34 MADDY
MADDY
“Try not to flood the house, Mads.”
We scramble apart like we’ve just been caught committing a felony. Ryan stumbles back, running a hand through his hair, blinking.
I slide off the counter, heart in my throat, pulling my hoodie back down and adjusting my hair with shaky fingers. My lips feel swollen. My pulse is still doing cartwheels. And the front door swings open.
Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck.
Noah’s voice calls out, casual and unsuspecting, “Mads? I’m back!”
I glance at Ryan. His chest is rising and falling fast, staring at me with wide eyes, like he’s still not over what just happened. Spoiler: Neither am I.
Noah steps into the kitchen and immediately pauses, eyebrows raised. Ryan and I are standing a solid two feet apart—too far apart to be normal.
His eyes flick between us. “Uh… hey.”
I clear my throat. “Hey. You’re… back.”
Noah blinks at Ryan as he lowers his bag against the wall. “Didn’t know you were here.”
Ryan shifts on his feet, one hand going to the back of his neck. “Yeah. I just came over to help…clean.”
“Right,” I say quickly, too quickly. “Exploding dishes, that kind of stuff, you know?”
“It's handled now,” Ryan adds, nodding way too much.
Noah stares for a beat longer, then shrugs. “Okay…”
Ryan takes that as his cue. “Anyway, I should go. G’night, man.”
He gives Noah a pat on the shoulder as he passes, not making eye contact.
“Later,” Noah says, half confused.
Ryan grabs his jacket off the chair, holding it in his hand as he takes a few more steps. His eyes flick to mine for a second as he reaches the door. A quick smile tugs at his mouth. And then he’s gone and the door shuts behind him.
Noah turns to me slowly. “He’s acting weird.”
I force a laugh. “Yeah, I guess. Long day.”
He eyes me for a second, like he wants to ask more, but then just shrugs it off. “Whatever. Dad’s gonna be home a little later by the way.”
I nod, trying to smile like I look normal.
“I’m gonna take a shower.” He steps away, only to immediately yelp and stumble. “Shit—why is the floor soaked?”
I look at the puddle of water near the sink and bite back a nervous laugh. “Oh uhm—must’ve spilled some water with the dishes.”
Noah laughs as he heads up the stairs. “Try not to flood the house, Mads.”
I huff out a laugh, but it comes out way too hard.
And just like that, he disappears upstairs. The second he’s gone, I exhale. Hard. Then I lean both hands against the kitchen counter, staring at the floor.
What the holy hell just happened?