Playing With Fire by Ashley Piscitelli Page B

and the lack of food in it, then I saw the clock. It was almost one in the afternoon. I decided to surprise Maddy and go get her some of that sushi she loved. I’d be back before she woke up anyway.
    Madison
    I felt a hand running through my hair and down my side. I smiled at the fact that I was getting to wake up next to Carter. I opened my eyes and a hand clamped down on my mouth before I could scream. Chris was standing over me giving me a smile that made my stomach turn.
    I scanned the room for any trace of Carter, but I couldn’t find him. My stomach dropped and I was paralyzed by fear. Please let him be okay. My hands shot up to remove Chris’s hand, but he grabbed them and pinned them above my head.
    “I told you I’d be back for you. He can’t protect you from me, no one can. You’re mine, and I’m never going to let you go.”
    I couldn’t respond because of his hand, and I could only imagine what happened to Carter. I started to sob because it was the only thing I could do. Just then, I heard the sound of Carter’s car. He hadn’t been home? When did he leave? Why? Chris heard it, too, because his face dropped. I heard the front door shut and Carter singing to himself.
    “Don’t think I’m done with you. I’ll be back, baby,” he whispered.
    He kissed me on my forehead and then hopped out of the window.
    Carter
    Damn, sushi is fucking expensive but it would be worth it just to see her smile. I heard the window open in the bedroom. Maddy must be up. Although, I don’t know what the hell she is doing opening a window in December.
    I walked into the bedroom and when my eyes found her, it looked like she had seen a ghost. Shit, she must have had a nightmare. I should have just stayed with her. I closed the window because it was freezing in the room. I walked over to the bed, sat down and wrapped her in my arms. “Shhh, baby, it was only a dream. I’m here.” She cried in my arms for at east another ten minutes.
    “He was here,” she whispered.
    What? My whole body stiffened. “What do you mean? What happened? I thought you just had a bad dream.” My eyes found the window that had been open when I got in the room.
    “Chris was here when I woke up. I thought it was you at first. He was rubbing my head and I just assumed it was you. He put his hand over my mouth so I wouldn’t yell and told me he had come back for me. Then, he heard your car and went out the window.”
    I jumped up from the bed. He had taken this shit too far. I was going to find him and make sure he never even thought about her again, much less came near her. I felt her grab my arm and turned around to meet her eyes. She looked so scared that it only fueled my anger more. I shook her off and headed for the door.
    “Carter, wait, please!”
    I turned around, but I didn’t answer her. I didn’t trust my voice right now. I was too angry and I needed to go find him.
    “Carter, please don’t leave; please just stay with me. I know you’re mad and I’m sorry.”
    Wait, what? She thought I was mad at her? I needed to calm myself down. “What are you talking about, baby?”
    “You’re mad because Chris was here. It's my fault he even came. I never meant to bring all of this drama to you, and I know I’m putting you in danger by just being here”
    Is she crazy? She really has no idea how much I love her. She is so used to the dysfunctional relationship she had with Chris. It makes sense that she thinks I’m mad at her; he always blamed her for everything.
    I’ve got to fix this. I pulled her into me and held her until we both calmed down. I led her to the couch and sat her next to me. Before she even got all the way down, she was climbing into my lap. She wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in my chest. I couldn’t leave her like this. She needed me here, but that didn’t mean that this was over.
    Madison
    If I held him long enough, maybe he would forgive me. I hate that I brought Chris and all of my