Maddie’s chest heaved as she took a step back, leaning against the doorframe for support. “Save it, Jane,” she said coldly, her voice sharp enough to slice through the air. “You’ve done enough.”
Rico glanced between the two women, conflicted. “Maddie, she didn’t mean any harm—”
“No, Rico.” Maddie’s voice cracked, but she held his gaze. “You didn’t mean any harm either, right? But every time Jane hurts me, you’re the first to defend her. Every time I need you, you’re too busy. Do you know what that feels like?”
He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out.
“I’m done,” Maddie whispered, her voice barely audible. “I’m done waiting for you to care.”
Maddie’s voice trembled with fury as she glared at Jane. “Jane, stop with the innocent act. Are you seriously going to tell me that leaking those photos from the orphanage wasn’t intentional?!”
“Maddie!” Rico’s sharp tone cut through the air like a whip. His eyes narrowed and his voice carried an edge Maddie had never heard before. “How can you talk to Jane like that? She didn’t mean for this to happen. She was just curious about the photo, sent it to a friend and it got passed along. It was an accident! The hot search has already been taken down. What more do you want?!”
Maddie clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she fought back tears. “And I’m supposed to just forget it? Those words people wrote about me, all that abuse—does taking down the hot search erase it? So if I accidentally hurt someone, does that make it okay as long as I say I didn’t mean to?”
“That’s completely different, Maddie,” Rico snapped, his frustration mounting. “Why do you have to be so unreasonable? Just let it go!”
***
Before Maddie could unleash the retort bubbling in her chest, her phone rang. She took a deep breath to steady herself before answering.
“Hello?” she said, her voice still taut with emotion.
“Hi, Miss Evans. I’m with the clothing donation service. You scheduled a pickup for today? I’m at your building now—may I come up?”
“Yes, I’m home. Please come up to the apartment,” Maddie replied, grateful for the distraction.
After hanging up, she dragged three large bags of clothing from her room to the front door.
Rico watched her with a frown. “Why are you giving away so many clothes?”