Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
MADDIE
I t’s official. I’ve lost my damn mind.
I’m in love, and I’m full of holiday cheer, bang smack on Christmas Eve. And it’s all because of Parker. His infectious nature has lit me up from the inside out. He may be eleven years older than me, but he’s the funniest, most attentive person I’ve ever met, and I’ve fallen hook, line, and sinker.
The fact that he’s got me into the Christmas spirit is just another reason to add to the list of why I think he’s so amazing. Christmas is a special time, one that’s supposed to be filled with love and good deeds, and he’s given me back my appreciation of it again.
He’s shown me that Christmas is a time for giving, which is why last week, I decided to buy some children’s Christmas books to put in the shop. They came in with this morning’s delivery, and I can’t wait to get them out on the shelves for people to buy in their last-minute panic.
Having Amelia around is just the icing on the cake. I just hope she won’t mind too much that I’m dating her dad. We haven’t talked about it, and Parker hasn’t said anything. Maybe I should talk to him about it? Should I talk to him about it?
Oh god !
Nerves hit me, and I feel slightly sick. It’s fine. I know she doesn’t have a great relationship with her mom, and I’m not trying to replace her. I’m more of an older sister type person, thing? Oh hell.
It's fine, everything’s fine.
I laugh at my rambling thoughts, carefully taking out each book and placing them gently onto the shelves. Once I’m done, I take a step back and admire my work. My chest fills with warmth, and I giggle to myself, kind of liking the new me.
This is going to be the best Christmas ever.
I sold out of every single holiday book in the store, meaning I’ve made more money today than I have in the last six months since opening. I try to remove the goofy grin plastered all over my face, but fail miserably.
Parker messaged me earlier to say he was grabbing ice cream with Amelia, and even though I know I’m seeing them both tomorrow, I thought I’d surprise them.
I lock up the bookstore and start strolling down Main Street.
I shove my hands into my pockets and walk along the icy sidewalk, trying not to slip.
All the shops are shut, their lights off, and signs flipped to ‘Closed.’ Everyone’s home with their families, probably halfway through dessert or arguing over what to watch next.
I come to a stop outside the ice cream parlor, but that’s closed too.
Strange, he said they’d be here.
The snow falls heavily around me as I search in my bag for my phone. I find it and shoot him a text.
Hey, I thought you guys were at the ice cream parlor?
Parker
Sorry, got held up. I’m still at the garage. Amelia’s with my dad.
The garage is only a couple of minutes away, so I head there, boots crunching through the snow. I tug my coat tighter around my ears, muttering under my breath about forgetting my hat. Arty didn’t wake me up like he usually does, so obviously this is all his fault.
The garage lights are on, glowing warm against the icy evening. I make my way to the front entrance, but freeze when I spot Parker inside with someone else. My stomach drops as I squint through the frosted glass, my heart hammering like it’s trying to escape from my chest.
The mystery woman finally turns, and I let out the biggest breath, practically fogging up the window. My heart’s still doing laps, but at least it’s not about to implode. I reach for the door, ready to step inside, until I hear something. Something that makes me stop cold.
“Parker, you need to tell her,” Samantha implores. “You can’t keep it a secret any longer.”
I watch as Parker runs a hand through his hair, a familiar gesture he does when he’s thinking too hard. “She doesn’t need to know, Mom,” he says, turning his back on her and walking over to the workbench.
I have to strain to hear what they’re saying, so I press myself a little closer to the glass. I don’t want to open the door fully yet, not if it means interrupting whatever’s going on.
“Yes, she does, Parker. Everything is based on a lie.”
“No, it’s not,” he roars, arms flying in the air in exasperation. “I told one white lie; that’s not the end of the world.”
Samantha puts her hands on her hips. “Maybe not to you, but to a girl who’s been treated as poorly as that girl has? It’s going to destroy her.”
“I know what I’m doing,” he mumbles before placing his hands in his hair and looking toward the ceiling. “How do I tell her, Mom?” He finally looks down, his face a painting of misery as he looks at her. “Oh, hey, Maddie, by the way, you were just a challenge?—”
A gasp slips out before I can stop it, loud enough that I’m sure they heard, but I don’t wait to find out.
I turn and bolt, my feet pounding against the sidewalk and my heart thumping even harder.
I don’t know where I’m going. I just run.
Past the bakery, past the bookstore, past the glowing holiday lights that suddenly feel way too cheerful.
The cold air bites at my cheeks, mixing with tears I didn’t even realize were falling.
It’s like something cracked open inside me, and now I can’t shove it back in. I don’t know what I heard, or maybe I didn’t hear anything at all, but whatever it was, it hurts, and now I’m just trying to outrun it.
“You were just a challenge.”
I keep running and running, those words on a constant loop in my head as I push myself. Tears cloud my vision, but I keep going, the sobs sounding like a familiar tune I’ve played one too many times throughout the years.
The snowfall is heavy, almost to the point of a blizzard, and my steps falter as they pound through the snow.
I trip and fall over, my hands landing on the ground.
I don’t bother getting up. I can’t. I let him into my life because I thought he was one of the good ones, and I just ended up as…
what? A pity date? Poor Maddison, she’s so pathetic she needs my help?
At least his mom had the right idea to come clean. I just wish Parker had. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel so crappy. I wipe my face with the back of my hand and realize I’m in the town square. The lights from the Christmas tree are twinkling in the night, tormenting me. Laughing at my stupidity.
“I hate Christmas,” I scream, clutching my hair and pulling at the strands, hoping the pain will distract me from the pain in my chest.
It doesn’t.
Pushing myself up, I stumble to the tree, angry at the world around me. I start grabbing baubles and tinsel, ripping them from the tree. Everything about it offends me, and I want it gone.
I feel like I’m spiraling, but I can’t seem to stop.
He used me.
The first guy I’ve truly felt anything for in…
well, ever, used me. Tears continue to stream down my face as my hands shred into the tree, throwing things behind me.
I use the sleeve of my coat to wipe the tears away, allowing me to see just enough.
My fingers protest from the cold, the pine needles stabbing into me as I grab at anything and everything.
“Maddie!”
I don’t turn around, I just keep going. I want this town to wake up in the morning and see the tree destroyed so they know how I feel.
How I feel like my world is completely splintering right down the center.
How I feel like I can’t trust anything anyone says, no matter how nicely they treat me.
They’re all just a bunch of liars and fakes.
“Maddie?”
A hand touches my shoulder, and I freak out, jumping back. I lose my footing, my hands automatically reaching out to brace for the fall, but instead, I crash into the tree.
“ Ooomph .”
Pushing myself away from the tree, I watch in horror as it starts to wobble violently. The bucket the tree is sitting in precariously moves back and forth. If I try and do anything now, I’m only going to make it worse, which means I have no choice but to stand and watch it all unfold.
“Oh no,” I gasp, bringing my hands up to my face. “No, no, no, no, no.”
But it’s too late. The tree falls over, crashing to the ground. The ornaments spread across the town square, rolling this way and that way before sinking into the snow.
It’s completely wrecked, and it’s all my fault.