Chapter 3

Madison and I are driving home. "So you feel ok?" She asks. "Yeah for the first match back I fell great. Hell normally I so damn sore I feel like I'm a rookie again," I say and it's true even my trouble knee feels fine. "But you know since we are going to be partners in tournament…" "I know this is going to be great. Hey we should try to match out colors a little like I wear red you wear red tight I wear blue you wear blue," Madison says. "Yeah sure but Madison I want to make this clear…" "Hey who do you think we will face first?" She interrupts to ask. "Madison I am trying to same something. I want to win this thing to but I have to do it my way," I say. "Meaning what?" Madison asks on edge. "Meaning not like how you reached in and tripped up Gunner," I say. "Oh so all I can do ever win is cheat?" Madison yells. "I didn't say that and I didn't mean it like that," I say trying to stay calm. She ignores me and instead says, "you have a lot of nerve considering you count someone like Chris Hero as a close friend and there are plenty of times you have bended the rules to fit your needs," she reminds me.

You know how I used to say the kid was doomed when I first found out about Hope well the kid is doomed because now I'm getting mad. "You are over reacting," I yell. "Hey I did you a favor today and you can't be grateful," she says. Down hill quick and only gaining speed. "I did ask for you help and I'll have you know I beat Gunner just fine before," I yell. "PULL OVER!" She screams. "NO!" I yell right back. "YOU NEVER LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES!" She screams again. "AND YOU JUST YELL ALL THE TIME!" I reply. "LOOK OUT!" Madison yells as I hit the breaks nearly hitting a truck that was stopped at the red light in front of us. Know what burning tire rubber smells like well Madison and I sure do. The good news is its just enough to shut us both up for a while. Once the light changes we drive on for a few blocks.

Finally Madison speaks. "What are we to each other?" She asks. She wants to have this conversation now? Oh boy Jake be careful. "I hate to shave. Let me explain please before you say anything else. I hate to shave it hurts my face I cut myself. Everything costs to much money hell you know what blades are up to. But for you I shave every day. And I smile about it because it makes you happy. You the only person I would want to go out on a date with your the person who I enjoy seeing everyday," I say. "But I'm the person you can't say I love you to," Madison says. I should something but I don't want. "Madison I thought I knew what love was than I woke at thirty and saw I wrong," I say. "I know. Look I'm try to follow the rules," Madison says.

#Break#

I'm awake in bed. I can usually be out in about ten minutes on a good night but this one of those nights where the mind won't shut down. It's midnight and Hope is silent which annoys me because than I could be taking care of her instead of thinking about my issues. "I need to talk to someone," I say to myself picking up the phone. "Hello Jake?" My says half asleep. "Hi Mom did I wake you up," I ask stupidly of course I did. "Are you ok?" She asks. "Mom I know we talk about this stuff but…" "Jake go ahead," She says since I stopped. "Mom when you got divorced from your first husband how did you know you were in love with dad?" I ask quickly. "You want to talk about this now?" My mom asks. "Look I'm sorry I'll call back at normal time," I say. "No no its ok. Is this about Madison? And don't make a joke about how about you and some celebrity," My mom says. "Yes Mom it's about Madison, its about me its about Traci well not Traci but mom you know I was with Traci more or less from the time I was kid," I say. "I know Jake. Look Jake when I got divorced from Peter it was hard I tried to date and everything felt off until I met your father," My mom says. I guess that makes sense I remember when my mom told me about her first marriage I was stunned I was twelve and my brother Brian has just found out about it going through some stuff in our grandparents garage. I couldn't even think of my mom with anyone but my dad.

"Jake are you thinking about getting more serious with Madison?" My mom asks. "Well things kind of started serious we did have a baby," I say. "Jacob Martin Reed… You know what I mean," my mother says. "Mom I mean what is serious? Madison and I go on dates we don't go dates with other people. We never said it was exclusive but at this point we both know it is," I say. "But your scared. Scared because you aren't sure if it love or just something you fell into," My mother says. "Yeah," I say. "Jake I can't tell how you really feel about Madison. But I do know you Jake you will figure it out," my mom Kate says. "I hope so," I say. Hope starts to cry. "Mom I got to go Hope is up," I say. "Love you." "Love you too."

I head for nursery and pick up my daughter. "What the matter Hope? Oh I get it your wet," I say. I change her and sit down in the rocker to get her to back to sleep. I look down at her and smile. Why can't I just stop the world right now keep my little girl so peaceful and easy going able taker care of her problems with such little effort. She's asleep now but I but rocking her maybe because I enjoy it. Finally I place her back in the crib and leave closing the door behind me. I look over at Madison's room and than head for my own still thinking.

#Break#

The next day I was working out with AJ. "You ok?" He asks. "Yeah fine," I say. "Than stop hitting me so hard this is supposed to be light," AJ yells. "Sorry," I say. "Let's just be done man," AJ says. "Fine," I say rolling out of the ring. "Dude you ok?" He asks. "What do you think about me and Madison?" I ask. "Meaning what?" AJ asks. "Never mind… Do you think we could be a couple?" I ask. "Aren't you already?" he asks. "Look you know have tried to move on from Traci before and failed. Well you know me.." I say barely. "Look Jake when you know you know," AJ says. "Thanks for nothing AJ," I say.

#Break#

Madison was in the living room playing with Hope who was on the floor. "Oh Hope I think I blew it," Madison says to her. "When your older be like Aunt Jennifer my little sister never gets mad at anything. But I lost it last night," Madison says taking Hope's little hand. "I let my mom… who I love and will always love…well I made a mistake," Madison says. Hope picks up the little ball she was playing with and throws it at her mother. "You should do that. I just hope I didn't blow things with you dad," Madison says giving her daughter a hug.

#Break#

Madison and I had set another date for tonight a week ago before our little blow up. Now here I am waiting for her to show up for the movie we agreed to see. I see her walking up to theater. "I'm sorry," We both say at once. "Jake I should have pushed you and than I went and brought a whole different issue into our fight," Madison says. "No it was I was talking to you like you were a child," I say. "We say we both messed up," Madison says. " Yeah sure. So we partners for this tournament?" I asks. "Damn straight," Madison says.