20. Madison
20
MADISON
Everyone needs to be at my place by six.
This time, when Aurora’s text comes through, I know that I can’t pretend I didn’t see it. I need to show up and be there for my friends.
Unfortunately, now I’m not feeling the best. I spend some time scrolling through articles on what’s going around this Christmas season, and I find out that humans can actually catch viruses from dogs and vice versa. Great. I’ve probably caught something from one of these monsters.
I pull myself out of bed and take a shower though, and that leaves me feeling surprisingly better. I put on a cute red sweater and some jeans and just let the dogs out one at a time for a quick pee before locking them up in their kennels.
While I would love to spend an hour in Ethan’s backyard watching over the dogs, I’m not sure how to deal with the confession he gave last time we were together. He basically admitted that he likes spending time with me and not just for sex.
And while I also feel that same way about him, I know that there’s nothing we can do about it. I can’t just throw caution to the wind and start dating my best friend’s dad.
Madison, you’re coming right??
I have to respond to this message, so I hop onto the group text and let everyone know I’m alive and kicking. Will be there in a cute sweater to make you all jealous.
Then, I head to Aurora’s place. I decide to walk because I don’t like getting in my car just to go a few blocks. As I pass Ethan’s house, I try to keep looking straight ahead, but I can’t keep from glancing briefly to see if his car is in the driveway.
When I see it is there, I feel a happy sort of jump in my heart.
“Madison Thomas, you are too old to act like this.” But my reprimand doesn’t keep me from thinking about when I’m going to see Ethan again.
As soon as I arrive at Aurora’s small, two-bedroom house, Zoe sidles up to me. “How is everything going?” The lift in her eyebrows and nod of her head indicates that she’s asking about my romantic relationship situation. I can’t give her an update, not right here. Not like this.
Before I can think of a discreet way of answering her, Aurora bangs a fork on a glass like she’s calling some huge group to order. In reality, it’s just the five of us—Aurora, Stella, Mia, Zoe, and me. But we can get loud.
“Before we get all distracted with life updates, I want to give instructions for how these decorations are going to go together. I don’t want to have you guys messing them up.” Aurora then gives us step-by-step instructions for making the decorations that will hang from the ceiling during her Christmas party. It seems like a lot of effort for one night, but I don’t mind doing it for my friend.
Finally, we’re given some wine and allowed to work on the decorations on our own. Mia takes Zoe’s place at my elbow, and the chance to catch her up on what’s going on passes.
Mia speaks loudly so the whole group can hear her. “I just want everyone to know that Theo and I are officially living together!”
We all cheer with different levels of enthusiasm.
“And? Do you regret it?” Aurora asks with a teasing grin on her face. “Is he messy?”
“Definitely don’t regret it. I was getting tired of the back and forth, and it turns out that this new place is great because it has the perfect amount of space for us to develop but also for us to have our own space.”
I smile excitedly for Mia. “And how’s the bed and breakfast going? Do you have bookings for Christmas?”
“Yes, and I’m surprised. I was sure no one would want to come to the beach for Christmas, but I underestimated. I will be fully booked from the twenty-fourth through the twenty-seventh.”
We all cheer for her again.
Then, we get back to cutting and stretching the thin paper. Aurora sits down next to me with a smile. “How are the dogs? Have they destroyed your home yet?”
“Not yet. Why? Are you offering to let me move in with you?”
“As long as you don’t bring the dogs.”
“Hey! One of them is mine!”
“He’s cute, but the others are monsters.”
I push down the urge to argue with Aurora further. I don’t want to feel annoyed at her, but I do. I keep feeling like if it weren’t for her, Ethan and I could just be together. I know that’s not true, though. There’s our age difference for one…and the fact that he’s uber-rich while I’m barely able to make my house payments.
Aurora finishes another perfect tissue ball, which she sets proudly in the middle of the table like it’s some sort of model for the rest of us.
“Do you have any more wine? I think I could use some.”
“You know where the fridge is. Serve yourself.”
I head to the fridge and pull out a bottle of something. I don’t even look at the label before refilling my glass. I listen to my friends laughing in the other room. Then, I start to feel sick. I set my glass down on the counter and go to the sink for a glass of water instead.
That immediately settles my stomach. Apparently, this virus does not mix well with alcohol. I settle for a mocktail before heading back into the dining room.
Stella sets a red tissue paper ball that almost matches Aurora’s on the table. She sits back with a satisfied smile. “Mia, tell us more about Theo. I know you’ve bought the land for the new place, but what about his original investment? The one you hated so much that you almost wanted to sabotage it?”
“I never said that!”
Aurora elbows Mia. “You were thinking it. So? Tell us more about the resort.”
Mia smiles sheepishly. “It’s great. Things are going well. He finally finished construction on the second part of his resort, so things have slowed down.”
Aurora smiles mischievously. “They’ve slowed down. In other words, he has more time with you…which means…” She shoves her hands together in a very suggestive way.
Mia laughs. “Yeah, maybe. Hey, he keeps me happy, and that’s all the detail I’m giving.”
We all laugh, but Stella continues to push for more. “ Come on! Just a few details! None of us are getting any, so you might as well let us live vicariously through you.”
“Vicariously?” Mia makes a face. “Neither you nor anyone else will be watching the things that Theo and I do together.”
“Stella, I think you meant live auditorily? There has to be a word for what you mean.”
“Yeah, there is. Spill the tea, Mia.”
But Mia refuses to give us any details.
“I just want to be an aunt already,” Aurora says. “I don’t think I’m ever going to have kids, so one of you can at least get around to having one.”
I roll my eyes. “Not going to happen here. I don’t even have any prospects.” But I think about Ethan. Of course, we could never have a family together. Ethan had one, and it didn’t work out that well for him. And I would never pick someone as old as him to be the father of my kids. But we can have fun together for a little while.
“That’s why it’s up to you, Mia, to give us a niece or nephew.”
“Hey, if you cover the costs of diapers and everything, sure. Why not?”
But we all know she’s joking. She and Theo don’t want kids together, and their relationship is less than six months old.
Oh well. At least we can pretend there will be a beautiful baby in our midst in the future.
Stella turns her attention to Aurora, prodding her to see if she has any new prospects, but Aurora refuses to say anything. I pull Zoe aside instead, yanking her into the kitchen and saying something about the wine.
“Are you okay?” Zoe asks as soon as we’re alone .
“I’m…not feeling great. I think I might have picked up some bug.”
Zoe’s eyes grow wide, and she backs away from me. “Please don’t give it to me. I don’t want to get sick right before Christmas.”
“Hey, think about it this way. If you’re sick right before Christmas, then you can’t be sick on Christmas.”
“I’m pretty sure germs don’t work that way. There’s no limit on how many times you can get sick.”
“I’m pretty sure there is.” I press a hand to my stomach and swallow the feeling of nausea. I nod toward the dining room table. “I want to help, but I’m not creative like this. I think Aurora is just going to throw all of mine away.”
“Oh, don’t be such a Debbie Downer. If you feel sick, then go home and rest. But don’t go home just because you feel stressed or overwhelmed with whatever’s going on with…him.” Zoe gives me a significant look.
I panic that someone might overhear us, but then Zoe’s expression changes. Maybe I’m reading too much into this.
“Okay, I think I’ll make one more, then I want to get home and rest. I feel exhausted.”
“This virus must be hitting you hard.”
I follow Zoe back into the dining room and remain quiet as Mia talks about a ridiculous request one of her guests made. We all laugh at the story, but I can barely pay attention to the punch line. I feel like I’m just copying them without really being present.