family destroyed them. The crap she has isn't even true but no one will believe that. I need to talk to my lawyer."
Madison walked over to him and touched his arm. "I'm here to support you, no matter what."
He smiled. "Thank you. Come on, I need a drink and you look freaking amazing so let's get out of here."
Maddy laughed as she followed him out of the building.
After a couple of shots, Mike relaxed and Madison enjoyed watching him. "Mike, I don't want to ruin your night but what are you trying so hard to hide?"
He took a long gulp of his beer and looked around the bar. A few girls winked at him as they passed by. Madison rolled her eyes. He laughed as he grabbed her hand. "Come on, let's walk down the boardwalk. I may even try to win you a stuffed bear."
She laughed. "Oh, I like that."
As they walked down the wooden path, they passed a few shops as Madison did some window shopping. "Oh I love that necklace."
Mike stopped and glanced at it. "It would look beautiful around your neck, not sure the diamond is big enough though."
She blushed and hit his arm. "Come on, you promised me a stuff bear."
He smiled and followed her. "I'm trying to hide my horrible teenage years. The part of every boy's life where they rebel and do stupid stuff. I know you didn't have those years but most kids do."
Madison looked at him. "What did you do?"
He shook his head. "I don't want you to think less of me."
“We are supposed to be friends, Mike. I’m not going to judge you.”
He stopped when they arrived at the rides and games. He was about to speak when a group of guys walked by them. “Look at that piece of meat. She’s hot.”
Mike quickly turned towards them. “What the hell did you just say?”
Madison reached for his arm. “Don’t worry about them. Just walk away.”
One of the strange men laughed. “Yeah, listen to your hot girlfriend. You wouldn’t want to prove to her that I’m more of a man then you are.”
Mike smirked. “Walk away, Idiot.”
Maddy looked at him and grabbed his hand. She could feel his arm muscles start to relax as they walked further away. “Hey, I appreciate you standing up for me but don’t let them get to you. They aren’t worth it. You are already trying to do damage control within your life, do you need more?”
He calmed down. “You are right, sorry. I just feel protective of you.”
Her eyes meet his as she didn’t know what to make of that statement. He took a step closer to her, she felt her heart race and she knew what was coming. She couldn’t allow that to happen. She wasn’t ready as she took a step back. “So, tell me what you did in your rebellious youth.”
She started to walk down the path again as she heard him faintly sigh. It was the first time she really felt a connection between them. He reached into his wallet and handed a five dollar bill to one of the attendants.
“I’m going to win you that bear, watch out.”
She giggled as she watched him miss bottle after bottle. “Really because you haven’t hit one yet.”
He smirked at her as he handed another five to the young kid. “Just watch, Maddy. I love a good challenge.” He winked at her as he threw the ball. He managed to hit the bottles and grabbed a teddy bear for her.
She smiled. “It’s the first time someone has won something for me.”
Mike wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “That’s what friends are for.”
Madison lit up when she saw the Ferris Wheel. “Can we ride it? I have always wanted to do that.”
He looked at her. “You have never been on a Ferris Wheel before?”
She shook her head. “You keep forgetting my childhood.”
He grabbed her hand and paid for two tickets. He allowed her to sit in the car first as the attendant closed the bar across them. She looked at the boardwalk from up above. The glow from the lights filled the sky. She smiled as she spotted Mike staring at her. “What?”
“You are like a little kid sometimes, I love seeing that expression on