Reckless Hearts Read online

  It was Grant Wheeler who walked in, along with some of the guys that followed him around like some kind of entourage. He worked at the auto shop called Speed Junky – a competitor of Manic Motors and they tried to take our business at times. Grant drove a ’68 Camaro and foamed at the mouth just to get me to drag race him with my 69 Chevelle. He spotted me and Travis right away. I turned my back and ignored him then focused on the game of pool with Travis.

  Grant just wouldn’t shut up and kept talking smack about how he would leave me in the dust if we put his Camaro against my Chevelle on the starting line. Thirty minutes later, and I ended up outside of the Brass Billiards with Grant. As Travis watched, along with Grant’s entourage, I took Grant down onto the asphalt, ending up with a busted lip and scraped up knuckles.

  A bartender came out of the bar shouting to break it up or they were calling the police. I was shit-faced so Travis drove the Chevelle, taking me to my house. It was after midnight when Travis crashed on my couch. I walked and stumbled a few times over to Madi’s house, and knocked on her front door. About a minute later, her living room light came on. She moved the curtain aside at the side window and I waved at her. She unlocked and opened her door just a crack.

  I scratched my head, and my mouth went dry. “Hi, Madi. I know it’s late. I just.... Well.... I just wanted to say I’m sorry – “

  “Are you drunk?” she interrupted, “You’re bleeding!”

  I touched my lip. “Owe. Oh yeah. It’s nothing.”

  “Your knuckles are bloody too!” She pulled me and I stumbled through the front door. “Go sit on the couch. I’ll get something to clean you up with.”

  I made my way to her couch, dropping down on it and looked around. Madi’s living room was nice and full of shelves with books and trinkets.

  I drank way too many beers and the scrap with Grant suddenly hit me as the living room started to spin. Madi came back and sat next to me on the couch with a wet washcloth.

  She touched it to my bleeding lip. “Do NOT tell me you drove home Ben.”

  The cold wet cloth was soothing. “No. My buddy Travis did. He just crashed on my couch.”

  Madi was dressed in a pair of tiny shorts with butterflies all over them and a matching tank top. She looked adorable with her bed hair as she focused on wiping the blood off my lip. “What happened? Did you get into a fight too?”

  I took both her hands and looked into her eyes. “It’s nothing to worry about. Madi, listen. I know I’m an asshole. I’m sorry about going way too fast with you. I didn’t mean to hurt you. But if I did, then I’m sorry for that too.”

  She pulled her hands away. Her eyes were sad. “There’s no need for you to say sorry. And you didn’t hurt me. Things just happened way too fast that day.”

  I lifted her chin, “I really like you Madi. Can we just start over? I want us to be friends.”

  “Yes. I would like that too, Ben.”

  Seeing her smile just made that heavy weight of guilt lift off my shoulders. But I was so tired. I leaned my head back against the couch. And crashed.

  CHAPTER 5

  MADI

  Once Ben’s head fell back on my couch, he fell asleep. I breathed a heavy sigh and covered him with one of my couch throws. He looked like a little boy as he slept with his messy blond hair and a silly smile on his face with a busted lip. When I woke up the next morning, I found him already gone, the couch throw bunched up and tossed on the couch where he slept.

  I worried that things would be weird between us even though we both wanted to start over and be friends.at first I started to fall back into the familiar habit of trying to avoid Ben. But Ben being Ben, he wouldn’t allow me to. He’d show up at my house with Travis & ask if they could go for a swin, inviting me to join them. Eventually the summer months consisted of him inviting his friends over, me inviting Carly and her friends over, for cookouts and pool parites. I still struggled with not being as social as Carly and her friends, who went out on weekends to clubs and bars. But Ben helped get me out of my shell. I didn’t tell Carly about the date with Ben or our hook-up in the pool, because I didn’t want her to think less of him and compare him to other guys like Alex. The problem was, the more time I spent with Ben, the more I realized that even though I have so much desire for Ben - how could any woman not think he was so hot – I wanted more than just sex with him.

  IT WAS LABOR DAY WEEKEND in September as I stood with Ben drinking a beer. He flipped burgers on his grill in his yard while people were over at my pool. “I’m not much of a cook, but I can work a grill enough to feed all these hungry heathens.” He said as he waved the spatula toward the fence as his friend Travis did a cannonball in my pool, splashing everyone by the poolside.

  I laughed. “I like your friends and this summer has been really fun.”

  “That’s what it’s all about Madi – good times with good friends.” He clinked his beer bottle to mine and drank the rest of his. “I’ll go get us both another beer. Watch the burgers for me?”

  He handed me the spatula. “Sure.”

  Ben disappeared into his house while I watched the burgers. I waited and waited and he never returned. The batch of burgers was done so I scooped them off the grill, putting them on a plate and carried it into Ben’s house.

  As I rounded the corner to enter the kitchen, I stopped. Ben stood by the refrigerator holding 2 bottles of beer. There was a blond girl, her back turned to me, with her arms around his waist.

  I stepped back and felt like an intruder standing there with a plate of burgers, but I was dying to know who the girl was and a feeling of jealousy just hit me.

  “But maybe it will be different the second time around.” I heard the girl whine.

  “No Brooke. It was over between us a long time ago.”

  She must have been his ex-girlfriend. I smiled then and came around the corner to see Ben removing the girl’s arms from his waist.

  “Burgers are done.” I said.

  Brooke spun her head around to look at me. She was pretty, but she stared at me with daggers in her eyes. She turned back to Ben, grabbed one of the bottles of beer from his hand and walked past me with her nose up in the air. Ben rolled his eyes and breathed a heavy sigh.

  “Sorry for intruding, Ben.” I said as I put the plate of burgers on the counter.

  “It’s ok. You weren’t intruding. I’m glad you showed up.” He handed me the other bottle of beer. “That was Brooke, my ex-girlfriend. Someone else must have invited her. I sure didn’t.”

  “Oh,” I said as I was smiled on the inside knowing she was an ex and not a current girlfriend.

  He leaned up against the kitchen counter and folded those muscular arms that I wanted to feel around me. “She said she wanted to get back together, but it was over about a year ago. There was just nothing there and we had nothing in common. She’s too high maintenance and it’s all about appearances with her. I’d do my best to please her, it was never good enough.”

  Listening to Ben open up to me about a past relationship was making my heart melt for him. “Well, there are always good things to come out of a breakup. You know what you want and don’t want in a girlfriend right?”

  The side of his mouth lifted. “You’re not only cute as fuck, you’re smart too,”

  Those blue eyes and that sexy smirk of his made my knees weak.

  CHAPTER 6

  BEN

  The Fall season came and on Sundays, I’d have a house full of guys watching football. They’d wear their favorite team jerseys, drink beer, and scarf down pizza and wings like a bunch of fucking savages. We’d shout, cuss or groan at my sixty-inch flat-screen TV, depending on which team was winning or losing with field goals, touchdowns and penalties. Some Sundays Madi came over and hung out and I’d teach her about football, the teams and how it was played.

  It was Saturday night and Travis with a few other guys were at my house to watch a major UFC fight when Madi’s name lit up my phone. When I answered it, I could barely he
ar her with all the noise in the background and she sounded like she’d been drinking.

  “Where are you?” I asked her.

  “I’m at the bar named after me, Madison’s Food and Spirits. I drinking away my sorrows.”

  “Are you alone?” I asked, hoping she was with her friend Carly.

  “Well yeah!” She giggled and had hiccups. “I wasn’t supposed to be though... I got stood up.”

  She was out on a date? A pang of worry and jealousy came over me and I clenched my jaw. “I’m coming over there to get you.”

  “But – “

  “Don’t move and don’t get in your car Madi. I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”

  The final UFC fight match just began when I grabbed my keys and told Travis I was heading out to pick up Madi.

  When I parked and entered the crowded bar area of Madison’s, I spotted Madi right away. She sat at the bar wearing a sexy short light purple dress and black heels. Some douche bag was sitting beside her. He just slid a full cocktail glass to Madi and I felt like smashing his face in.

  I moved fast, weaving through the crowd to stand behind him. “Hey asshole, that’s my wife you just slid that drink to.”

  He turned around, his eyes all bloodshot and raised up his hands. “Sorry dude. Didn’t know”. He stood from a barstool and staggered away.

  I planted myself on it, and looked at Madi. Her eyes were glazed over.

  “Hi, Benjamin!” She said, then leaned back and almost fell off her stool.

  I reached over and pulled her back to me. “Whoa there Madi. What happened? Who stood you up?”

  She shook her head, her brows scrunched “Oh just Alex. He works in sales for a secure... security systems company. I work in the same building as him.”

  I felt anger rise inside me. “Is he your boyfriend? He sure sounds like a loser to me for standing you up.”

  “No, he’s not my boyfriend. I really don’t know what to call him actually. I guess he’s one of those friends with benefits? The benefits that I’m starting to realize are when it benefits him. I’m sorry I called and bothered you tonight. You didn’t have to come here. I would’ve just called an Uber to get home.”

  “I’m glad you called me. And I’m taking you home. Now.” I climbed off the stool, keeping my arm around Madi to keep her steady, and waved the bartender over to pay her tab.

  As I drove her home, Madi sat right up next to me and laid her head on my shoulder. I got her keys when I parked in my driveway. I climbed out and opened the passenger door. When she climbed out and stood up, she swayed.

  “Hold on to me Madi,” I said and wrapped my arm around her little waist and half walked, half carried her.

  I unlocked her door and when we entered, Madi’s face suddenly went pale. “I think I’m going to be sick.” She croaked out then clamped a hand over her mouth and ran to her bathroom.

  I followed close behind and found her kneeling in front of the toilet and puking. She flushed the toilet and began to cry. “I’m such a stupid... Go away, Ben.”

  I knelt down next to her as she began to wretch again. I gathered her pretty brown hair, in my hands and gently pulled it away from her face. “No. I’m staying right here until you’re done. Then I’ll tuck you in bed.”

  I felt so bad for Madi. I couldn’t count how many times I hugged the toilet after getting so fucked up I felt like I was dying. She threw up some more, and when she was done, I scooped her up into my arms and carried her to the bedroom. I laid her down on the bed gently and pulled her heels off, then pulled the comforter over her.

  She was crying and sniffled. “Ben, please don’t go.”

  The sound of her voice was like a punch to my chest. I sat down on the edge of the bed and curled a lock of her hair around her ear. “I’m right here Madi. Just sleep.”

  “Will you hold me until I fall asleep? Please?”

  I kicked my shoes off and climbed in the bed. I held her in my arms and she laid her cheek on my chest. She cried for a few minutes longer and finally fell asleep. I sent Travis a text, then shut my eyes and fell asleep too.

  I opened my eyes with my arms wrapped around Madi. She stirred and opened her eyes and when she looked up at me, she squeaked and jumped out of the bed. She ran into her bathroom and I heard her brushing her teeth as I sat up.

  Madi came back, wearing a fuzzy robe. Her pretty long hair was a mess and she looked both adorable and sexy at the same time. I just then pictured her lying beneath me as I sunk myself deep inside of her. I had to get that image out of my mind and focused on putting my shoes back on.

  She came over and sat down next to me and covered her face in her hands. “I’m so embarrassed about last night. You always come to my rescue Ben.”

  “That’s what friends do Madi. We look out for each other. Don’t be embarrassed. I’ve had my fair share of toilet hugs.”

  She threw her arms around me. “Thanks, Ben. I can always count on you.”

  I held her. The fuzzy robe was soft and her hair smelled so good. I wanted to kiss her, touch her, but I wanted to know more about this Alex dude who stood her up the night before.

  “Is this Alex guy a serious thing?” I asked.

  Madi released me and leaned away. “No. I really don’t know what we are. But I’ve always been at his beck and call. Last night was the first time he’s stood me up though. And I probably won’t hear back from him for the whole week before he decides to call me again. It’s my fault though. I just keep going back for more and I feel crappy about myself afterward.”

  She looked down into her lap, and her eyes welled up with tears. I tilted her chin up and swiped my finger to brush away the tear on her cheek “He doesn’t deserve you Madi. You should come first. Please don’t cry. You’re so pretty, you’ve got common sense, and you’re fun to hang out with and my friends like you. I like you. Very much.”

  Her sad eyes lowered to look at my mouth and it was like she was pulling me to her. I leaned in and kissed her soft lips.

  CHAPTER 7

  MADI

  It was two weeks later as I sat in my kitchen with Carly when I called Alex.

  “It was last minute. I had to catch a flight and lock in this deal with a very important client of mine.” Alex said over the phone. He was justifying his reason for standing me up that night a few weeks ago.

  “You could have called me. Or even send me a text! That was so inconsiderate.” I fumed, gripping my cell phone.

  “I’ll make it up to you. How about next weekend? My calendar is open.”

  “Make it up to me? You have to fit me into your calendar?”

  “We were never exclusive Madison, and I’m a very busy man.”

  I had made a total fool of myself in front of Ben the night Alex stood me up. But Ben was my friend, and he made me feel important, like I mattered. Even if Alex showed up at the bar we would have ended at his condo for some quick and meaningless sex. And I would have left at midnight, feeling cheap and unimportant. But I was done being treated like a doormat. I had much more respect for myself than to be subjected to all that bullshit from Alex.

  “I’m done with you Alex. I never want to see you, let alone fuck you again. If you ever see me at the office, just walk on and don’t even look at me. I’m blocking your number too. Goodbye.”

  I pushed the red button on my phone, hanging up on him.

  Carly hooted and laughed as she started clapping. “Girl, you just handed that loser his ass! That was priceless!”

  I giggled, “Yeah I did! And it felt really good too.”

  Carly dabbed some pink lip gloss, smacking her lips. Ben invited both of us that night to watch him race his Chevelle against Grant’s Camaro. I began to see this attraction between Carly and Ben’s friend Travis, so she insisted that we go, of course.

  We left my house and climbed into Ben’s car, both of us sitting in the front seat with him. I climbed in first and slid over next to Ben. My stomach fluttered the moment our thighs touched.

&n
bsp; Before Ben started the car, he touched my thigh with his warm hand. “I’m really glad you’ll be there with me tonight Madi.”

  My throat went dry but I became very wet between my legs. “Never would I miss this.”

  Ben smirked, starting the car and it roared to life. He drove us several miles to a secluded area that looked like a small town with large warehouses and small buildings. Some of them looked abandoned, windows broken and some of them were covered with spray painted graffiti. He told us that the property was several acres and was privately owned. Drag racing was illegal, but Maniac Motors knew people that helped keep the races under the radar of the local police. He parked in the lot with other cars and I saw people standing around lit up barrels of fire, drinking beer and playing music through someone’s car speakers.

  We climbed out of the car and Ben pointed Garrett out to me and Carly. He was parked several yards away with a group of other cars and his friends. Carly bumped my shoulder and spoke low “Hey Madi, isn’t that blond chick hooked to Garrett’s hip Ben’s ex-girlfriend, Brooke?”

  Ben looked over and saw her too. He chuckled. “Not surprising that Garret is now her favorite flavor this month.”

  Travis approached, bumping fists with Ben. “You’re gonna leave that cocky asshole in the in the dust!” His eyes steered to Carly standing beside me “Hey Carly. It’s really great to see you.”

  Carly smiled at Travis, flipping her hair. She was laying the flirting down thick with him. She gave him a hug and molded herself up against him. “It’s great to see you too.” She purred.

  Ben shoved his hands his jean pockets. I smiled as we both just stood there. Travis took Carly’s hand and walked her to the crowd of friends.

  Ben took a few steps toward me and spoke low. “I’m all pumped up for this race.”

  I couldn’t help but stare at his sexy mouth. “Have you done this before? It’s dangerous Ben.”