16. Madison
16
MADISON
Aurora storms into my living room, her face flushed with anger, while Mia trails behind her. I opened the door because I saw Aurora and Mia on my front porch. I can’t just ignore two of my best friends. It’s strange for them to show up without some sort of notice, though.
“Aurora,” Mia says in a warning tone that indicates Aurora has already been flying off the handle.
My stomach drops. She knows.
How the hell does she know?
Ethan didn’t tell her. There’s no way. Maybe she just innately knows the same way people sometimes know when they’ve been cheated on, even when they don’t have any proof.
I back up toward the couch, feeling frazzled and more than a little guilty. My hands are clasped together, and I can feel the tension in my posture, bracing myself for the confrontation I know is coming.
What if she asks and acts like she doesn’t know? I don’t think I can admit that I’ve slept with her father…and enjoyed it. I can’t say it out loud, but I can’t lie either .
But then, everything changes when Aurora speaks. “You didn’t come to the emergency meeting, Madison! I’ve been trying to get everything organized, and you just…didn’t show up! Do you even care?”
I blink a couple of times because this is so far from what I imagined that I don’t even know how to handle it at first. So, if she’s upset about the dumb “emergency” meeting I missed, that means she doesn’t know about the thing I have with her father.
Good. Okay, good. I can handle this.
Aurora has taken my silence to mean I’m not sorry, though, and she’s continuing to yell. “I’m the one who has kept us all together these years even though we all have different lives and are going in different directions. If you think I’m going to just let you disappear and not say anything, you’re wrong. You’re just as much a part of this group as anyone, and that means I expect you to be places.”
“Aurora, I’m sorry. I was busy with the dogs. They’ve been a handful lately, and I just couldn’t get away.”
Aurora crosses her arms, her glare intense. “You couldn’t get away? This was important, Madison! You know how much my holiday party means to me. It’s not just about me—it’s about everyone. You said you’d help, and then you just…bailed.”
I try to keep my own temper in check. Aurora is mad because I didn’t come to an emergency meeting about something that is very non- emergency. I can’t get upset at her, though. Because I have no right. In the end, I’m the worst person because I’m keeping an even bigger secret from her.
Mia steps forward, placing a calming hand on Aurora’s shoulder. “Hey, let’s calm down, okay? Madison didn’t bail on purpose. She had responsibilities. You know how crazy it can get with those dogs. ”
Bigfoot comes over just then and thrusts his nose forcefully into Mia’s stomach.
Bella seems to sense she’s missing out on something and circles them both.
“Let’s sit down,” I suggest. “The dogs will calm down if we’re sitting down.”
I set the example by sitting on the couch. Samson comes and curls up next to me, but Aurora doesn’t want to sit down yet.
Her shoulders relax just a little, but she’s still huffing at me angrily. “It’s just…this party is in barely over a week, and I’m freaking out. I can’t do this alone.”
Now, I actually start to feel a little guilty. Aurora and I have always been closest in our group. And I’m usually the one with the crazy, creative ideas. They probably could have used me at the meeting for the party. “I know, Aurora. I really am sorry. If I could’ve been there, I would’ve. But the dogs needed me, and it’s not like I could just leave them.” It feels like such a lie that I’m sure they can see through it. I rush to add details.
“One of the dogs got out.” I point to Bella. At least, I’m pretty sure it’s Bella. “She is a handful. She’s strong, and…anyway. It was a whole thing.” Even though she got out the day before Aurora’s emergency meeting, we don’t need to get into all the exact details.
Aurora sighs, her frustration still simmering. “I get it. I do. But I need you, Madison. We all do. This party is a huge deal, and there’s so much left to do. You’re always so helpful in the planning phase, and if you weren’t going to come, you should have at least texted us. I thought you were on your way. We kept waiting for you.”
“I can definitely still help. I promise. Whatever you need, just tell me, and I’ll be there. ”
“Fine. But no more excuses, okay? And learn how to text if you can’t be somewhere. I mean, we could have come and helped you get Bella back in and then had the meeting here. It didn’t have to be at Groovy Grounds.”
Aurora finally settles onto the sofa next to Mia. I still feel like it’s them against me, but at least Aurora isn’t yelling anymore.
I nod earnestly, hoping to reassure her. “I’m in. You know I’m in. Just give me an assignment… One I can do in my bedroom so the dogs don’t mess it up.”
Aurora pulls out her phone and starts scrolling down a list. “Okay, right now the unclaimed jobs are decorations, specifically something for my front door, and making a playlist.”
I shrug and nod. “I can do both of those. I’m not sure the decorations will be Martha Stewart style, but I’m sure I can come up with something.”
“Madison, it has to be something that is over-the-top. Please don’t show up with a wreath for my front door.”
A wreath is just what I was thinking, but I can’t say that now.
“Of course. I’ll come up with something cool. Who are you inviting?”
“A bunch of people. You can invite whoever you want, too. When we have an idea of the number of guests, we can work on planning the food. I have some tentative ideas on that.”
“Maybe we could just ask everyone to bring a Christmas dessert.”
“No, I don’t want to do that. Classy parties don’t require the guests to put work in first. The guests should just be able to show up without any prep work.”
“Just so that you get to do it all. ”
“No,” Aurora smiles, “so you four get to do it all. Mia, which job did you sign up for again?”
“I’m working on creating the menu, and I’m definitely making a few different dessert recipes. I’ll share some with my guests too. I have an influx as we get closer to Christmas. I’m thinking?—”
All the dogs leap up at once and start barking. It’s so loud that I can’t even figure out why they’re barking. Maybe it’s the mailman. Or it could be a curious squirrel nearby. It’s just as likely to be one as the other.
Then, there’s a knock at the door. Samson ducks his head under the blinds beside the door and stops barking. His tail starts wagging. Is it Wesley?
Who’s coming over that…
But then I know exactly who it is. I remember the string of texts that Ethan and I exchanged half an hour ago.
I feel sick. It’s not like I can pretend no one is there. The dogs have made sure of that. Mia and Aurora are both looking at me, waiting for me to do something about all the noise.
I decide to deal with the dogs. “Bella! Stop! Enough! Bigfoot! You too!”
I grab Bella by her collar and lead her to her XXL cage. Mia gets the idea and helps with Bigfoot. Samson and my last dog are all put away, but one of them continues to bark.
“Are you expecting someone?” Aurora asks, standing up and heading toward the front door like she’s going to open it.
I jump in front of her. Maybe I can open the door and motion for Ethan to leave. Now isn’t a good time. But Mia and Aurora insist on standing just behind me as I head to the front door .
“No, not really expecting anyone. It’s probably just…um…hang on.”
I move toward the door, my steps hesitant. I can feel Aurora and Mia watching.
As I open the door just a crack, I see Ethan standing there. My heart races as I try to keep my face neutral.
I try to keep from opening the door all the way, but Aurora is nosy as hell. She appears behind me.
“Dad? What are you doing here?”
I scramble for an explanation, my mind racing. “Oh, um…Ethan, your dad, Mr. Taylor was just…helping me out with the dogs. You know, Bella and Bigfoot? They’ve been a bit of a handful, and I needed an extra pair of hands.”
I want to facepalm. This is the worst possible explanation I could have come up with. I sound like the world’s worst liar.
Aurora narrows her eyes, clearly not buying it. “Dad, you were helping with the dogs? I thought you didn’t like doing anything that gets you dirty.”
Ethan’s face is unreadable, but there’s a slight smirk on his lips. I finally let the door swing open a little wider since I have nothing to hide. Aurora has already seen her dad, and Mia is trying to see what’s going on too. “That’s right. Madison mentioned she was struggling, so I offered to lend a hand. It’s a lot easier to exercise those dogs with a fenced-in yard.”
Ethan’s eyes fall on me briefly, but they’re impossible to read before they skate away.
The room falls into an awkward silence. There’s something unspoken between Ethan and me, and I just have to hope Aurora isn’t picking up on it.
Aurora crosses her arms, her gaze shifting between us. “Since when do you help out with dogs, Dad? ”
Ethan shrugs, playing it off like it’s no big deal. “Since now, I guess. Madison needed help, so I helped.”
I can see the gears turning in Aurora’s head, but she doesn’t push it further. Instead, she sighs and turns back to me. “Okay, well, you could just give her a key to the fence, you know. That would be smarter. But seriously, Madison, we need to get this party stuff sorted. Are you free tomorrow to help with the decorations? I need a list of ideas you have.”
I nod quickly, eager to get the focus off Ethan’s unexpected visit. “Yes, absolutely. I’ll be there. Just tell me what time.”
Aurora glances at her dad again, then back at me. “All right. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”
With that, Aurora hugs her dad and prances down the stairs to her golf cart. Mia lingers behind for a second.
“Nice to see you, Mr. Taylor.”
“You know you are both too old to call me that. I’m Ethan.”
I can tell that Ethan is trying hard to act casual, but I think it’s obvious he feels awkward. I just have to hope Mia isn’t picking up on it. I smile at Ethan. “I’ll bring the dogs out in a second. Just let me talk to my friend for a minute.”
Then, I shut the door on him and turn to Mia, desperately trying to read her face. “Please tell me if Aurora gets that upset again. You know I’ll help out with stuff if someone just gives me a job.”
“I know you will. I told her that. But she acted like you had personally offended her by not showing up.”
I roll my eyes, feeling like I can be a little more honest with Mia. “I will be there…most of the time. I just couldn’t be this time.”
“I get it. I really do. I’ll keep you updated on Aurora’s mood swings. ”
We both have a little laugh at her expense, then Mia heads out the door. Just knowing that Ethan is waiting for me makes me smile.
Now that I’ve gotten things sorted out with my friends, I can focus on him.