“Yes, honey!” Mom calls. “Go wild.”
37
RYAN
I think I’m falling
At seven, we pull into Ember & Pearl, the neon sign glowing softly against the dark. My brain flashes back to the last time I was here. With her.
I push the thought away and focus on tonight instead.
I step out of the car and circle around to Bailey’s door, opening it. “Your Highness.”
She steps out. “Thank you sir.”
Mom laughs softly as she steps out too, smoothing a hand over the skirt of the dress she’s wearing—the soft brown one I remember from years ago, tucked away in the back of her closet for special occasions that almost never came. It fits her the same way it always did.
“You look beautiful, Mom,” I tell her quietly.
She pauses, and then smiles softly. “Thank you, sweetheart.”
Bailey links her arm through Mom’s, already pulling us toward the entrance, until Mom stops. “Wait, I forgot my purse in the car.”
“We’ll get it,” Bailey says.
“I’ll wait at the door,” I say.
They give me a small nod and turn back to the car. I continue walking, the laughter and noise from inside slowly coming closer. I walk under the glow of the lights, closer to the entrance, but then stop. Because Maddy is standing there. My brain stops working for a couple seconds. Her hair falls in loose waves overher shoulders, she’s wearing a long skirt that moves slightly in the evening breeze and a simple fitted top.
Dammit, she’s beautiful.
She looks nervous too, fingers tapping lightly against her leg like she doesn’t know what to do with her hands.
She turns around and sees me, her eyes lock on mine. And now we’re both standing there, six feet away from each other, both clearly thinking about the same thing.
I walk toward her, our eyes still locked onto each other as I end in front of her.
“Uh—hey,” I say, sounding as confused as I feel.
“Hi.”
I clear my throat. “What are you doing here?”
Her brows lift. “…You invited me.”
I blink. “I did?”
She frowns and looks at her phone. “Yeah… you texted me. ‘Dinner at seven, Ember & Pearl.’”
I swear I’ve never been more confused in my life.
“Maddy! You made it!” Bailey sings, leaning her elbow on my shoulder and smiling way too big.
Bailey.
I turn to her. “Did you seriously text her from my phone?”
Bailey shrugs. “You left it unlocked. And you were being weird. I just helped.”
