Ice Dreams Part 2 (2 page)

Madison turned around to face her. “He did? I never told me.”

Alicia pointed to a card on the dining table. “Open it.”

Maddy grabbed the envelope and ripped it open. She smiled at the simple card as she opened it.

Maddy,

I’m sorry that I can’t be there today to welcome you into your new home but I will see you tomorrow. Enjoy your gifts and don’t think twice about them. I owe you this.

Carter

Madison looked at Alicia and started to cry. “I’m just not used to this.”

Alicia hugged her. “I know that, sweetheart. No one will ignore you again. Carter will make sure of that. Hunter didn’t want to leave you a note but I have a feeling he’s driving in after the game so expect a late night knock on your door.”

“That’s crazy! I don’t want him to get into an accident.”

Alicia shrugged. “I told him that you would say that.”

Madison grabbed her phone and quickly sent him a text. I’m here, safe & sound but please don’t drive home tonight. Stay in the city and leave in the morning.

She walked into the bedroom and noticed her bed still needed to be set up and her suitcases surrounded the room. She walked down the small hallway to the bathroom and continued into the smaller bedroom which she decided to make into a small office.

“Maddy! You have to check out your view,” Alicia shouted from the living room.

She walked back down the hallway and entered the living room. She moved around the boxes and joined Alicia on the balcony. “I know. Hunter sent me a picture the day that they found the apartment. It’s breathtaking.”

Alicia leaned against the railings. “I’m so happy that you are here.”

Madison
smiled at her. “I am too. I said good bye to my parents before I left. Hunter wasn’t happy about that.”

“I heard. I wish I could tell you to just ignore them but I know that they are your parents and that’s difficult to do. Don’t worry about the wedding planning either. You are my maid of honor and that’s that.”

“Thank you. It means so much to me. Are you sure that your friends won’t be upset?”

“They are just fine being bridesmaids. Believe me, it’s better this way.”

Madison smiled as she felt her cell phone buzz. She looked down at the screen. It’s been over a month since I’ve seen you. Nothing is stopping me from being at your place tonight. - Hunter

“He will never listen to me, will he?”

Alicia chuckled. “He’s a man. They never do.” She grabbed a box from the living room and carried it into the bedroom.

After the moving truck left, Alicia helped her unpack and made the apartment acceptable to live in.
Madison collapsed on the couch and closed her eyes.

When she woke up, she noticed that the sun had set and Alicia was gone. She saw the piece of paper on her coffee table.

I didn’t want to wake you but I headed home. Call me if you need anything! I will touch base with you tomorrow and we will go out for lunch - Alicia

Madison
walked into her bathroom and found a towel so she could take a shower. She looked at her watch and noticed it was after nine. She turned on the water and stepped in. She let the warm water run down her body as she reached for her lotion. She smiled as she thought about Hunter. She would see him again soon. She had fallen in love with him already but she didn’t want to tell him.

She didn’t want to scare him away until she knew how he felt about her. She finished shaving her legs and grabbed her towel. She dried her hair and searched for clean clothes throughout the boxes.

She didn’t have her cable hooked up yet so she grabbed her book and took a chair from the dining room out onto the patio. The sun had set already but she could see the waves glistening in the moonlight.

She lit a few candles, put her feet up on the bars and looked around. The neighborhood appeared quiet. Her neighbors weren’t making a sound. Her building housed four apartments. She looked over at the patio next to hers. She could see the light through the blinds but no sound. The other apartments were below them and didn’t provide patios for the residents.

Maddy opened her book and started to read. She was so happy at that very moment. The ocean was in front of her, her boyfriend would be in her arms shortly and she was finally starting her life.

Her attention moved to the apartment next to hers as the sliding door opened. A male stepped out and leaned against the railing. He looked upset. Maddy tried to keep her attention on her book but couldn’t help but wonder what was wrong with him.

She couldn’t see him clearly but she could tell that he was taller than she was. He had short dark hair and worked out. He must have noticed her candles as he turned towards her.

Maddy timidly waved as she said, “Hello.”

He pushed away from his railing and walked closer to her balcony. “Hi, did you move in today?”

Madison
stood up and placed her book on the chair. “Yeah, I don’t have anything set up so I’m hanging out on the balcony.”

He smiled and stretched to reach her hand. “I’m Mike. Welcome to the building.”

“Thanks,” she replied as she shook his hand. “I’m Madison.”

“You sound like you have an accent. Where are you from?”

She smiled. “I’m from Toronto.”

“Wow, that’s cool. Why did you move to the states?”

Madison smiled. “I moved here to start college and to be closer to my brother and my boyfriend.”

“That’s great. If you need anything just knock away or yell over.”

“Thank you. I may take you up on that offer. My boyfriend is arriving later tonight and I tried to clean up some boxes but I’m exhausted from the drive.”

“Where is he coming from?” he asked.

“The city, he had a game tonight.” She couldn’t make out his face but she sensed he didn’t understand her.

“Is he an athlete?”

Madison nodded. “He and my brother play hockey.”

He gasped. “You are kidding me, right? Who are they? I’m a huge
Carolina fan.”

“My brother is Carter Sinclair,” she paused.

“Sinclair! That’s awesome. I can’t believe I’m living next to his sister. Who are you dating?”

“Hunter Longo.”

Mike sat in his chair. He stared at her. “I’m just blown away. I was having a shitty night and you just cheered me up in ten seconds flat.”

She frowned. “So, it made you happy that I’m surrounded by pro athletes but I didn’t have that affect on you.”

Mike immediately frowned. “God, I’m so sorry.” He jumped out of his chair and leaned against his railing facing her. “I’m an idiot for saying that. I finally have a decent neighbor who isn’t seventy years old and doesn’t smell like ointment and I ruin it already.”

She looked at him and felt he was truly sorry. “It’s ok, Mike. I’m on edge and not used to a lot of people talking to me.”

“Well, consider me your friend next door and not because of your brother or boyfriend but you seem really nice. I had to start my life over too and I know how it feels.”

She nodded. “Thank you and I’m sure it has nothing to do with you being afraid that Hunter would kick your ass.” She smiled and turned around.

“Man, I didn’t even think of that. Please don’t tell him that I upset you.”

Madison
opened up the patio door and stepped inside. “It’s our little secret.”

She walked across the room and plopped on her couch. She quickly fell asleep again. She awoke to a knocking at her door. She looked at her phone and noticed it was two in the morning.

She got up and looked through her peephole. She gasped as she opened the door. “Hunter!”

He smiled as he scoped her up and twirled her around the room. His lips crushed hers as he kicked the door shut. He walked over to the couch and lay on top of her. His lips continued their attack as if they hadn’t seen each others in years. When he pulled back
Madison gasped for air.

He looked down at her. “Hey sweetheart, you are sight for sore eyes.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

He kissed her again as he pulled her off the couch. “I told you that I would be here tonight.”

Maddy frowned. “You could have slept like a normal person and come in the morning.”

“Hell no, I wanted to see my girl.”

She smiled at him. “I’m happy to see you too.”

He pulled her back into his arms. “How was your drive?”

“Exhausting, I’m so tired.”

He pulled her towards the bedroom and lay her down next to him. “Shut your eyes and get some rest. We can talk in the morning.”

Madison smiled as she leaned over and kissed him lightly. “I’m really happy that you are here.”

“Me too,” Hunter said and kissed her nose.

CHAPTER TWO

Madison woke up to sunlight filling her bedroom. She stretched and rolled over to face Hunter. He looked peaceful as he slept the morning away. She slowly rose and walked towards the bathroom. She turned on the shower and hoped that she wouldn’t wake him up.

She reached for her shampoo and stood underneath the warm water. She felt her heart race as she heard the bathroom door open and close. “Hunter?”

“Yes?”

“What are you up too?” she asked nervously. Hunter was the first man who had seen her naked but never like this. She knew he couldn’t see her through the stained shower glass but it still didn’t calm her nerves.

“I woke up and you were gone. I wanted to find you.”

Madison
took a deep breath as the last of the shampoo rinsed from her body. She could see his reflection through the glass. She kept her eyes on his image as he reached for the handle. She slowly released the breath she was holding as he stepped into the shower with her.

He didn’t say anything to her as his hand reached around her neck and pulled her lips to his. She melted against his solid chest. Her embarrassment faded as his fingers trailed down her back and slid over her bare, wet skin.

Madison braced herself against Hunter as she opened her eyes, his eyes darkened as he captured her lips again. He twirled her around and placed his hands on the wall behind her.

He moaned. “You are gorgeous,
Madison. Your body is perfect.” She blushed and closed her eyes. She felt the water pour over them as he whispered, “Look at me, Maddy.”

She opened her eyes and sighed. “I don’t know why I get so nervous when I’m around you. I’m so inexperienced.”

He smiled as he turned the water off and opened the shower door. Madison couldn’t help but check out his backside as he wrapped a towel around himself. He grabbed a dry towel from a box on the floor and reached for her hand. He slowly wrapped the towel around her and pulled her close to him.

“
Madison, I would hope by now that you would trust me and know that I would never pressure you into anything. I want to create a life with you.”

She leaned into him and kissed his lips. “I know, Hunter. Thank you for going at my pace.”

He ran his fingers down her cheek. “Come on, let’s get dressed and I will make you breakfast.”

Madison
smiled. “I would love that but I don’t have any food.”

He took her hand and led her back into the bedroom. “I guess we will have to go shopping first.”

She grabbed a pair of shorts, a pink t-shirt and sat on the bed as he finished getting ready. “Can I ask you a question?”

“You can ask me anything.”

“Do you think I bit off more than I can chew? I moved to a different country to start a career that I have no knowledge in and left my parents behind. I doubt they will ever talk to me again.” She started to cry into her hands.

Hunter sat on the bed next to her. “You will be fine,
Madison. You are scared. It’s understandable. You are starting over and embarking on a new journey.”

“Did I do the right thing?”

Hunter wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Yes. We have all experienced the fear of moving away from our parents but we did it a lot earlier than you. The advantage to that is we know what you are going through and can help.”

Madison
lifted her head and kissed him lightly. “Thank you.”

“I’m here for you, Maddy. Finish getting ready and we will head over to Carter’s and then the grocery store. I’m off tonight but I need to head back to the city first thing in the morning.”

She nodded as she tied her hair into a ponytail and grabbed her purse. Hunter opened her door and they were greeted by her new neighbor, Mike.