Playing for Keeps by Jamie Hill Page A

Maddie's chair, and leaned back into Maddie's lap. "Hey Soph," Rob whispered in her ear. "Wake up and watch the fireworks. They're going off just for you."
    The little girl opened her eyes and smiled as she witnessed at least a part of the display. Rob settled back and Maddie grimaced. It wasn't the most comfortable position. Or am I just pissed at him? "Hello," she said quietly in his ear.
    " Hey baby." He leaned his head back on her shoulder and watched the fireworks.
    Maddie desperately wanted to talk to Rob about what she 'd witnessed, but this wasn't the time. He was half drunk, she was trying to get that way, and it was Sophie's birthday and the Fourth of July. She thought about making a snide comment, but remembered how angry he'd gotten earlier when she did that. If she did it again, she might not see him for the rest of the night.
    In the end , she decided to lie back and enjoy the fireworks. They ended too soon, and people began cleaning up and going home. Rob carried Sophie to her bed and came back out to polish off a few more beers before saying goodnight to his friends.
    Maddie said her goodbyes to Rosa, and after they parted, she could have sworn she saw Rosa and Smoky kissing out front by their cars. She smiled to herself, pleased at the match. She hugged Fred and Emma before they left, and told everyone else goodbye.
    Rob was the last man standing by the keg of beer. "Don't have to finish that off tonight, you know." She smiled at him.
    He raised his glass to her, grinned and slurred , "I'm giving it the old college try!"
    She touched his arm ."Maybe you should come to bed now."
    He shook her hand off and snapped , "I'll come to bed when I'm ready to come to bed!"
    "A ll right then." Maddie held her hands up, and walked in the house. "Good night." She went to the bedroom and changed into a nightgown. After scrubbing the make-up off her face and brushing her teeth, she ran a brush through her hair to get the tangles out. She finally shut out the light and climbed under the covers.
    Maddie was almost asleep when Rob stumbled into the bedroom. He stripped his clothes off, swearing when he got tangled up in his jeans and fell over. He laughed by himself on the bedroom floor for a minute, then climbed into bed. He pulled Maddie to him roughly and kissed her.
    He smelled like beer and cake , and it was unpleasant to Maddie. "Stop," she told him. "I was almost asleep."
    " Sleep later. I want to make love to you." He forced her knees apart harshly and tried to enter her before she was ready.
    " Rob, stop," she repeated. "You're hurting me."
    He paused for a moment and put a hand to her face. "Never hurt you. I love you."
    Maddie melted when those words came out. Yeah, he was a little drunk, but he knew what he was saying. He loves me . "Oh baby, I love you, too." She opened her legs and he thrust into her. It still hurt but got better quickly as Maddie relaxed. She moaned as he repeated it over and over to her.
    " I love you. I love you. Dee, I love you."
    Maddie 's eyes popped open . He thinks he's making love to Dionne? He said 'I love you' to Dionne? Tears streamed down her face as he climaxed loudly, and Maddie felt his hot stream pulsing through her. Her eyes popped open again. He wasn't wearing a condom.
    As quickly as he stopped convulsing, he started snoring. Maddie rolled Rob off her and slipped into the bathroom. She cleaned herself up the best she could then stood in the shower until the hot water was gone. It was the easiest way to drown out her sobs.

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Maddie did not feel like going to work the next day. She could only imagine how Rob felt. When she finished her morning routine in the bathroom, he hurried past her and shut the door. She thought she heard him throw up before he got in the shower.
    She smiled grimly to herself and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. It wasn 't her usual style, but her head was pounding and she didn't care. She roused Sophie and was feeding