;a little lost, a lot found

"What song you got for me today then, Bella? Hit me with it." Maddox smirked, turning the key and bringing his G to life.

The fact this is a thing now has me holding back a huge freaking grin.

Phone in hand, playlist already up for my choosing.

"We're going hit radio way today, Baller." I quipped, clicking on Stormzy, Ed Sheeran and Burna Boy - Own it.

Pulling out the campus drive way and down towards the closest Walmart.

Half way down the road I catch Maddox fully grinning to himself.

"What the hell is that grin?" I asked, highly amused.

Baller licks his lips and looks out his side window, flicking the turn signal on. "Don't know what you're talking about, Bella."

"Mhm. So I didn't catch you wearing a face splitting grin, no?"

"Nope." He replied, popping his p.

"Tell me." I playfully demanded.

He gives me a quick glance with his beautiful baby brows before tearing them away and back to the road, placing his hand on my high thigh, sending a warm feeling up from my panties to my chest. "Forget our friends, girl, I love it when we chill." he says, echoing the song lyrics.

I pinch his cheek, "you like it when we chill, Baller?"

"Love it, Quinn." he shoots back.

A few minutes later, we're pulling into a parking space and hopping out the G - or so Maddox calls it - reaching his hand out for mine, I playfully shove him away, which in theory was a stupid idea because now he's chasing after me through the busy lot, catching me with lightening speed as he wraps his arms around my waist, pressing his toned torso into my back, lifting my feet from the ground.

"Put me down!" I yelped through a howl of laugher. "Please!"

"Sorry, Bella. No can do."

Pulling out a cart, he tosses me inside like I was a joint of beef.

I jump to my feet attempting to hop out but he begins to push it inside and I fall down, dropping on my ass, too scared of going overboard - me being humourless and Maddox being completely amused.

Asshole.

Actually being in this cart isn't so bad.

It's like being a child again, getting pushed about in a buggy by one of your parents.

I roll my head backwards to look up at Maddox, who's already looking down at me. "Hit me with the list then, baby girl."

Fuck. I'm so freaking fucked.

After grabbing the vegetables and sides, we make it to the meat.

Maddox thought it was hilariously funny to sprint down the aisle and coming to a skidding stop at the end, earning us a very distasteful look from an elderly lady. Needless to say me and Maddox honestly didn't care as we burst out laughing when she was gone from sight.

We're funny, not rude after all.

I sit with my back at the other end of the cart, facing Maddox, my feet propped up against the metal, ingredients draped all over me.

"You're gonna get us kicked out." I sighed, smiling to myself.

Maddox pops a shoulder, seeming un-phased by it. "They'll have to catch us first."

I snort. "And you say I'm stupid."

"Okay, focus now, Rachel Ray. What beef do we need?" he says, glancing over the fridges.

"Mince.. Pick the leanest one. That's the best one, less fat and next to no fatty bits." I advise, kneeling in the cart to look over.

He picks up a packet, I scrunch my nose up and shake my head. Maddox chuckles, putting it back and looking again. Grabbing another one he lifts it to show me. I shake my head again.

"Jeez, will you just pick one already." He retorts.

I sigh.

Taking a minute to look over the lines of packed meat, and back again. "That one." I say, pointing it out.

Smirking to himself, he grabs the wrong one. "This one?"

"No. That one." I repeat, bringing attention to where my finger is pointing by wiggling it.

He goes the complete opposite way. "Oh, this one."

"Maddox, this. One." I grow frustrated, jamming my finger towards the meat.

"I got you, Bella." he quips, picking up - yet again - another wrong one.

I'm to the point now where I stand up in the cart and raise my leg to hop out, for Maddox to catch my knee and push it back down, retracting his hands and resting them on the side of the cart in front of me, we're eye level now, so close his hot breath fans my face, his baby browns are light and impish, amused at the agro he's caused me.

My turn to play.

Dropping one hand on top of his, I gently stoke the back of his hand with my fingertips. His eyes snapping down at the contact.

"Sup, Baller? You look a little flustered." I teased in a purposely seductive tone.

Slowly looking up, bringing his orbs to meet mine. "We're in public. Knock it off if you don't wanna get arrested for indecent exposure."

"Maybe I do." I taunt, watching Maddox's pupils dilate slightly. "I could imagine being behind bars with you, it'd be fun, no?"

"Bella," He practically growls, warning me.

I smirk, holding my hands up in defence. "Just saying."

Seemingly Maddox doesn't like to be teased because before I could pull away, he latches onto my wrists and pulls me into his chest, the cart wobbling to the side slightly. He places my hands on his each of his pecks, and draws closer.

Gently pecking my lips. "Don't." another kiss. "Poke." another, another kiss. "The bear." another, another, 'nother, kiss. "Bella."

✫✬✫

"Damn, Tee. That shit smells good." Jason hums in approval as I pull the lasagne out the oven.

"You normally go around smelling shit, Jacey?" I smirked.

The whole time I've been cooking, Maddox has been standing the opposite side of the room, nursing the same bottle of beer Cammy chucked at him when we walked through the door, never once taking his eyes off me, not even when he's been spoken too.

It weird how hot I find it though, like for real, should I be worried that he physically can't take his eyes off me?

Jason attempts to snag a slice of home made garlic bread off the plate I've just placed it on, swatting his hand away before he got his grubby hands on them.

I glare at him over the kitchen island. "Wash your hands before you touch my goods, Mr Cooper."

He winks. "Yes, ma'am." Slipping off the bar stool, and bounding up the stairs two at a time.

I plate up whilst being surrounded by six, over grown, bulking ballers all foaming at the mouth, with legit hungry eyes.

Perched beside Maddox at the dinner table, I was thanked by a lot of appreciated hums, some questionable moans and a shit ton of questions that made me lose my appetite - and fast.

"Fuuucckk." Drawled out Miles, dropping his head back lazily before he swallowed. "How did you get so fucking good at cooking, Tee?" he eyes me, using his fork to cut the edge and shovelling it on the utensil.

My body tenses at the question, and my eyes snap to Eli who shuffles in his seat and flicks his food around on the plate.

Praying no one noticed went out the window when Maddox - being the perceptive ass he is - snaps his eyes to mine in confusion to my reaction.

I cover my mouth quickly, attempting to swallow the meat and pasta, along with the giant lump that appeared in my throat.

"Oh. Uh. . . Just messed around with recipes at home, y'know." I smile, popping one shoulder up, trying my hardest to remain normal.

"Well it damn well paid off. You could package this shit and sell it." Jason gushed, swiping up his last piece and scoffed it in his mouth.

No shame, doesn't even care he's got the orangey juice colour around his mouth.

I purse my lips to the corner of my mouth, the food no longer appealing to me, but it would him. "Hey, Jace? Want this?" I ask, nodding down at my plate.

"Nah, honey boo-boo, you eat it. Get yourself big and strong like me." He jokes, flexing his biceps that look incredible with the white polo he's wearing, clinging around it with strength.

"I don't want it. Please?" I whine, nudging my plate closer.

With a frown and a mocking sigh, he slides the plate over and digs in, not a single fuck given which makes me giggle.

Picking my glass of ice water up and taking a sip, Maddox leans into my side, his nose grazing the skin behind my ear. "Don't think I'm not going to bring this up when we're alone."

I gulped, visibly gulp.

Instead of staying to play NBA2K22 with the boys, I quickly gave them all a kiss on the cheek bye, gathering my things and trying to escape. It's not like I was hiding or anything, right?

No. I had to get ready before the party.

That's a legitimate excuse.

I thought I was home free when I got to the garden walk way, that was until I heard heavy footsteps behind me, followed by my bag strap getting yanked, knocking my back into a solid body. I didn't need to turn, I could already smell him.

Inhale.

Poker face.

Exhale.

I turn around to give Maddox my deadliest glare. "What the hell, Hunter?"

He wets his lips, turning his head to the left before slowing bringing it back to me.

"That's how you're tryna play this? Okay," he pops a shoulder, "I'll pretend I didn't see you tense up like Miles on a rollercoaster."

"Don't know what you're on about." I give him a unbothered look while shaking my head slightly.

Maddox bends so he's eye level with me. "How did you get good at cooking, Bella?" he rasps.

"I already said." I respond blankly.

"Don't make me ask you again." he warns.

I snort mockingly. "Or what?" I challenge him, scrunching my nose up as I do.

A nonchalant shrug, his lips tipping slightly. "I won't kiss you again."

A scoff leaps outta me. "Okay, Baller. You're saying it like it's a threat."

"It is."

"Too bad I'm not scared then, huh?" I raise a brow, turning on the balls of my feet and making my way down to my car.

"I mean it, Bella." He calls after me, shoving his hands in the front pockets of his sweats.

I don't even glance back, giving him the peace sign over my shoulder.

I needed a breather, the faster I get away the better. I was too scared about giving him everything too soon.

It's not that I didn't trust him, because in some fucked up way, I did. I just don't want him knowing all my stupid little secrets from the past.

He didn't need to know how I learned to cook, not so he could throw me those pretty brown pity eyes when I tell him I learned so I could feed myself and my brother because my parents were barely home. At the ripe ol' age of 12, it was my job to make sure Eli and I had a decent meal to come home from school to.

And I'd do it all again, especially because meals cooked by me, give Eli a sense of home.

I just pray he doesn't keep this going at the party tonight.