Shrink,it urged me. Shrink and keep myself unseen. Keep myself out of the way, keep myself in line. I didn’t want to be a problem for other people. I didn’t want to be the reason someone’s day was bad.
For so long, I’d sold myself the dream. Perfect job, perfect boyfriend, perfect life where I couldn’t be anything but happy,right?
Instead of living the dream, I’d shrunk. I’d shrunk and shrunk until I met a guy that saw a crumbling stone and knew just how to chip the jagged edges until they were smooth and moldable.
Justin had been nine years older than me. Just old enough that at twenty-two, I didn’t catch the way he could twist my words. I’d been so sure that I was immune to manipulation at that age, and yet I’d fallen straight into it.
If I could go back in time, I would have told myselfdon’t shrink. Because once you did, it took years to come back. Years to be comfortable taking up space.
I wasn’t sure that part of me would ever be fixed.
Eight years.
Eight years of not doing the thingsIwanted.
I wasn’t ever going to let that happen again. Even though this was most definitely a disaster, it was still a chance for something new. A chance to reclaim the part of me I’d lost.
Never again.I’d never pass up a chance for something good again.
No more hiding myself. No more letting anxiety and self-doubt get the best of me. No more Broken Madi.
My cheeks puffed as I got to my feet, brushing off the dirt clinging to my black leggings and tank top. I wasn’t helpless. I was exhausted, hangry, trapped in a spiral after nearly running over that gorgeous woman, and in desperate need of coffee—but I would figure this out.
The person who’d emailed me about the artist residency told me to let her know if I had any issues. I picked up my phone, chewing my bottom lip as I slumped against the car. I scrolled through my emails until I found hers.Avery Whynot.
I added her number to my contacts and pressed call.
“Hello?” a deep and sexy voice answered.
“Uh—Avery?” I squeaked.
A couple chuckles echoed in the background.
“She’s busy. Who’s calling?”
God, he was gruff. If I knew any better, I’d say a werewolf had answered instead of a human man. “Um, my name is Madi, I’m the artist visiting Whynot for the residency. My car broke down and I just got to the mechanic shop, but it’s closed, so I don’t really know what to do.”
“Oh.” His voice immediately lightened. “Sorry. I thought you were going to be a spam sales person or something. Hold on.”
I swear—did I just hear a slap? Was someone gettingspanked?My cheeks heated, my eyes bugging out of my head.
Damn, it’d been a long time since I’d been spanked.Too long.
“Oh my god,” a fresh voice said.Thiswas the voice I knew from our first call. “I am so sorry. Hey Madi, it’s Avery. Do you need help?”
In more ways than one.“My car broke down and I wasn’t really sure what to do. I’m sorry if I’m interrupting anything. I’m just a little stranded.”
“You’re totally fine. We can definitely help.”
Another man’s voice was muffled in the background, and Avery mumbled a curse.
“Do you want me to pick you up? Or I can send someone to scoop you and take you to the bed and breakfast. I think you’re going to love it once you get settled in. I’m sure you’re exhausted from your drive.”
“I don’t want anyone to have to do anything,” I rushed out. “I can always walk to the hotel?—”
“Oh god, no. We all want to help. Don’t even worry about a thing, we’ll get you where you need to be. How about you just hang tight? I’ll send someone over, okay?”
“No, it’s okay, I don’t want to bother?—”
