Chapter 5

Maddox and I leave the burger joint. He puts his arm around my shoulder. "What do you want to do?"

"Let's go for a walk through the park and then head back to my place."

Maddox smile lights up his entire face and he has two dimples. "Sounds great, babe."

We walk through the park.

There's kids playing football and the ball comes towards us and Maddox catches it.

A guy yells. "Can we have the ball back?"

Maddox throws the ball.

A kid yells. "That's Maddox Colt." The kids all run over to him.

"Can we get a photo with you?"

Maddox smiles. "Sure,"

I take one of the iPhones and take a photo. I give the phone back.

"Thanks." The kids walk away.

I smile. "You're good with them."

He puts his hand into the back pocket of my jeans and squeezes my arse. "I want to have kids like them running around."

I loop my arm around him. "You'll have to give up your bachelor ways and be a one woman kind of guy."

"For you I'll be that guy. Can we go to your place now?"

I jump on his back and he carries me to the street.

Maddox waves a taxi down. A taxi stops in front of us and I tell him the address to my place.

The taxi pulls to a stop in front of my place. Maddox pays and he walk to the front door. I put the key in the door. Before I can close the door Maddox has me pushed against it.

He kisses my neck. "Where your bedroom."

I wrap my legs around him. "It's down the hall, the second door on the right." I kiss him as he walks us to the bedroom.

He lies me on the bed and pulls the t-shirt over my head.

I move my hand down his stomach and pulls his shirt over his head. I unbuckle his belt and pulls his jeans and boxers from him. He is hard when I move my hand to his erection. I move my hand up and down his shaft.

Maddox throws his head back. "Sam," he groans.

I use my other hand to pull my jeans off.

Maddox pulls my bra off and kisses his way to my breast. He takes one of nipples into his mouth and he finds my entrance with his fingers. He thrusts them into me.

I grind against his finger, "Maddox," I groan.

He grins against my mouth. "You like that, babe? Come for me."

A couple more thrusts and I explode and yell out. "Maddox."

Maddox pushes me onto the bed. "I don't want to come on your hand. I want to save that for when I'm inside you.

He lifts my hands above my head. He thrusts into me and moves inside me. He pushes in and out of me.

I can feel sweat all over my body.

He quickens his pace and our bodies slap against each other.

My breathing becomes faster.

He leaves kisses on my body and I feel goose bumps every time he leaves the last spot. Maddox thrusts into me and I can feel his come hit my walls.

Maddox pulls out of me. "That was fantastic, babe." He pulls the clock towards him. "I should go."

I pout. "Can you stay for dinner? I don't want to be alone yet."

He gets dressed. "Alright, after dinner I need to go to New York. I'm going to be late to practise tomorrow."

I pull on a dress and move toward the kitchen. I pull out macaroni and cook that.

Maddox sits at the table watching me. "What are you cooking?"

"Mac and cheese."

He grins. "Great, do you want me to make a salad?"

I laugh. "You can make a salad?"

He nods. "All I need is lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, red onion, cucumber, eggs and bacon pieces."

"You can make a Caesar salad?"

Maddox boils an egg and cuts the bacon into small pieces.

I sit on the stool and watch him move around the kitchen making the salad for us,

He looks at me. "You're the first girl that's let me make a salad without complaining. All my ex's prefer to do all the cooking. She thought I was only good for the bedroom."

I shake my head. "They are idiots. You are useful in other areas besides bed."

He leans over the table and kisses me. "Thanks, babe."

I pull out a dish from the cupboard and lay it on a tray. I drain the macaroni and put it in the dish. I sprinkle cheese on it and put it in the oven.

The table is set for dinner and the salad sits in the centre in a bowl. The alarm goes off and I pull out the mac and cheese.

Maddox and I put our dinner on our plates and eat.

I moan. "This is great salad."

Maddox laughs. "I'm going to miss you, Sammy. This has been the best couple days of my life."

Maddox keeps asking me to move to New York with him.

I don't know what to do. I like him a lot.

After dinner Maddox helps me clean the kitchen. The dishes are washed and put away. I move over to the lounge and turn the TV on.

Maddox sits next to me. "What is about you that makes me want to stay?"

I shrug. "I don't know."

Maddox kisses me and it sends electricity throughout my body. He pulls back. "I need to go. Pass me your phone. I'll put my number in there. If you come to New York give me a call."

I give him my phone and he types in contact details. He takes a picture of himself. His phone goes off. "Can I take a photo of you?"

I nod.

"Smile," he takes the picture.

I smile.

Maddox kisses me on the head. "Bye,"

I follow him to the door and wave to him as he walks out of my life.

Today was a great way to end the weekend with Mr Football. I hope to catch up with him one day. Right now isn't the time for me to move on with him.

Maddox

She's fucking pregnant. Why didn't she call me? Why did she wait for now to tell me? I'm going to be a father.

I throw my bag on the chair and it slides across it and land on the ground. A couple team mates look at me.

"Are you alright?" Jackson asks.

I shake my head. "No, my cousins ex fiancé is pregnant. It's my kid. She was outside."

Jackson pats my back. "You'll see her after the game."

"No, I won't. She left."

"Get someone to keep her at the hotel and you can talk to her after the game."

My head security guy walks into the room. "Get someone to look for Samantha Black and keep her in the hotel room. I want to talk to her after the game."

"Will do, boss." He leaves the room.

I change into my footy shorts and jersey.

The coach enters the room. "Everyone outside for warm ups."

The team and I run onto the field and we throw the ball around and stretch our limbs. Jackson throws me the ball and I catch and throw it back to him.

Donato kicks the ball over the post and he does that until he misses. I swap with him and practice my kicks.

"Five minutes to the game."

The team walks back inside.

The coach gives his pre-game speech. After the speech is done the team stands. We put our hands and chant. "Tigers, tigers, tigers." Then we all throw our hands up.

Jackson hits my back. "We're going to murder those silly cougars."

I laugh. "Hell yeah."

I hear the cougars walk out of there room and head for the field.

Jackson and I walk down the tunnel with our team. I jog down the four stairs and out onto the field.

The fans are standing and cheering on my team.

I wave at them and take my place on the field.

The referee stands next to the captain of the cougars and I. "Head or tail."

I call out. "Head."

The coin lands on heads.

I smile. "We'll start first."

The cougars kick the ball and my team catch it and they run down the field with the ball. A player gets tackled. He climbs to his feet and pushes the ball to the next player.

Jackson has the ball and I move into a position where he can off-load the ball to me. I catch the ball and run down the field. I'm tackled by a big guy.

I move like a worm to get him off of me.

I stand and put my foot the ball and pushing it out to the player behind me. He throws the ball to Donato and he runs with the ball.

I run behind him and he throws me the ball. I run as fast as I can to the try line. I dodge 1, 2, 3 players and I throw myself across the try line.

The score is 4-0.

Three of my team mates run over to me and pat my back.

Donato sets the ball up and he kicks it over the post. 6-0.

At half time the score is 24-4.

My team and I walk through the tunnel and we sit. I grab a bottle of an energy drink and I drain the bottle in 30 seconds.

The coach is smiling. "That's how we put them cougars away on the board. You have to get out there and continue this leading streak."

I'm on fire tonight. Maybe, that's because I'm showing off for Samantha. I hope she's watching the game.

I smile.

Jackson smacks the back of my head. "What are you smiling about?"

"Just thinking about Samantha watching the game. I hope she's impressed with my ball handling skills."

Jackson laughs. "Everyone's impressed, mate. I'll have to ask Donato who has bigger balls."

I smack the back of his head and roll my eyes. "Don't you dare, Jackson"

"Donato," Jackson yells.

He turns to us and I cover his mouth with my hand.

I hear his muffled voice.

When I pull my hand away I have Jackson's saliva on my hands. I wash my hands before the coach yells. "Second half."

Another forty minutes and I get to find out where Samantha is. I need to make things right with the girl and find out why she didn't call me.

Her image keeps flashing in my mind.

She's sexier now that she's pregnant.

I shake my head.

My heads not in the game this half. I've missed a couple tries and fumbled the ball when it's been thrown my way.

Jackson stops next to me. "Get your head in the game. You could lose us with win. I'm not going to have some pussy distracting you from the win.

Fuck!

I run along the field and stop next to the coach. "Put someone else in. I need a rest."

The coach puts McGuire in my place.

I take a seat with my team mates.

Coach turns to me. "Let me know when you want back in the game."

I nod.

I close my eyes and clear my mind of everything including Samantha.

Get your head in the game.

"Coach I want back in the game."

Coach holds up McGuire's number and he runs off the field.

I run over to my team mates.

Jackson has the ball and he looks for someone to pass the ball to. I run behind him and he passes me the ball. I run down the field. I dodge four players and go over the try line.

Jackson taps my back. "Welcome back, mate."

I kick the ball over the post adding two more points to our score.

At the end of the game my team won. The score was 50-16.

I shake the hands with the players from Cougars.

"Good game, Captain." The Cougars captain says.

"You, too. I'll see you the next time we play." I walk up the tunnel to the change rooms.

I stop next to the door when I see the head of my security.

He turns to me. "She's gone, Mr Colt."

I should have gone after her out there.

I hit my fist against the wall. My knuckles are grazed when I pull it back and they are bleeding.

Jackson pulls me away from the wall and into the change rooms. "Colt?"

I take a deep breath before looking at my team mate and best friend. "What?"

"What happened?"

I sigh. "She's gone. I'm too late."

Jackson shakes his head. "When we get home we'll look for her online, okay?"

"Okay,"

"Take a shower and then see the doctor."

I take my clothes off and walk into the shower.

After the shower I wrap the towel around my hips and pull on a pair of black slacks and blue button up t-shirt and tie.

I knock the door and enter the room.

The doctor cleans up my hand and wraps it up.

Jackson waits for me next to the door. "Are you ready to look for her?"

I nod. "Samantha Black is the type of girl that's meant to be loved and cherished. Instead of used and left behind."

"Did you invite her back with you?"

Chapter 8

I've been living in Santa Cruz for a week. After I left Maddox behind in New York I hired a car and drove here.

I live in a one bedroom apartment that overlooks the beach.

The guy that runs the building is a grumpy old fart that makes whistling noises with his nose every time he breathes.

I think I need to get some earplugs for when I'm around whistler.

Today I'm looking for a job. I need to money for the apartment I'm living in. I pick up resume and and handbag. I walk out the door.

I walk along the boardwalk and come across cafes and shops. I put my resume into all of them.

The last cafe on the boardwalk has people lining up onto the streets.

There's a girl around my age pushing through the crowd and collecting cups from the tables.

I walk over to her. "Do you need some help?"

She nods. "Yeah, can you collect all the cups and bring them into the kitchen?"

I put my bag behind the counter and collect the cups from the tables and wipe them down.

The line moves and it takes fifteen minutes until the final person on the street is served.

The girl my age sits at a table. "Do you have a resume?"

I give it to her.

She flips threw the pages. "I want you here tomorrow morning at seven for an induction. I'll train you how to make coffee using our machines."

I shake her hand. "Thanks."

She smiles. "My name is Lauren."

"I'm Samantha."

"It's nice to meet you. I have to go to the office. If you want something to drink one of my employees will get it." Lauren walks behind the counter and into a room.

On the way back to my apartment my phone rings and I look at the called ID before answering it.

"Hey, Maddie,"

"Guess who's back in town?"

I shake my head. "I'm not in the mood for games. Who's in town?"

"Maddox Colt."

My grip on the phone tightens. "What's he doing there?"

"He's looking for you."

I sigh. "Does he know what happened between my parents and me?"

"Yes, his Aunt and Uncle took him to my work and told him over lunch. Maddox isn't happy and I think he's ready to hurt people."

"Don't tell him where I am."

"I won't. Sam, please go to one of his games before you give birth to the kid. Take care of yourself and I'll see you in two months."

"Okay, I'll show you around town and where I work."

"You got a job? That's great."

I hear a male say. "Maddie is that..."

I hang up the phone.

I can't talk to Maddox right now.

I stop in front of the rundown apartment building I'm staying in.

Whistler exits the building. "Stop loitering girl and get inside. You make the place look dirty."

I laugh. "Yes, Sir." I salute him.

I enter the building and walk up the stairs to my apartment.

A guy run down the steps. His shoulder brushes against mine and I nearly fall down the stairs.

He grabs my arm and tugs me to him. "I'm sorry." He drops his hands.

"Be careful next time." I start to climb the steps.

He grabs my hand. "I'm Jaxon."

"Samantha."

"Do you want to grab dinner sometime?"

"Sure, find me when you want to go on the date."

"Alright, I'll see you around, Sam." He runs out of the building.

The door to my place is ajar.

Whistler walks up the stairs. "Is everything alright, miss."

I shake my head. "The door to my place is ajar. I locked it when I left. What if someone is still in there."

"No ones in there now. If it makes you feel safer I'll check it out for you." He enters the place.

A couple seconds later he exits the room. "It's all clear."

I enter the place and everything is thrown all over the place. The fridge and freezer are open.

I start cleaning up the place.

Someone was after something I don't have.

I don't feel safe here.

I walk into the hardware store.

A guy stops next to me. "Can I help you, Miss?"

I nod. "Sure, I need some locks for my apartment. My place was broken into and I need to feel safer in my place."

Damn, I need to learn when to talk and when to keep my mouth shut.

This is the time when I need it keep my mouth closed.

The guy pulls some things off the shelf. "Is there anything else you need?"

I shake my head. "That should be it." I stop. "Tools, I need something to use to put those in the door."

He picks up the tools and puts it in the pile. "Follow me to the register and I'll ring your order up."

I follow him the register and he puts the items through. I give him the money and take the brown paper bag from the table.

I hear the pounding of feet as I step onto the street.

The guy from the apartment trips over his feet. He lands at my feet.

I laugh. "Hey, handsome."

He looks at me. "Of course it had to be you that I fall in front of."

I help him to his feet.

He points the bag. "What did you get."

"I got some tools and locks for the apartment door."

He shakes his head. "Your place was the one that was broken into?"

I nod. "Yeah, does that happen all the time?"

"No, only to the new people to the apartment. Did you have anything valuable in that house?"

"No, everything I had valuable was left behind with my old life."

"What about the baby?"

"That's another story and something I don't want to talk about."

Jaxon put his hand on the small of my back and we head toward our apartment. "Do you need help installing the stuff you have in the bag?"

"Yes,"

"I'll have a shower and then come over."

Jaxon enters the apartment next to mine.

I put the bag on the floor next to door.

I pull out the mince from the fridge and the spaghetti from the cupboard.

I start making dinner.

There's a knock on the door and I open it.

Jaxon looks great in his jeans and t-shirt. His black hair is tousled from his shower.

I pull the tools out of the bag and give them to him.

He takes it from me. "Thanks, babe."

I check on the food on the stove and turn it to a slow setting. I put a timer on for twenty minutes.

I watch Jaxon put the locks into the door.

The timer goes off and I turn off the stove.

Jaxon stands. "The locks are done. I should go."

"Please, stay. I don't want to be alone." I set two plates on the table.

Jaxon and I sit on the lounge and eat dinner.