
Her footfalls echoed in the underground parking lot. Jared’s followed close behind. “Madison, stop.”
The way he said it made her freeze. Like a caress instead of a command. He came up behind her and put his arms around her. “I’m sorry,” he said, his breath brushing her cheek. “You’re right. You’re right about all of it.”
He turned her around to face him. Concern knit his eyebrows together. His steel-grey eyes
He hesitated, and Madison almost thought he’d relent, but in the end he said, “I’m sorry. There’s a lot going on at work.”
“It would be nice to have you close in case we get bad news from the tests.” Patricia’s face was grave.
Jared sighed. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
Relief flooded through her. She wasn’t sure if it was because she didn’t have to deal with his family by herself, or because the thought of being around him for the next few days was appealing. Maybe a little of both.
Irene beamed and smoothed her hair. “Great. Let’s all meet at the house so we can start planning. I’ll prepare the guest room.”
Jared stiffened. “No need. We’ll stay in a hotel.”
“Oh, that’s silly. You’ll stay in our home. There’s plenty of room.”
“There’s plenty of room in a hotel, too.” He clasped Madison’s hand and stalked down the hallway, leaving her no choice but to go with him, or be dragged.
When they were out of earshot, she said, “That was rude.”
“She has no right to tell me what to do.” His footsteps quickened, and she fought to keep up.
“She’s your stepmother, and she deserves respect.” She tried not to sound out of breath.
They rounded a corner and arrived at the elevators.
“Marriage is nothing more than a piece of paper. And it means even less to someone like my father. She’ll be gone next year.” He let go of her hand and pressed the call button.
Shock rang through her at his callousness. “She’s family, whether you like it or not.”
“And soon, she won’t be family anymore. That’s the way it works around here.” The elevator dinged and opened its doors. Jared stepped in, and she got the feeling the discussion was over.
She followed him, pressed the button, and let the doors swish shut. His hands were stuffed in the pockets of his tan slacks, and he avoided her gaze.
Maybe he wanted the discussion to be over, but she wasn’t ready for that. “You should apologize.”
He glowered. “And you should mind your own business.”
Anger arose in her. Who did he think he was? “You don’t even know what you have, do you?” She forced the words out, her fingernails digging into her palms.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I can’t believe you. You treat everyone as if they’re beneath you. You’re rude, mean, and thoughtless. You step on the people who love you, like they’re not even worth your consideration.” Heat crept up her neck and her stomach clenched.
Surprise and then another emotion she couldn’t read registered on his face, but before he had a chance to say anything, his phone rang. He pulled it out of his pocket, glanced to see who it was, then took the call. “Yes?”
The doors slid open, and the two of them exited to the main lobby. Jared nodded, then said, “All right.” He stuffed the phone back in his pocket.
Madison was too mad at him to say anything. She stalked ahead of him toward the sliding doors that led to the parking lot.
“Wait.” Jared grabbed her arm, heat searing through her with the contact.
She whirled around to face him, words fighting with her tongue to get out. “You’re surrounded by people who love you. People who ignore your mood swings and tolerate your bad manners because they’re your family, and that’s what a family is supposed to do. Well, I have news for you. Not all families are like that.” Tears sprung to her eyes, and she turned and fled the building.
Her footfalls echoed in the underground parking lot. Jared’s followed close behind. “Madison, stop.”
The way he said it made her freeze. Like a caress instead of a command. He came up behind her and put his arms around her. “I’m sorry,” he said, his breath brushing her cheek. “You’re right. You’re right about all of it.”
He turned her around to face him. Concern knit his eyebrows together. His steel-grey eyes
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