I arch a brow at her, tilting my head.
Her lips twitch, giving her away. “Okay, fine. But can you blame a girl?”
“I guess not,” I mumble, setting my wine down and reaching for the strawberries.
We finish assembling the charcuterie board, both of us grinning at the beautiful work of art we’ve created. Crackers lined neatly beside wedges of brie and cheddar, strawberries and bananas stacked between bowls of chocolate dip. She’s salty, sweet, and everything you need for a girls’ night.
“Wait.” Tessa pauses, popping a strawberry into her mouth. Her eyes flutter closed as a small moan escapes her. “Okay, yum. But we need to circle back. What did you do today?”
Oh, right. I’ve been so caught up in tryingnotto think about Hunter—about how I’m supposed to explain what happened today—that I’ve completely forgotten what went down with Xavier. Grabbing the board, I carry it down to the table. Tessa follows behind with our wine, her glass already half empty. Pulling out a chair, I sit down just as a quick knock breaks the short silence.
“It’s open,” I call, knowing it’s Halle.
The door creaks, followed by the low murmur of whispers and the rattle of keys hitting the entry table. I stare at Tessa—wide-eyed, her lips parted, eyebrows raised—before she mouthsWho’s with Halle?
Shrugging, I turn in my chair just as Halle rounds the corner.
“Hey, I probably should have asked first, but I thought you wouldn’t mind,” she’s quick to say, her fingers tapping at her side.
She shifts to the side, and standing there is the woman from this morning. The one Hunter was with. The one the little boy had called Mom. My stomach drops. My eyes go wide, lungs seizing on the breath I’d just taken. I try to breathe, but the air gets caught in my throat, turning into a harsh cough. Heat surges to my cheeks, prickling my skin, as I snatch my wine glass with unsteady fingers. The bitter black cherry tang coats my tongue as I swallow hard, forcing the air back into my chest as I remember how to fucking breathe again.
“Jesus Christ, girl,” Tessa says, her brows lifting in amusement. “Did you just choke on air?”
“Fuck you, Tess.” I grab the stack of napkins she set by the food and toss them at her.
“Have you two met before?” Halle interrupts, her eyes shifting between us.
My mouth goes dry. I realize then how rude I’m being. Mom taught me better than this, and if she’s here with Halle, if she was with Hunter this morning, then she’s not just some stranger; she’s someone important to them.Put your big girl pants on, Madison.
I push to my feet, holding out my hand to her. “No, we haven’t,” I answer, trying to sound casual. “I’m Madison, and this”—I nod over to Tess—“is Tessa.”
Instead of shaking my hand, she steps straight into me, her arms wrapping around me in a hug. The kind that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I freeze, caught off balance, looking at Halle over her shoulder with one brow arched. She just shrugs at me, equally as confused.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” she whispers against my ear.
“Uh…” My brain short-circuits.
“Shit, sorry.” She pulls away to stand next to Halle. “I’m Sarah. I grew up with Halle and her idiot of a brother.”
If her hug didn’t win me over, her calling Hunter an idiot sure as hell does. The knot in my chest unravels, my shoulders dropping as a grin spreads across my face.
“Well, at least we can all agree on the fact that Hunter’s an idiot. You’re one of us now.” Tessa raises her glass in a mock toast, her smirk sharp with approval.
“The idiotness doesn’t run in the family, clearly. That’s all him,” Halle says, her voice lighter, less worried than before.
She moves to the kitchen to grab two glasses and returns to the table, sliding into the chair next to Tessa, who wordlessly hands her the bottle of wine.
There’s a stiffness in the air, the kind of silence that clings to your skin, making every second drag. An awkwardness that I hate. I’ve never been good with the quiet, especially the quiet that isn’t comfortable. At work, I’m quick to make stupid jokes with the guys. In school, I was always the loud, bubbly girl who kept the conversation going. As a kid, I climbed every tree in sight, singing at the top of my lungs just to hear my own voice echo back. Silence was never my friend. I love noise, laughter, shouts, and music. It makes me feel alive, less alone in a world where I grew up by myself. But somewhere along the way, I lost the spark in me. The fearless, carefree confidence I carried. Now, sitting here with the girls, I don’t know how to get it back.
“Alright,” Tessa announces, clapping her hands together. “Shall we address the elephant in the room? Because I, for one, would like to get rid of this awkward silence so we can enjoy our night without the stinky boys for once. It’s not often Miss Halle here can get away from her broody man for more than an hour.”
Halle grins around a strawberry. “Have you seen my broody man? You try staying away from him and his…” She smirks, leaning back into her chair. “Talents.”
“Gross,” I shudder at her innuendo.
Tessa snorts into her wine. “No need to rub it in, sweet cheeks. We get it. You’re well looked after with the real deal. Something the rest of us can only dream of.”
