Home Alone

Maddie lay comfortably in Harry’s arms, the soft glow of his bedroom lamp casting a warm light over the room. They had been together for what felt like forever—since freshman year—and though things had become routine, there was something incredibly comforting about that. Harry absentmindedly traced circles on her arm as they cuddled under the blanket, the sound of light rain tapping on the window.

“So, your parents are gone all weekend?” Maddie asked, a playful glint in her eyes.

“Yup, all the way until Sunday. It's just us,” Harry replied, kissing the top of her head.

Maddie shifted, turning slightly so she could look up at him. Her deep blue eyes sparkled mischievously as she bit her lip.

“You know, I’ve been thinking…” she started, trailing off with a teasing tone.

Harry raised an eyebrow, smiling down at her. “Uh-oh, should I be worried?”

Maddie grinned, knowing he’d never expect what she was about to say. She liked pushing his buttons, even if it was just to see his reaction.

“What if…” she paused dramatically, leaning in close to whisper, “What if I cuck you?”

Harry blinked, caught off guard by the sheer absurdity of the suggestion. His face went through a series of expressions—confusion, shock, and then finally, amusement.

“Wait, what?” He laughed, his cheeks turning red. “Maddie, are you serious?”

Maddie giggled, feeling a strange thrill at the way he reacted. “No, not really! I just wanted to see how you’d take it.” She nuzzled closer into his chest, laughing softly. “You should’ve seen your face, though!”

Harry shook his head, still chuckling but slightly flustered. “Yeah, you got me. For a second there, I didn’t know what to think.”

Maddie tilted her head, looking up at him with a mischievous smirk. “But… would you be into it? Just hypothetically, of course.”

Harry stared at her for a moment, still trying to process the question. He cleared his throat, not entirely sure how to respond. “Uh, I don’t think so. That’s… a little too out there for me.”

Maddie couldn’t help but laugh again. “Relax, Harry, I’m just messing with you. I wouldn’t actually do that. I love you, silly.”

He smiled, relieved, and pulled her closer. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Yeah, but you love me for it,” Maddie teased, leaning up to kiss him on the lips.

A short awkward silence followed but Maddie just couldn’t resist pushing it a little further. With a playful smirk, she reached down and gave Harry a light, teasing tap on his balls. He winced slightly, more surprised than hurt, as she giggled.

“Hey!” he said, his face turning red. “What was that for?”

“I’m just having fun,” Maddie replied, her voice still playful, but now with a hint of something more serious beneath it. “But, honestly… what if I wasn’t kidding?”

Harry blinked again, this time not laughing. “Wait… you’re serious?”

Maddie’s smile faded just a bit, though the mischievous glint in her eyes remained. She shifted her position, leaning back slightly to look at him. “I don’t know, maybe. I mean… we’ve been together for so long, Harry. Don’t you ever wonder what it would be like to, you know, mix things up?”

Harry’s heart raced, caught between disbelief and confusion. He swallowed hard, his mind racing. “Maddie, who… who have you been thinking about?”

Maddie’s eyes danced, and she shrugged casually, almost too casually. “I don’t know… maybe someone from school? Or someone you know…” She trailed off, watching him closely to gauge his reaction.

Harry’s stomach churned, and he shifted uncomfortably. “You’re really serious about this?” He couldn’t believe they were having this conversation, and yet part of him couldn’t stop himself from asking. “Who exactly?”

Maddie didn’t answer immediately, biting her lip as if she was toying with the idea in her head. She loved seeing Harry squirm, but a part of her was curious to see just how far he’d let her go.

“There are a couple of guys I’ve noticed,” she finally said, her voice soft but deliberate. Maddie shifted, pushing herself up and swinging her leg over so that she straddled Harry, her knees resting on either side of his hips. She leaned forward, her hands resting on his chest as she looked down at him with a teasing smile. The change in position made Harry’s heart pound even harder, unsure of where this was going.

“Let’s make this fun,” Maddie said, her tone playful but her eyes intense. “Why don’t I go through a few options, and you can help me pick?”

Harry’s eyes widened. “Maddie, come on. This is—”

“Oh, come on,” she interrupted, pressing a finger to his lips. “Let’s just play along for a second.”

She sat up, looking thoughtful as she began listing names. “Okay, how about Ryan? He’s on your team, right? Big guy, lots of muscle… What do you think?”

Harry’s stomach twisted as he shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. “No…”

Maddie giggled. “Alright, no Ryan. What about Chris? He’s cute, right? Kinda quiet, though. Maybe that’s your thing?”

“Maddie…” Harry said, his voice strained, but she continued, clearly enjoying herself.

“Or maybe Logan? He’s a little cocky, but I bet he knows what he’s doing. Or there’s always Jake… I see the way he looks at me sometimes.” She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against Harry’s ear as she whispered, “Maybe he’s been waiting for the chance.”

Harry could hardly breathe, his mind racing with a mix of emotions—jealousy, confusion, and a strange sense of curiosity he didn’t want to acknowledge. He stared up at her, feeling trapped in the moment.

“Come on, Harry,” Maddie purred, sitting up again and looking down at him. “Why don’t you pick one for me? You’d get to watch, wouldn’t that be fun?”