Ballad of Love (Utah Lovin’ Book 1)

22. Madison

“Ican”t believe that you spent the entire day at my brother”s house!” Adalynn practically screams through the Bluetooth on my car.

“I regret even telling you.” I called Adalynn as soon as I pulled out of Braydon”s driveway, and I am seriously regretting it right now.

“It”s too late for that. I need you to give me all the details.”

I tell Adalynn everything about today, leaving out any details that would add more fuel to her fire.

“I knew. See, I always knew it.”

I roll my eyes. This is the exact thing I was trying to avoid because this is the part where Adalynn proceeds to go on and on about how she always knew that Braydon and I were end game.

“Adalynn, there are still a lot of things that Braydon and I need to talk about. I am not saying I am against the idea of us, but we still have stuff to work through. And I really want to do this on Braydon’s time.”

“Ok. I just want you to know that I am rooting for y”all. And that I am always here if you want to talk.”

“Thanks Adalynn. I love you.”

“I love you, M.”

I hang up the phone just as I am pulling into my driveway. I pull my keys out of the ignition and sit in my car for a moment. I let my mind replay the entire day. All the little moments of today. This is a life that I always let Braydon picture with me, even though I knew I was leaving for college. After today, I am really starting to wonder if giving up this life with Braydon was actually worth it. Still thinking about today, and what it all might mean, I open my Jeep door and head inside. Layla greets me at the door as soon as it opens.

“Hi, sweets.” I reach down and scratch behind her ears.

“Want some food?” I pull out the cat food from the cabinet and pour some into her bowl. I kick off my Vans by the front door and head upstairs to take a shower. The steam from the shower fills my bathroom. I step into the hot water and let it wash over me. Braydon and I could work, right? It”s probably selfish of me to want this, but I am going to do it in Braydon’s timing. I broke his heart the first time around, so this time I will try to do this the way he wants. If this isn”t something that he wants, then I can respect that. I turn off the shower and throw on an old sweatshirt and leggings. Layla is already curled into a little orange ball at the foot of my bed, so I try not to disturb her as I climb into bed. I pull my book that I bought at the bookstore the other day out of my purse. I really need to get the name of the artist who paints these from Mrs. Cooper.

I try to read for over an hour, but I can”t focus. My mind keeps drifting back to memories of Braydon reading this book to me. I have read The Fault in Our Stars probably a hundred times before, but Braydon knew it was my favorite, so he always insisted on reading it to me. Reading the book now just doesn”t feel the same. I set the book back on my nightstand. I really should be studying right now, but I am way too tired for that. Today was a rollercoaster. I never knew that I could feel so full in one day, but I did. I am exhausted in the best way. I would give anything to have a thousand more days like today. I pull my blanket over my head, today still playing on a loop in my mind. Iris laughs as we spin around the kitchen together. Watching Braydon make tacos. Watching The Little Mermaid together. It doesn”t take me very long for me to drift into a peaceful sleep.

My blaring alarm wakes me up at the crisp hour of four thirty in the morning. I have to be at work by seven, but I like to get in a short run before work. It has become a habit, and one that I don”t necessarily mind having. I get dressed for my run and feed layla. It is chillier than most mornings, and it looks like it might rain, but that”s not going to stop me. I start down my normal route like always. At this point, it is second nature. I”ve only been back for less than a month, but I have already fallen into a nice routine. I start off in a light jog, pushing myself through downtown. My lungs scream in protest. I may have fallen into a routine, but apparently my body is still catching up. I push myself into a full out run when I see the sign for Saw”s in the distance. I gradually slow to a walk and catch my breath before opening the door to Saw”s. Sawyer isn”t behind the counter this morning. Instead, there is a high school aged girl who seems more interested in whatever is on her phone than taking coffee orders.

“Hi, can I get a large, iced peppermint latte?” the girl jumps and sets her phone on the counter next to the register.

“Sure, anything else?”

“Nope.”

I pay for my coffee and sit down at a table close to the counter.

“Maddie!” a little voice I recognize yells behind me.

I turn around to find Iris running towards me with Braydon hot on her heels.

“Iris!” she jumps into my arms wrapping her tiny arms around my neck.

“What in the world are y”all doing here this early?”

“I’m going to hang out with Aunt Adalynn.” I look up at a very tired Braydon.

“You look like you haven”t slept in weeks.”

“Ha! She slept through the night last night, but I kept waking up to check on her.”

“Well, can I buy you a coffee then?”

“I will never say no to free coffee.”

“Iris, would you like a chocolate chip muffin?”” Iris nods her head enthusiastically.

“Ok. You two wait right here, and I will go grab them real fast.”

I grab my coffee on my way to order. Returning with my latte in hand and Iris’s muffin, I am greeted with a very excited squeal. I sit down across from Braydon as Iris digs into her muffin.

“So, what are y”all doing out and about so early?”

“Since I have missed a lot of work with Iris being sick, I have to be at work extra early today. Which means I get to wake up Adalynn at the Butt crack of dawn with an already hyper toddler.”

“Good luck. You and I both know that Adalynn is not a morning person.”

“That is exactly why I am bringing her a coffee.”

“Black coffee for Madison,” the barista calls.

“That”s yours,” I tell Braydon, nodding to the hot coffee cup sitting on the counter. Braydon grabs the cup and takes a huge drink of the hot liquid.

“I still don”t know how you drink that stuff.”

Braydon shrugs while taking another drink.

“So, what are you doing up this early?” Braydon asks me.

“Getting in a quick run before work.”

“You”re running again.”

“I am. I started when I moved back.”

“That”s good. I know how much you used to really enjoy it.”

“Thanks.”

“Are you done with your muffin, sweetheart?” Braydon asks, turning to Iris. She nods, with a smear of chocolate on both sides of her mouth. I watch Braydon gently wipe the chocolate off her face and my heart melts.

“We should probably get going. Got to get this one over to Aunt Adalynn’s.”

“Ok, I got to get going anyway. Have fun at Aunt Adalynn’s. I will see y”all Saturday.”

“See ya.”

Iris gives me a quick hug, before she skips off with Braydon. Her tiny hand wrapped in his.

I take my latte and walk back home. I take a quick shower and get ready for work. One of my favorite things about working at a law firm is that I get to dress up. I pick out my favorite black and white pinstripe pencil skirt and a tight fitted white turtleneck, throwing on a light pink blazer over top. I pull out heels that perfectly match my jacket. It makes me feel like Elle Woods, and it makes me feel really good. I put a little extra food in Layla”s bowl before I leave. I call Adalynn on my way to work, now that I know she is awake.

“What are you doing calling me this early in the morning? You know I am not a morning person.”

“Well, good morning to you too, sunshine.”

“How did you know I was even awake?”

“I ran into Braydon and Iris at Saw”s this morning.”

“What were you doing at Saw”s at that ungodly hour?”

“Getting in a run before work.”

“Sounds exhausting.”

“It was exhilarating.”

“I will just have to take your word for it.”

“Well, I just wanted to bother you before your coffee. You and Iris have fun today. I love you.”

“I love you, M.”

The phone clicks, and I am left in my jeep alone in silence. It”s only Monday, and I am already nervous about this Saturday with Braydon and Iris. The thought of it distracts me all day at work, which makes it seem to go by a hundred times slower. Right now, I don”t actually get to get into a court, so I help with paperwork and anything else anyone needs. It”s not ideal, but it is a steppingstone that I know I have to take. I skip lunch, hoping to get done with work early, so I can just go home to eat. It takes a few more hours for me to finish up some paperwork, but I finish early and go home. My phone vibrates in the cup holder on my way home. Braydon’s name flashes across the screen with the picture that I sneaked of him making tacos last night.

“Hello Bray. what’s up?”

“Hey, I know this is extremely last minute, but I have to stay late tonight, and Adalynn has plans. Is there any way you would be able to pick up Iris and watch her for a few hours? I normally wouldn”t ask you, but it is kind of a last resort.”

“Of course, Braydon. I would love to hang out with her.”

“Thank you so much, Mads. I owe you big time for this one.”

“Seriously, don”t worry about it, Braydon. You have a lot on your plate.”

“I will text you as soon as I get off.”