“Madi!” I call out, stepping forward.
“Madison!”
Another step.
“Mads!” I try again, louder now, desperate.
But not even the nickname she hates stops her. She glances back one last time, and I see everything. The hurt. The betrayal. The heartbreak. She takes off around the corner, leaving me standing there with my heart in my hands, ready to throw it at her.
2
HE’S BACK
MADISON
No.
Hunter’s back. And no one told me. Why the hell didn’t anyone tell me? And who was she, the woman with him? And the kid. The cute little boy who stared at him like he was his whole world. My steps pick up faster than I mean them to. There’s a ringing in my ears, drowning out the world around me, until I hear a faintMads.
Rounding the corner, I collapse back against the wall, the cool brick biting into my skin. My arms fall to my sides as I grip the crumpled paper bag holding my blueberry muffin. I breathe in and out, calming my racing heart. The birds chirping in the distance become louder, mockingly cheerful. The scent of freshly cut grass from the park across the street lingers in the warming air. Everything feels too normal, like the universe doesn’t realize it just flipped my world all over again. One more breath, one more second, and then we’re going to pull it together. Put our big girl pants on and go about our day like it didn’t just fall apart… Again.
But as I slowly make my way to the bar, the samequestion loops around my mind, spinning me out of control. Why is he home?
Pushing open the back door to Whiskey Cove, my fingers fumble for my phone as I dig it out of my bag, tapping into the group chat with the girls.
We Don’t Text Him
I sigh, looking at the group name Tessa renamed a month ago. She hoped it would save me, remind me to stop trying.
Me: HELP!!!!
Me: Why did no one tell me he’s back?
Me: HALLE????
Little dots appear and disappear quickly. I drop into the desk chair, my spine curling as the weight of everything hits me. My blueberry muffin and coffee sit on the desk, untouched and forgotten. There’s no way my stomach could handle that now. I feel the churning in there and the constant pull to run, to disappear. It won’t be long before he comes here to find me, but I need time.God, I just need time.
Time to sort through the muddle of confusing thoughts pulsing through my head. Time to rebuild the walls I spent months putting back together. I was finally stepping into the light again. Learning how to live without waiting. Learning how to let go. And now he’s back, but not alone. I have no idea what he wants now, but I know somewhere along the way, he broke his promise. He broke my heart.
I flip open the laptop, determined to get through today’s admin work, even if my hands are still shaking. The screen lights up when my phone finally pings beside me.
Tessa: Who’s back? What are you talking about girl?
Tessa: Hals why is she screaming at you??
Tessa: OH MY GOD, Hunter’s back?
I groan, letting my head fall against the desk just as the office door swings open.
“I don’t want to freak you out,” Connor says cautiously.
I turn my head, not bothering to lift it off the desk, and glare at him.
“Oh, Madi.” He sighs, coming to kneel beside me. “You know?”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” I whisper, my voice barely holding itself together.
“We only just found out. He texted Asher when we got here. Said he’s home and going to surprise Halle…” He pauses, and the tension in the air grows.
