Chapter 6: Rules of the Game

“Madison, was that guy the one who just called you?”

I couldn’t keep the edge out of my voice.

“What did you two talk about for so long?”

Madison was calm, almost bored. “Mike, aren’t you being a bit too nosy?”

Her question caught me off guard, and I softened my tone. “Given our situation, isn’t it unfair for you to keep seeing other guys?”

She actually laughed—a low, sharp sound. “So what are we, Mike? You think this is love?”

I fumbled for words. “I…”

She let the silence stretch. “See? We’re not lovers, not married. So what’s wrong with me meeting someone else?”

I had no answer.

“Don’t forget—you have a family.”

She wasn’t asking for sympathy, just reminding me of reality. “I knew you’d never leave your wife for me. That’s why I can keep things rational.”

She was practical, not cruel. I hated how much I respected her for it.

“I’ll say it again—if I actually fell for you, what would I get besides humiliation?”

Anger surged, and I blurted out, “Who says I can’t leave my family for you?”

I didn’t even believe it, but I wanted to hurt her, just a little.

Madison laughed, sharper this time. “Come on, Mike. Your kid’s about to be born and you’d leave your family for me? I’m not a kid.”

Her words snapped me back to reality—diapers, mortgage, Emily’s uncle’s handshake.

But the idea that if I didn’t promise her something, she’d keep seeing other men gnawed at me.

I argued, “So what if I have a kid? People get divorced all the time. How do you think those kids from divorced families happen?”

I was desperate to win back control, even if I didn’t mean half of it.

To prove my point, I added, “Besides, the baby’s a girl. I only care about carrying on the family name—I don’t even like girls.”

The words were bitter, but I couldn’t stop.

Madison finally fell silent.

I imagined her weighing my words, wondering if I meant any of it.

After a long pause, she asked quietly, “How can you prove you’re telling the truth?”

Her voice was almost hopeful, despite her skepticism.

Seeing her attitude shift, I jumped at the chance. “However you want me to prove it, I’ll do it.”

Madison paused, then said, “Come to my place now and stay the night. Do you dare?”

The dare hung in the air, impossible to ignore.