Chapter 22
CHAPTER 22
ZOEY
M y eyes popped open, and I instantly felt that last shot of tequila. Fuck.
The reception went on strong after Daisy and my dad exited. Once she tossed her bouquet and left, Austin and I ordered shots for the whole place and danced our asses off. I slipped the DJ $500 to keep it going for the extra two hours. Money well spent…from what I could remember.
I jumped in Daisy’s soaker tub and instantly felt better, but my mind went to Madison. What in the hell was it with her, and ending up with the wrong man every time? I wanted to shake her because she didn’t guard herself AT ALL. She believed what they told her and thought true love was just around the corner, blah, blah, blah.
I’d never have to worry about my heart being busted because I’ll never give it away. I’d certainly dated my share of men—and then some—but wasn’t looking for “the one” because I suspected he wasn’t out there for me. I’d had my one true love, and it nearly killed me. Love may not be in the cards for me, but top-notch sex always is.
I must say, hanging out with Austin had been an unexpected kick. Not my typical type, but he could keep up, was hot as hell, and had a little country bumpkin flair to boot. And he got me home in one piece. A plus.
After pulling on my favorite Vera Wang jeans and red Chanel pullover, I dragged myself into the kitchen. I stood for an entire minute, deciding whether to have coffee or if it was in a hair of the dog situation . I opted for coffee, like a good girl, and two pain reliever tablets.
The door whipped open, and Austin burst into the room.
“Hey, can you get Madison?” Stress was written all over his face.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Don’t I get a good morning?”
He cracked a grin. “Good morning, Zoey. Can you please, with sugar on top, get your sister and join me in the barn?”
I took a step closer because I wanted to fuck with him and see how uncomfortable I could make him. “Now, why in the hell would we want my sister in the barn with us?” I whispered. “We don’t want things to get out of control, do we?”
I was startled when he stepped even closer and leaned down. “You don’t know out of control until you’ve been alone with me.”
“Look out, cowboy’s got claws.” I tapped him under the chin patronizingly.
“She’s probably awake. Can we go get her?” Austin cocked a brow in warning and crossed his arms over his chest.
I nodded and led the way upstairs and pushed her door open, but nothing. I mean nothing. The bed was made, but Madison and her luggage had vanished.
“Huh.”
“Where is she?” Austin slid open the closet door.
I grabbed my phone from my pocket and dialed the Magnolia plane’s pilot and texted Madison, but nothing.
“Maybe she took a walk; let’s go out back.” Austin shook his head.
No Madison outside, or as far as we could see.
“Let’s just go to Jax’s house. She wouldn’t leave, would she?”
I shook my head, still trying to contact our pilot. “I don’t think she’d leave without telling me.”
We made it to Jax’s, where Grant stood on the porch waving. Kids normally annoy the shit out of me, but this one was pretty cool.
“Hi, Zoey!” He nearly knocked me over, hugging my waist.
“How you doing, big man?” Austin held up his hand as Grant gave him a high-five.
Jax appeared on the porch, looking around. “Where’s Madison?”
“She, uh, well, her stuff is gone.” Austin shoved his hands in his pockets.
Disappointment crossed Jax’s face. “What? She wouldn’t leave.”
I grabbed my phone and dialed the pilot again.
Jax started pacing the porch. “No, she didn’t go. I know it.”
I disconnected the call. “No answer.” I took a breath. “They could be in the air.”
“No. No way.”
The steely determination in his eyes took me aback.
“She’s here.” He pointed. “Grant and I will walk down to the river and look. Austin, you check the barn and chicken coop.”
Austin took a step towards him. “Bro, all of her stuff is gone?—.”
Jax walked around him. “No, she would not leave like this.” He shook his head. “She’s here. I can feel her.”
I got chills as I watched him clench his jaw, so certain of Madison. Instantly, I knew this was no mere hook-up between him and my sister.
They all headed out the door, with me trailing by a few steps as they dispersed in different directions.
“Where should I check?”
Grant pointed. “The she-shed. See if she’s there.”
“What the fuck is a she-shed?” I threw my arms in the air.
“Language, Zoey,” Jax yelled over his shoulder.
“Sorry!” I felt flustered. “What the hell is a she-shed?”
Grant laughed as Jax shook his head. “Up behind the house!”
I galloped (when in Montana and no one could see you) to the back of the house, and sure as shit, there was a shed. I pulled open the door, but my eyes could not comprehend the adorableness before me. What the what?
I stepped inside and sighed. I was particular…okay, a little snooty when it came to where I spent my free time. The rooftop pool of the Miami Magnolia Hotel, the bistro on Old Cherry Road in Paris, and now, a she-shed in Montana. Who knew?
I pulled the door closed behind me and let my gaze travel from the little window letting the morning sunshine in over the loveseat that screamed lay down at me to the loft and canned food with circles on the label. Hmmm.
“Hi.”
I jumped and looked up to see Madison’s head hanging over the loft bed.
“First of all, glad to see you’re still here. Secondly, what in the hell is this place?” I climbed the ladder and plopped next to her on the mattress. “This is pretty cool.”
She rolled on her side. “Jax and Grant made it for me.”
“What?”
“Yeah, the other day because they want me to stay. Jax wanted me to stay.”
She bit her lip like she was trying to hold back a torrent of tears.
“That is unbelievably sweet.”
“But now stupid Abby is back.” She grabbed a tissue from her pocket and dabbed her eyes. “He proposed to her like a few weeks ago, and I know he still loves her.”
I pushed her hair off her cheek. “He’s out there right now, searching the property for you.”
And the tear gate opened. “That’s because this was a rebound like you said and he probably wants to make sure I didn’t end it all over him. I have to go. I can’t mess with the universe’s plan.”
“Plans change, Madison.”
More tears and blubbering. “But she’s better than me. She’s prettier than me, right?”
I looked at the little bit of snot on her nose. “At this moment?”
That was it, the rest of the damn broke, and I watched my sister fall apart as I pulled her close to hug her. “Did you sleep here?”
“Yes, but I snuck back to the house before the sun came up to brush my teeth and grab my shit.” She sniffled. “Let’s go before he finds us here.”
Sigh. “Madison, I have to say something, and you won’t hear this again, so listen closely.” I sat up, and she followed. “I think I was wrong about the whole rebound thing.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t think so. You know everything about men.”
“Correct, I know everything about men.” I took her hand. “But I don’t know shit about relationships. I choose to cut a man loose whenever there’s a there there because that’s just how I’m made. But that’s not you.”
“What?”
“I hate to say it, but there are times when my greatest accomplishment should be keeping my trap shut.”
“Nope, you were right about this. I gave my heart away, and now I’ll never be the same.” More sobbing.
“Madison, stop it.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks. There was only one thing to do, and before I knew it, the crack of me slapping her across the face rang through the little she-shed. Her mouth fell open in shock, and suddenly I got slapped back. A second later, we were both rolling on the mattress, laughing uncontrollably. Our stomachs were in stitches.
“You are such a bitch.” She laugh-snorted.
“Love you too, Madison.” I sat up. “I’m texting Austin that we’ll be at Jax’s house in an hour. Hopefully, the hand mark on your face will disappear by then.”
“But I’m afraid?—"
“Don’t be afraid. He’s crazy about you, Madison. Trust me on this.” My stomach growled. “But before anything, my hangover is demanding food.”
A grin slid across her lips. “I have the perfect she-shed breakfast for you right here.” She threw her arm over my shoulder. “Are you familiar with SpaghettiOs?”
* * *
We climbed up the porch steps to Jax’s front door, by which time Madison had bitten her bottom lip raw. “Zoey?—”
“Madison, breathe. Are you crazy about him?”
Her eyes smiled. “Yes.”
“So, relax, see what he has to say, okay?”
She nodded, pushed the door open, and I was shocked when even my heart dropped.
She grabbed my hand. “Can you even?”
I could fucking not. Right inside the front door were two huge balloon bouquets, and on the floor were flower petals leading to and all the way up the stairs with nobody in sight.
We held hands as we climbed the stairs, and I was freaked out a little by the deafening silence, expecting someone to jump out at any moment.
The petals led to a closed door. She stood still, waiting for me to push it open, and we entered. There was a white desk facing the window, overlooking pastureland as far as the eye could see. Next to the window was a canvas, and painted in blue, was Madison’s Office .
Madison looked at me before walking over, running her hands across the top, and touching a little cup filled with pens and pencils. On the corner of the desk was a glass vase filled with stunning yellow roses.
I stepped back when Jax entered and put his finger over his lips. Grant followed, and his smile melted my heart. Jax cleared his throat, and Madison spun around. Jax held his hand up, indicating she should wait. He and Grant turned their backs to her, and bent over, busy with something. When they turned to face her, Grant held fried pickles, while Jax had a bag of bright blue cotton candy in hand, and when he smiled his entire mouth, teeth and all, were glowing blue.
Madison burst into laughter. Geez, she managed to get herself into the weirdest situations.
Jax stepped towards her, taking her hand in his. “Madison, the SpaghettiO-addicted love of my life, we want you to stay here with us.”
Grant pointed to the desk. “We got you an office, so you can do all of your New York stuff right here.” He led her to the closet, and pulled open the door. There, on the top shelf, were cans of SpaghettiOs all the way to the ceiling. “We bought every can the grocery store had so you won’t run out and can stay for a super-duper long time.” He giggled. “Just like me.”
Her eyes grew wide, and she turned her attention toward Jax.
His blue eyes twinkled. “Katie told me this morning that she’s placing Grant with me long-term. With us long-term.” He walked over, took her hand in his before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a silver bracelet. Madison’s free hand covered her heart. “You’ll notice there are three connected hearts.”
Grant jumped up and down. “You can’t get them apart because they belong together. Just like us.”
Jax wiped a single tear that rolled down Madison’s cheek as he whispered, “Will you stay with us?” He laughed. “We really dig you.”