The Right Moves (The Game #3)(49)
Author: Emma Hart

“I know.”

“Nah, man. I mean she really f**kin’ trusts you. She could barely tell herself about what she’d been through three months ago, and now she’s told you everything. That’s important for her, y’know? When I first met her she was a shadow of the person she is now, and she was adamant all she cared about was Juilliard. No guys. She wasn’t interested in relationships at all, and who can blame her? That ass**le Pearce f**ked her over good, and if I’d known it all when the shit turned up in Berkeley I would have ripped his goddamn head off.” Braden takes a deep breath. “Abbi swore she’d never tell anyone what she’d been through; she was certain the only people that would ever know would be Maddie, Dr. Hausen, and me. She trusts me because Maddie does. But now you know, and she told you.

“I tell you what, dude. She’s told you, and that means she trusts you more than just the normal way. She’s trusting you with you with her heart and giving you the power to destroy it. After the way Pearce destroyed her, I can hardly f**king believe it, yet at the same time, it’s totally believable.”

“That last statement makes no sense at all.”

“I can’t believe it ‘cause of how certain she was before, but I can believe it ‘cause the whole time we’ve talked, you ain’t taken your eyes off her.”

With that sentence, I know he gets it. He gets it better than anyone could.

“Would you take your eyes off if you had a girl like her?”

“You’ve seen my girl, right?” Braden laughs. “I’ve had my ass kicked in English more times than I f**kin’ remember because she’s distracted me. Ever since we met, it was always her. I’d put a bet on it was the same for you.”

“Pretty much.”

The girls stand, moving to cross the garden to us as Abbi’s dad comes out of the house, fireworks in his arms. Maddie’s dad follows him out, having showed up an hour or so earlier, carrying just a lighter and whistling. Abbi’s mum rolls her eyes at them.

“I wonder when you two will grow up,” she muses.

“Never,” Maddie’s dad declares. “Growing up is far too boring.”

“And if we grew up, we wouldn’t have an excuse for the antics we get up to on our fishing weekends!” Abbi’s dad puts in.

“I don’t want to know,” her mum mutters to herself.

“By the way, mate.” I nudge Braden as Maddie and Abbi approach us. “You owe Maddie nine dollars.”

“Fuck.” He pauses. “Make that ten.”

“Hey.” I glance at him. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”

He turns his face toward me, a smug smile gracing his lips. “Know what, man? I think I like you.”

Maddie stops in front of us and combs her eyes over me before looking at Braden. “You didn’t get your club out, then?”

“For the love of God, Maddie.”

She grins, perching on his knee and pinching his cheek. “You’re so easy to wind up.”

“She’s right,” Abbi agrees. “So, how much do you owe her?”

“Nothing,” he lies.

“Really?” Maddie and Abbi say in unison, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

“Bloody hell, that was creepy,” I mutter. “Really. He didn’t swear once.”

Braden grins, wrapping his arms around Maddie’s waist and kissing her cheek. “Looks like we’re stuck with McDonald’s, Mads.”

A loud bang interrupts whatever she was about to reply with, making us all jump. Abbi trips over her feet, falling onto my lap, and I laugh. Both at her and the look on her dad’s face.

“S’alright,” he calls, turning around and waving us all off. “Lit the damn thing by accident.”

Maddie’s dad grins, flicking the lighter in his hand.

“Dad!” Maddie yells. “Stop being a child!”

“Again with the growing up.” Abbi’s mum sighs, looking at me. “You’ll get used to these two, Blake.”

“No he won’t,” Abbi argues. “I’m still not used to it and I’ve lived with it for my whole life.”

“Watch it, Princess,” her dad calls. “I still buy your birthday presents!”

“I get to dance on my birthday this year,” she shouts back. “That’s the best present.”

Birthday?

“Wait, when’s your birthday?” I curl my arm around her waist and poke her side.

“Um, Sunday.”

“Performance day?”

“Um, yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because Abbi hates birthdays,” Maddie replies for her. “For someone who dreams of being in the spotlight, she sure hates the limelight.”

“I’m pretty sure I’ve said that before,” I think out loud.

“Damn, you really didn’t know?” Braden asks in awe.

“No idea, mate.”

He shakes his head. “Shoulda told him, Abbi. You know guys need six months’ notice to get birthdays and shi-eeeeeeet right.” He glances at Maddie who narrows her eyes. “I said sheet, I said sheet!”

“Mmm.”

Abbi smiles. “I hate birthdays. I don’t like the fuss.”

“How am I supposed to find you something for your birthday in a day?”

“Fireworks!” Both Abbi and Maddie’s dad’s yell excitedly.

“That’s where they get it,” Braden mutters.

“I don’t need anything for my birthday,” Abbi protests, tucking her fingers around mine. “I get to dance on my birthday. There’s nothing that can top that.”

“Oh damn,” Braden says in the same mutter. “Now she’s done it.”

“Done what?” Abbi looks around.

“You’ve said nothing can beat dancing on your birthday. That shit is a challenge.” He digs into his pocket and hands Maddie a dollar before she’s even opened her mouth. “Now he’s gonna have to find something to top it.”

“No he doesn’t!”

“I do,” I say. “In one bloody day.”

Maddie smiles slyly. “It’s a good job I’m here. Blake, what are you doing tomorrow?”

“Apparently, shopping for a present for Abbi.”

“No shopping needed. I know exactly what you can get her.”

Chapter Twenty-One – Abbi