Chapter 5 Girls Night #2
Shoving the couch back against the wall, I nudge the coffee table to the side, creating as much space as possible.
Then I run down the hall to my old room, scooping up every spare pillow and blanket I can find.
The girls will be here any second. I want everything cozy and set up, ready with enough space to crash in case there’s one too many wines tonight.
With my arms overflowing, blocking my line of sight, I stumble my way back down the hall, nearly tripping over my own feet.
I dump the pile onto the floor, spreading out the giant cushion pillows from the couch, throwing the bed pillows on top, and scattering the blankets in every direction until it feels just right.
A soft knock pulls me from my fussing, and I run over, my fluffy socks sliding on the wooden floor. Swinging it open, I find Tessa standing there, juggling multiple bags.
“You’ll never believe what I did this afternoon,” I blurt, the heat rushing to my cheeks.
She arches a brow, stepping inside and thrusting one bag into my hands. “Why hello to you too,” she sings, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Snickering, I take the bag of snacks and lean in, giving her a quick side hug. The familiar scent of her floral shampoo wraps around me. Her long strawberry blonde hair falls in soft waves down her back, her hazel eyes light up in curiosity as she holds up another bag, shaking it at me.
“We’re gonna circle back to that,” she tells me as I lead her through the house to the kitchen. “But before I forget, I have face masks for tonight.”
“And I have berries so we can make wine slushies,” I add, unloading the bags onto the counter.
Tessa gasps dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest. “You know the way to my heart, girl.” She laughs, the sound echoing off the walls.
Tessa grew up here in town, like I did. We went to school together, and unlike all our other classmates who moved on to the big city lights and well-known colleges, we stayed.
The small town life was a part of us. Neither of us ever wanted it any other way.
She’s the calm to my fire, and I’m the spontaneity to her cautiousness.
She’s the early riser, I’m the night owl.
When Halle arrived in town, it felt instant, like we’d found the missing piece to our group.
With her, it was easier, more balanced. And honestly?
Having another girl around in our little family was nice. Less stinky armpits and all that.
“So, what time’s Halle getting here?” Tessa asks.
I pull down Mom’s favorite charcuterie board, lining up the crackers with maybe too much precision. Beside me, Tessa begins unwrapping the wedges of brie and cheddar.
“Soon, she’s just… catching up with you-know-who quickly,” I say.
“You mean the one we don’t text, call, speak of, think of, dream of—”
“Yeah, yeah,” I cut her off, my lips pursing as I snap a cracker in half. “You made your point.”
Tessa giggles. “Okay, too soon.”
Abandoning the cheese, she reaches for a bottle of wine and pours two glasses of red. The rich black cherry scent fills the kitchen as she hands one to me.
“Let’s fill you with wine before we get to the juicy stuff.”
“You’ve been waiting for this all day, haven’t you?” I clink my glass with hers, taking a slow sip.
“No…” she drawls out, taking a sip of her own.
I arch a brow at her, tilting my head.
Her lips twitch, giving her away. “Okay, fine. But can you blame a girl?”
“I guess not,” I mumble, setting my wine down and reaching for the strawberries.
We finish assembling the charcuterie board, both of us grinning at the beautiful work of art we’ve created. Crackers lined neatly beside wedges of brie and cheddar, strawberries and bananas stacked between bowls of chocolate dip. She’s salty, sweet, and everything you need for a girls’ night.
“Wait.” Tessa pauses, popping a strawberry into her mouth. Her eyes flutter closed as a small moan escapes her. “Okay, yum. But we need to circle back. What did you do today?”
Oh, right. I’ve been so caught up in trying not to think about Hunter—about how I’m supposed to explain what happened today—that I’ve completely forgotten what went down with Xavier.
Grabbing the board, I carry it down to the table.
Tessa follows behind with our wine, her glass already half empty.
Pulling out a chair, I sit down just as a quick knock breaks the short silence.
“It’s open,” I call, knowing it’s Halle.
The door creaks, followed by the low murmur of whispers and the rattle of keys hitting the entry table. I stare at Tessa—wide-eyed, her lips parted, eyebrows raised—before she mouths Who’s with Halle?
Shrugging, I turn in my chair just as Halle rounds the corner.
“Hey, I probably should have asked first, but I thought you wouldn’t mind,” she’s quick to say, her fingers tapping at her side.
She shifts to the side, and standing there is the woman from this morning.
The one Hunter was with. The one the little boy had called Mom.
My stomach drops. My eyes go wide, lungs seizing on the breath I’d just taken.
I try to breathe, but the air gets caught in my throat, turning into a harsh cough.
Heat surges to my cheeks, prickling my skin, as I snatch my wine glass with unsteady fingers.
The bitter black cherry tang coats my tongue as I swallow hard, forcing the air back into my chest as I remember how to fucking breathe again.
“Jesus Christ, girl,” Tessa says, her brows lifting in amusement. “Did you just choke on air?”
“Fuck you, Tess.” I grab the stack of napkins she set by the food and toss them at her.
“Have you two met before?” Halle interrupts, her eyes shifting between us.
My mouth goes dry. I realize then how rude I’m being. Mom taught me better than this, and if she’s here with Halle, if she was with Hunter this morning, then she’s not just some stranger; she’s someone important to them. Put your big girl pants on, Madison.
I push to my feet, holding out my hand to her. “No, we haven’t,” I answer, trying to sound casual. “I’m Madison, and this”—I nod over to Tess—“is Tessa.”
Instead of shaking my hand, she steps straight into me, her arms wrapping around me in a hug. The kind that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I freeze, caught off balance, looking at Halle over her shoulder with one brow arched. She just shrugs at me, equally as confused.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” she whispers against my ear.
“Uh…” My brain short-circuits.
“Shit, sorry.” She pulls away to stand next to Halle. “I’m Sarah. I grew up with Halle and her idiot of a brother.”
If her hug didn’t win me over, her calling Hunter an idiot sure as hell does. The knot in my chest unravels, my shoulders dropping as a grin spreads across my face.
“Well, at least we can all agree on the fact that Hunter’s an idiot. You’re one of us now.” Tessa raises her glass in a mock toast, her smirk sharp with approval.
“The idiotness doesn’t run in the family, clearly. That’s all him,” Halle says, her voice lighter, less worried than before.
She moves to the kitchen to grab two glasses and returns to the table, sliding into the chair next to Tessa, who wordlessly hands her the bottle of wine.
There’s a stiffness in the air, the kind of silence that clings to your skin, making every second drag.
An awkwardness that I hate. I’ve never been good with the quiet, especially the quiet that isn’t comfortable.
At work, I’m quick to make stupid jokes with the guys.
In school, I was always the loud, bubbly girl who kept the conversation going.
As a kid, I climbed every tree in sight, singing at the top of my lungs just to hear my own voice echo back.
Silence was never my friend. I love noise, laughter, shouts, and music.
It makes me feel alive, less alone in a world where I grew up by myself.
But somewhere along the way, I lost the spark in me.
The fearless, carefree confidence I carried.
Now, sitting here with the girls, I don’t know how to get it back.
“Alright,” Tessa announces, clapping her hands together.
“Shall we address the elephant in the room? Because I, for one, would like to get rid of this awkward silence so we can enjoy our night without the stinky boys for once. It’s not often Miss Halle here can get away from her broody man for more than an hour. ”
Halle grins around a strawberry. “Have you seen my broody man? You try staying away from him and his…” She smirks, leaning back into her chair. “Talents.”
“Gross,” I shudder at her innuendo.
Tessa snorts into her wine. “No need to rub it in, sweet cheeks. We get it. You’re well looked after with the real deal. Something the rest of us can only dream of.”
“You know, you could have your own big, broody man if you wanted.” Halle wiggles her brows at her.
“Nope.” Tessa holds up her glass, taking a long sip. “We’re not going there tonight. I’m off limits.” Her eyes swing to me, sly and sparkling. “You, however, are not. Spill. Tell us everything.”
I glance at Sarah beside me. Her smile is soft, welcoming, her eyes moving between the three of us like she’s taking everything in.
“Is this weird for you?” The question slips out before I can stop it.
Her answering laugh calms my nerves instantly. “Weird? No. I’m a single mom. The most exciting part of my day is negotiating snacks and counting down to bedtime. This”—she waves a hand around the table—“is not weird, this is fantastic.”
Tessa bursts out laughing, and Halle’s mouth quirks into a grin.
I bite my lip, nerves crawling over me. “So, you and Hunter…” The words stumble out. “You never…”
“Oh my god, no!” she splutters, her eyes going wide.
Something in my chest loosens, all the tight what-ifs I’d worked up inside my head unravel at once. I sink lower into my chair, tip my head back, and take a deep breath.