Chapter 22
Chapter twenty-two
Liam
May
Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures, the atmosphere of our house has been icy.
Madison’s been giving me the silent treatment ever since our “fight.” Honestly, I know I deserve it. I’ve barely caught a glimpse of her the past few days, as she’s either holed up in her room with the door closed or out of the house when I come home from the office.
It should be fine. I should not care. She’s more of a roommate than anything, and this is acceptable roommate cohabitation.
But it’s not fine, and I do care. Which exponentially increases my frustration about everything in life.
After Hana saw Madison in the background of our family video call, I was forced to explain to my parents why there was a girl in the house.
Which then forced me to explain that I am currently working a job in Arkansas, a mere three hours away from them.
I was narrowly saved from an imminent visit by the plane tickets they purchased to go visit my grandparents and Hana for a few weeks.
Since both of my parents are college professors, the beginning of summer break here means that they can take an extended trip to London. But once they’re back stateside, I’ll now be forced to plan a trip to visit them in Conway, if only to ensure they stay far away from Noel.
I can’t handle them meeting Madison right now. Because I don’t know how to handle Madison right now.
I make decisions based on my gut instincts, and 95 percent of the time, my gut doesn’t steer me wrong. But Madison seems to fall into that outlying 5 percent, because my gut is telling me that I want more with her. That she’s meant to be more than just an acquaintance or roommate.
More than just a friend.
But that makes absolutely zero sense. Sure, I’ve been in Noel longer than most job locations—I arrived at the beginning of March, and it's now May. Even if I’m here a few more months, though, the job will eventually end.
And I’ll move on to pull the next factory back from the brink of catastrophe. Noel is not my long-term destination.
Not to mention who even knows how long Madison will be here? She seems to care about the people of this town, but she’s a self-named city dweller. How long would this small town hold her?
So I’m fighting against my gut rather than going with it. An unusual reversal that’s been throwing off my whole week.
Checking the clock next to my bed, I see that it’s a little past 7:00 a.m. It’s a Saturday, but this is sleeping in for me.
Hamlet has been stretched out on my chest dozing for the past twenty minutes, and I absentmindedly stroke his fur as I contemplate what to do.
Even if I won’t give in to that instinct to open up my life to Madison, I do want a level of peace between us. I don’t want her seeing me as a jerk.
Throwing on some running clothes, I quickly brush my teeth and head out to the kitchen to see if Madison is awake. Hamlet trots after me, and I pause to scoop food into his bowl before casually looking across the open living space to see if Madison’s door is open.
Her room is dark. Peeking out the window to the side of the front door, I see that her car is gone. Frustration blooms in my chest, and I run a hand through my hair.
After drinking some water, I lace up my running shoes and head toward the river, intending to take an extra-long route today.
There’s a break in the humid heat this morning, so I push myself harder than usual while running. As I follow a path along the river, I’m surprised when I see Madison sitting at a picnic table on the riverbank. The reMarkable tablet is propped in her hand, but her gaze is fixed on the water.
Well, here’s my chance for an olive branch.
I slow way down, allowing my breath to even out before I approach her. A montage of emotions flashes through her eyes when she sees me, finally landing on glacial indifference.
“Hey,” I say. Wow, super smooth, Liam.
Madison cocks her head to one side. “Hey.”
I’m staring, trying to figure out what to say, when Madison asks, “How’s your grandmother?”
“Oh, yeah, she’s doing fine. The procedure was more of a preventative thing than an emergency. But my parents are flying there next week, so . . .” I trail off.
“That’s good,” Madison states, then turns her attention back to the tablet.
“I’m actually glad I caught you here,” I begin, but I’m interrupted by Madison’s snort.
She gestures out to the river and asks, “Here as opposed to our shared rental house?”
“Well, you haven’t exactly been around the house a lot this week,” I say, bristling.
Madison scoffs. “I’m surprised you noticed.”
I blow out a measured breath. “Look, I’m sorry about the other night. You caught me by surprise, and I didn’t handle it well. Could I have a turn cooking dinner tonight?”
She raises an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Because I’m trying to find the exit from jerk territory, okay? Making you dinner seemed like a nice gesture,” I answer.
Madison stares at me for a long moment without answering.
“I already have dinner plans with Clara and Clark,” she says, gathering her stuff and throwing it into an oversized tote bag.
My chest tightens, but then she adds, “If you really want to get out of jerk territory, you’ll think of one personal thing you could share about yourself tonight.
Just one, Suits. I’ll be home around eight o’clock. You have all day to prepare yourself.”
She doesn’t say the words aloud, but her subtext is crystal clear. “This is your last chance.”
ME
You almost home? Weather radar isn’t looking great.
MJ
Yeah, it’s getting really windy. I’ll be there in ten.
I pace the room while I wait for Madison to arrive home. Hamlet is mimicking my motion, meowing in his whiniest tone. I’m not sure if he’s picking up on the threat of severe weather in the air or my anxious energy.
I’ve thought all day about what I could tell Madison that would be enough to pacify her need for personal connection without handing over vulnerable information she could use against me.
It’s been my least productive day in a long time because I can’t seem to focus on anything but the inner turmoil I’ve felt since her ultimatum this morning.
Headlights momentarily light up the dark sky—unnaturally dark for a little past eight on a summer evening.
I’m relieved that Madison has made it home safely, even if it means my time is up.
Hamlet is glued to my ankles as I walk to the entryway to wait for her.
When she opens the door, I realize it’s pouring rain.
Her long hair is dripping water as she toes off her shoes.
“Shoot, I should have moved my car earlier so you could park in the driveway tonight. I didn’t know it was going to start raining this early,” I say, stepping toward her.
Madison waves me off, but I see her shivering from the cold rainwater. “No, no, I’m the one who insisted you park in the driveway. Since you’re the paying renter and all.”
“You want a towel or something?” I awkwardly ask.
“Yeah, I’m going to change clothes real quick and wring out my hair,” Madison says.
When she meets my eyes, hers are filled with mischief.
Between that sassy look, the water glistening on her face, and the half-smile twisting her lips, my lungs stall out at how beautiful she looks.
They freeze altogether when she closes the distance between us and points a finger in my face.
“Don’t think you’re getting out of share time. I’ll be out in a few minutes ready to hear every detail of your life story,” she says. I give her an annoyed look. “Okay, okay,” she amends. “To hear one solitary detail of your life story. It better be good.”
I retreat to the kitchen as she closes her bedroom door.
I’ve already eaten dinner and washed all the dishes, so there’s nothing for me to do but stand here.
Her bedroom door opens, followed by the sound of the bathroom door closing.
Hamlet meows at my feet, so I lean down to pick him up.
He nuzzles his face against my chin, as though trying to calm my nerves.
“Maybe I should tell her about the day I met you. About the animal shelter adoption drive when you were the last kitten left, cowering in the corner of your cage, hissing at anyone who came close to you. Maybe she’ll think that’s personal enough.
If I tell her that I saw myself in you and knew I couldn’t leave that day without you coming home with me—would that be enough to satisfy her curiosity?
” I muse to Hamlet as I rub beneath his chin.
“It’s a start.” Madison’s voice startles me so completely, I literally jump. Hamlet hisses at her in response, and I swivel to see her smirking at me.
Flustered, I mutter, “Maybe we should ship you off to Langley for CIA training.” Hamlet leaps out of my arms and runs to my bedroom.
“I guess I could stop calling him ‘Devil Cat’ now that I know your history,” she says. “But that doesn’t count as your personal insight of the night since you weren’t intentionally telling me.”
“If we’re going to be friends, we need to axe the eavesdropping,” I say with a mild glower in her direction.
“I won’t have to eavesdrop if you just start telling me things,” Madison counters as she saunters closer. She’s wearing an oversized sweatshirt with shorts—a combination I’ve never quite understood. Either it’s cold enough for a sweatshirt or hot enough for shorts. Not both.
The combination on her, however, is making my tongue swell in my throat. I swallow hard.
A booming clap of thunder interrupts the moment, causing both of us to jump. Madison’s brow furrows, and I move to look out the window to the backyard. Tree branches are wildly dancing as rain continues to pound.
Suddenly, the distinctive plink, plink of hailstones sounds, mere seconds before the blare of tornado sirens.