Dinner with the Enemy

Maddox

I dragged my fork slowly across the ceramic plate, pulling a piece of honey-glazed carrot through a pool of sauce. My eyes remained locked on the girl sitting directly across the massive mahogany dining table.

Hadley Vance treated our academic rivalry like a blood feud.

She sat there pushing mashed potatoes around her plate with aggressive precision. Every time our eyes met, she shot me narrowed green daggers that promised a slow, painful demise. For the past year, we had danced between 99s and 100s on every single exam, paper, and pop quiz like we were marching into a brutal war. She made it her personal mission to beat me at everything. Every assignment she handed in was slapped onto the teacher's desk like she wanted to kill me with the paper cuts.

And every time our school won a game? She baked fresh chocolate chip cookies.

But she saved those sweet smiles, tight hugs, and homemade desserts for her letterman-jacket boyfriend, Trevor. He got the golden girl's warmth. I got the death glares. I got the sharp scowls and the distinct feeling she wanted to bury me in a shallow academic grave.

Eventually, I came out on top. I claimed the valedictorian title. I beat her to the number one spot in our graduating class. I didn't do it out of some burning desire to win for my own ego. I did it out of necessity. My future depended on those grades.

Graduation was supposed to be my grand escape from her orbit. I expected the usual post-ceremony chaos. Flash photography, loud parties, and avoiding people I never cared to see again. Instead, my mother insisted we attend a cozy, combined family dinner at Arthur Vance’s house.

Yes, Hadley's father. The man who had been dating my mother for over a year.

Initially, I hated the setup. It was far too close and too weird. Sitting at a dining table with the girl who despised my very existence felt like a special brand of psychological torture.

But I tolerated the excruciating dynamic.

I glanced over at my mom sitting beside Arthur. She laughed at a joke he made, her eyes crinkling at the corners. It was a real, bright, genuine laugh. It was a sound I hadn't heard since before my parents' messy divorce. Since before my father's rampant alcoholism tore through our house and drowned our family in heavy, suffocating silence.

Seeing my mother finally happy made this forced proximity bearable.

Plus, I harbored a dark little secret. I actually loved poking the golden girl. Riling Hadley up with a single, well-placed smirk was simply too entertaining to abandon. It was an addiction I wasn't quite ready to kick.

Tonight was no different. Arthur Vance didn't just cook dinner. He orchestrated a massive, lively feast. The dining room table groaned under the weight of roasted lamb, garlic mashed potatoes, honey-glazed carrots, two different types of pasta, and a basket of warm artisan bread.

My mom rested a gentle hand on his forearm, her eyes shining with warmth. "This looks incredible, Arthur."

Arthur boomed, beaming with pride and grabbing the serving tongs. "Only the best for our brilliant graduates. Let's feast!"

The mood remained light and festive. Silverware clinked against fine china. The conversation flowed easily between the adults. I kept my mouth shut and focused on the lamb, occasionally catching Hadley glaring at my chewing technique.

My mom took a delicate sip of her red wine, leaning forward. "So, Hadley. Have you made a final decision on your college plans yet?"

Hadley shifted into her perfect-daughter persona. She dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin like she was being interviewed on national television.

"I am still deciding between two options. Kingsley University and Pembroke," Hadley answered smoothly.

My mom nodded, leaning in with interest. "Oh, Kingsley. That is a wonderful school."

"It is my absolute dream school. Their swimming program is incredible. They basically shape future Olympians there," Hadley said. The spark of fierce ambition in her green eyes was unmistakable.

I took a slow bite of my food. I couldn't argue with that logic. Hadley wasn't just a dedicated student who annoyed the hell out of me. She was a lethal, focused force in the swimming pool. She earned every single medal hanging on her bedroom wall.

"And what about Pembroke?" my mom asked.

My fork paused mid-air.

Pembroke.

That was the exact university where I had just signed a full-ride hockey scholarship.

She waved her hand dismissively, wrinkling her nose as if the word left a bad taste in her mouth. "Pembroke is a backup. It is fine. Just not Kingsley."

My mom smiled brightly, oblivious to the sudden, heavy tension gripping my shoulders.

"Well, Pembroke has an amazing sports program too. Their swim team is top ranked in the country. Wouldn't it be so much fun if you and Maddox ended up at the same school?"

I didn't say a single word. I just chewed my lamb slowly, my eyes locked on Hadley to watch her exact reaction.

Hadley's polite facade shattered. She audibly scoffed, her upper lip curling in unfiltered disgust.

"More like a pain in the ass," Hadley muttered under her breath.

The lively dining room went dead silent.

Arthur cleared his throat. It was a sharp, stern sound that echoed like a warning shot right across the table.

"Hadley," Arthur warned. His deep voice left zero room for argument.

Hadley instantly snapped back to attention. The furious red color climbed up her neck. She pasted on a stiff, tight smile that failed to reach her eyes.

She stood up abruptly and grabbed her empty plate, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the porcelain edge. "Thank you for dinner, Dad. Valerie. I will go clear the table now."

She turned and marched straight toward the kitchen, promptly retreating upstairs before Arthur could issue another reprimand.

My mom remained unbothered, smiling as she took another sip of her wine. Arthur sighed heavily and leaned back in his chair. I just sat there, enjoying the rest of my meal with a profound, dark sense of satisfaction.

An hour later, the dinner dishes were cleared away. The house settled into a quiet, domestic hum. My mom and Arthur were curled up comfortably on the plush living room couch, wrapped in their bubble of domestic bliss.

I leaned against the kitchen counter, scrolling aimlessly through my phone. The screen buzzed in my palm. A flood of texts from my friend Tate lit up the screen.

Tate: You still coming? Dallas is already six cans deep and dared Sarah to do a keg stand. This party is spinning out of control.

I tapped out a quick reply.

Maddox: I am on my way.

I shoved the phone into my pocket and grabbed my dark gray hoodie off the back of a dining chair. I stretched my arms, preparing to slip out the front door and escape into the night.

Click. Click. Click.

The sharp sound of footsteps descending the wooden stairs caught my attention.

I froze. I turned my head toward the foyer.

Hadley descended the steps. The breath caught in my chest for a fraction of a second. She wore a short, flowery black dress that barely grazed the middle of her thighs. The thin fabric clung to her curves, and the delicate straps left her pale, smooth shoulders exposed to the cool evening air. Her golden blonde curls tumbled effortlessly in soft waves down her back. A subtle shimmer on her collarbone caught the hallway light perfectly.

I let my gaze travel down the length of her long, toned legs before snapping my eyes back up to her face. My physical observation was clear, calculated, and impossible to hide.

And of course, she was noticeably lacking a jacket.

"You do realize it is going to get cold out there tonight, right?" I pointed out dryly.

She paused on the bottom step. Her green eyes locked onto mine, flashing with immediate hostility.

"You do realize I do not need your opinion on my wardrobe, right?" she fired back instantly.

I stepped closer, letting a slow smirk pull at the corner of my mouth. I loved the way her voice pitched slightly higher whenever she was irritated.

Hadley turned away, projecting her voice toward the living room to ignore my presence. "Dad, I am heading out to the party now!"

Arthur shifted on the couch. He turned around, his brow furrowing as he looked toward the foyer.

"Wait a second. Is this the same graduation party Maddox is attending tonight?" Arthur asked.

Hadley froze. She looked like she had just been slapped with a cosmic betrayal.

I let my smirk widen into a full grin. I pulled my car keys out of my pocket, tossing them up and catching them mid-air. "Yeah, it is."

My mom clapped her hands together, her face lighting up. "Oh, that is perfect! Maddox can drop you off on his way. It makes total sense."

Hadley took a quick step back toward the front door, looking horrified by the suggestion. Her face twisted into an expression of pure agony, like someone had just asked her to share a toothbrush with me.

"No, I am good on my own. Trevor is probably already there. He can come get me," Hadley insisted frantically.

Arthur stood up from the couch, cutting in firmly. "Nonsense. It is much safer this way. Maddox is already heading out the door to the exact same location. You will ride with him."

Hadley opened her mouth to launch another protest.

Arthur hit her with the ultimate, undisputed dad-look. A silent, stern glare that demanded immediate obedience.

Outmaneuvered and trapped by her own father, Hadley snapped her mouth shut. The fight drained out of her posture, replaced by a rigid, simmering rage. She slowly turned her head and shot me a glare that could have melted a solid pane of glass.

I stood by the door, thoroughly enjoying every single second of her absolute fury. I tossed my keys into the air again, catching them with a sharp metallic jingle.

"So, are you coming? Or should I text Tate to bring a leash for you?" I asked.

She didn't answer. She spun on her heels and stalked furiously past me. Her short flowery skirt swayed aggressively with every rapid step she took, brushing against my leg as she stormed out the front door.

I bit back a massive grin, staring at the empty space she left behind.

This car ride was going to be fun.