“Ready?” I whisper, squeezing Charlie’s hand.
She nods furiously, curls bouncing as I slip my hands under her arms and lift her.
“Now.”
“Boo!” Charlie yells, her voice echoing off the walls.
Sally jumps back, clutching her paperwork to her chest with a startled laugh. “Ah! You little monsters!”
We burst into a fit of giggles, and Charlie kicks her legs as I set her on top of the desk.
“Gotcha,” I say through my laughter.
“Nurse Sally, you were so scared, weren’t you?” Charlie beams, her eyes wide with pride.
“I sure was, sweetie.” Sally touches her hair dramatically. “I think I have some new gray hairs because you scared me that well.”
Charlie giggles, delighted with herself.
“Nurse Claire, did we scare you, too?” she calls when she spots Mom nearby.
“You sure did, my little troublemaker,” Mom says, scooping her up for a quick hug before setting her down again. “How about you walk back to your room with Nurse Sally here, and Madison will come back to see you before she leaves?”
“Okay! But we should do this every day, Madi,” she says, her smile stretching wide.
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Maybe not every day, but I’m sure we can think of something fun next time I’m here.”
Nurse Sally picks Charlie up, and they head back down the hall toward her room. When I turn around, Mom’s standing there with that soft, all-knowing smile on her face.
“What?” I ask, narrowing my eyes.
“I just haven’t seen you this happy in a long time,” she says, giving me that look, the one that sees too much.
“Yeah, well… Hunter and I talked. Things seem to be looking up, and seeing Charlie again just—” I shrug. “It reminds you that life’s too short, you know?”
“Mhm.” Her hum carries thatI told you soedge I know too well.
“Yeah, yeah. And before you get all in your head, no—Hunter and I are just staying friends.”
Her eyes glint. “Well, that’s a shame, isn’t it?”
“Oh my god, you’re impossible,” I groan, brushing past her. “I’m going to see some of the other kids before I say bye to Charlie, and then I’m heading out.”
“Sweetheart,” she calls after me, and I glance back.
“It’s really nice to see you smile again,” she says softly.
I take off, feeling lighter than I have in months, though a flutter of nerves twists in my stomach. Because I know that look she just gave me. Mom’s happy that I’m finally coming out of my haze, but she’s never been one to leave things alone. And if I had to guess, whatever’s floating around that head of hers probably involves Hunter… and a not-so-subtle plan to push us back together.
12
BLUEBERRY BUTTERFLIES
HUNTER
I’ve never been out this way in the morning.
What I thought was an empty field at night—when Madison and I used to drive out here—is actually full of wildflowers in the distance. Purple, pink, orange, and blue. Wild. Unruly. Chaotic in a stunning way. They remind me of Madison. An hour from home, and no one knows this place exists. We stumbled across it one night, and it became ours. Our secret little world where everything felt simple. Where our hearts pounded in sync with every touch, every kiss.
