Ice Dreams Part 3 by Melissa Johns Read Free Book Online Page B

her hand and played with her ring. “Start getting used to it, Maddy. You have people who love you that surround you. You have no excuses anymore.”
    She smiled. “I know. It’s just hard to hear.” She looked back towards the bar and spotted Hunter watching them. “Hey, can we go?”
    Mike looked up and noticed him as well. “Sure, come on. I will follow you back to the building.”
    They got up and headed towards the parking lot. She heard her name as she stopped. “Madison, please don’t leave.”
    Hunter walked up to her and leaned against her car. “Hunter, go back to your friends. I’m heading home.”
    “You are beautiful, you know that? That dress shows off every curve of your body.”
    She blushed as she reached for her keys. “Thank you but I need to leave.” Mike walked up to her and put his hand on her waist. “Everything ok?”
    Hunter’s eyes moved to his hand. “What’s up with you two? Are you a couple?”
    Mike grinned. “What if we were? You had your chance and you blew it, Hunter.”
    Hunter’s eyes locked with his. “Did she mention that I’m staying in town?”
    Mike looked at her. She nodded. “He told me earlier today.”
    Mike shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, Hunter. She’s a grown woman and I will respect any decision that she makes.”
    He took one last look at Madison and disappeared back into the bar. She sighed and leaned against her car. She opened her eyes as Mike leaned next to her. “You ok?”
    She nodded. “I think it’s getting easier. Saturday will be the real test.”
    “Come on, let’s go home.”
    She pulled into her parking space as Mike pulled next to her. She locked her car and turned towards Mike. “Feel like taking a walk?”
    He nodded. “Sure.” They walked down the stairs and out onto the beach. She stood there and watched the waves crash onto the shore. She felt Mike’s arms embrace her from behind as she leaned back against his chest. She could hear Jessie’s voice in her head telling her to take a chance.
    He softly whispered. “What’s on your mind, Maddy?”
    “Would you like to be my date this Saturday?” She closed her eyes and waited for his response.
    “Of course, I hoped you were going ask.”
    She turned around and faced him. “You were?”
    He nodded. “That way I’m by your side when you break down over him.”
    She closed her eyes again and looked down. “I’m going to try and be strong.”
    “Your parents are going to be coming into town shortly, right?” he asked.
    She looked up at him. He remembered. She nodded. “I can’t even think about that right now. She will start picking everything apart as soon as she arrives.”
    “If I know anything about Alicia, I don’t think she would allow that.”
    Maddy chuckled. “That’s true.”
    “Do I need to rent a tux?” he asked.
    “No, it’s casual. A suit is fine.”
    He nodded. “Hunter is staying in town, huh?”
    She groaned as she started to walk down the beach. “Yeah, he told me today. I told him it was over though.”
    “Do you honestly feel like it is though?”
    “It has to be over. I think I could have forgiven him about being weak and feeling so insecure about his past. I can’t fault him for that. I would have helped him build his confidence but he bailed on me. You saw how he did it. He left me. He didn’t give me a chance to fight. I can’t forgive that.”
    “The question is do you still love him?” He looked worried.
    She stopped and turned back towards him. “He was my first love, I think he will always have a section of my heart but it’s time for me to see what else is out there.”
    He took a step closer to her and braced her face with his hand. “I forgot to tell you how beautiful you look in that sundress, Madison.” She blushed and looked down. He tilted her chin towards him. “What am I going to do with you?”
    She smiled. “It will take time, Mike. I used to say the same thing to Hunter.”
    “Well, he didn’t do a good