Chapter Thirteen Madison

W illowcreek Carnival. Every child in Willowcreek looks forward to the town’s carnival every year, and even though I’m an adult—I still do. The vibrant array of colors that float through the sky from the banners of the market and game tents, and even to the carnival rides, is something that I can’t get over. Every year when I come here, I float down memory lane. Towards the days when adulting wasn’t even a fragment in my mind, and all I wanted to do was have fun.

Today, though, fun will have to wait. Because adulting never ends.

“Madison!” Kylie’s voice turns my attention towards the right of the raffle tent. Her petite figure is adorned in denim shorts and a tank top, struggling to carry a massive bright pink wood display, bringing a smile to my face. When I asked her to help me with the donation display from Mom’s bakery, I wasn’t expecting this.

“Damn girl, when you deliver, you really deliver. ”

She laughs, her pearly white teeth on full display as a smile spreads across her face. “What can I say… I like going over the top every now and again. Plus, I can’t have your mom’s delicious double-stuffed croissants on anything but perfection.”

“Touché,” I remark, causing us both to laugh as she sets it upon the six-foot white and pink covered fold-up table that the director of the carnival set up for me. “Where’s Sam? I thought she was coming with you?”

When I’d called Kylie earlier, she was already with Sam. The two of them were probably getting up to no good, and more than willing to jump in to help a girl out. Especially on carnival day.

And honestly, I needed to get my mind off Jaxson. It’s been six days since I saw him last. I know he’s in town, Knox informed me that he saw him yesterday. But even though I shouldn’t be bothered, I am. What happened between us… put me at a loss for words.

Which honestly is saying something.

Before Kylie even gets to open her mouth, a high-pitched squeal unlike anything I’ve ever heard before draws our attention towards the woman in question. The only problem is, a few of the local boys thought it would be funny to spray Sam with water guns.

“I’m going to get you!” Sam screams out after them as they proceed to run away laughing. Her eyes fall to Kylie and me as I cover my mouth to prevent her from seeing my amusement. I knew the kids well, they lived right around the corner from mom and were always up to trouble.

But then again, we did the same shit when we were little.

As soon as she reaches us, she sets a matching long rectangular cake stand down on the table next to the display rack. Each of the displays takes up a corner of the table opposite from each other, and in the middle is the wooden sign Kylie had also made with the bakery name on it. “This is perfect.”

“It better be,” Sam sighs, rubbing the water off her arms. “Those damn kids are going to pay for soaking me… I mean, why pick me? Of all people!”

Her overdramatic attitude finally does it and Kylie and I burst into laughter causing Sam to laugh too. “It’s not funny. ”

“Oh, but it is,” I remark, giving her a pointed look as Kylie helps to place the croissants on the bakery rack. “It’s no different than what the guys used to do to us when we were younger.”

“Younger being the key word,” Sam replies, shaking her head. “I’m an adult now… not twelve.”

I go to open my mouth to tell her she does still have her high school cheer body, but Kylie’s eyes go wide as if she knows what I’m going to say and interjects. “We should grab some food after this.”

“Oh, my God. Yes. I’m starving,” Sam groans. “And the burgers that the high school booster club is making over by the entrance are making it worse.”

At the mention of burgers, my stomach grumbles. “True that… Well, all I have to do is put the cake up, and then we can get food.”

At the mention of my cake, both their eyes turn to me.

I’d been extra secretive about the cake for the past few months, and when the girls asked me about it the other day, I refused to tell them. My creation this year was far different than the cakes I’d made in previous years. After everything that happened with Mrs. Kendall, I wanted to make sure a piece of her was incorporated into the cake’s creation.

The moment I open the large white cooler box that had been concealing the large two-tier cake with a square base and round top, both girls gasp with what I can only hope is surprise and love for what I created. Because honestly, though I’m usually confident in my creations, part of me was wondering if I nailed this one.

“Oh my God, Madi. It’s gorgeous!” Kylie exclaims. “What flavor did you do?”

“It’s half and half. So the bottom is white and the top is chocolate, but in between the layers I did a chocolate ganache filling. With my mom’s signature white vanilla bean buttercream frosting, and then simply accented it with all of Mrs. Kendall’s favorite colors.”

Reds, blues, yellows, and greens were all incorporated into the cake’s design. Flowers of every kind and shade all done with my mother’s frosting, highlighted the cake in a unique display that had a bit of a Alice in Wonderland aspect that Mrs. Kendall would have loved .

“It’s beautiful,” Sam finally says. My eyes drift towards her to see the slight hint of tears brimming her eyes. “I think this is the best cake you’ve ever made. She would be so proud of it.”

Sam’s words touch me deeper than I expect. My heart swells as a smile spreads across my face. Somewhere out there, wherever she may be… I hope it does make her proud.

Because all of this is for her. In memory of her.

By the time my display is complete, and my mom arrives to oversee it, the girls and I venture back to the bakery to grab lunch. As much as the burgers sounded delicious, they weren’t enticing enough to make us wait in that line.

Instead, we headed to my mom’s cafe. “So, how was Chicago?” The question comes as I’m handing the girls their coffees at the counter. The shop’s long been closed, and honestly, I’m thankful for it. It’s nice to be able to just have peace and quiet to catch up with my friends.

Sam hesitates for a moment, her eyes shifting between Kylie and me before she clears her throat and straightens her shoulders. “It was okay.”

“Okay?” I ask. I know damn well that she was in Chicago at the same time as Asher and the way she is acting is as if something juicy happened.

“Yes, it was okay. Nothing exciting. Just work.”

Once we’re settled at a table, I quiz Sam. I know she’s lying just by the shifty way in which she’s acting. Not to mention the lack of eye contact.

“Come on, I know you were back in Chicago at the same time Asher was, and that your company did the event planning for his launch,” I say with a smile, trying to get the juicy details of what’s going on between Sam and Asher. “I think I’ve been more than patient with you, so spill.”

There is something going on with them. Something that Sam is hiding details on, and though it’s been years since we really got together. It’s still code not to keep those kind of secret’s from each other.

“Shhhh,” Sam says, glancing around. “Madi, this is a small town. The walls have Goddamn ears around here. Keep it down.”

“I agree with Madi, we need all the deets,” Kylie pushes before taking a bite of her coffee crumble. “You guys must have crossed paths there.”

“Crossed paths, mouths, pelvises…” I add dreamily.

“Jesus, Madi,” Sam replies, running a hand over her face. “Please don’t corrupt sweet Kylie. ”

Kylie shakes her head in denial. “She’s not doing anything. I’m totally invested in this love story.”

I can’t help but snort at Kylie’s comment. “Fuck if it isn’t. I’m living vicariously through you, Sam, so bitch you better make a love story happen. Kylie and I are on a serious dry spell here, and we need a little pick me up.”

“Speak for yourself,” Kylie mutters slyly, and we both look at her in shock before she covers her mouth, as if she didn’t intend for us to hear that.

“Oh, no. I need to hear this,” Sam speaks up, trying to divert the attention from herself. But unfortunately, Kylie shakes her head. A smirk lines her face as she raises a brow towards Sam.

“You tell me yours,” she sing-songs.

I can’t help but eye Kylie with suspicion. Both of them have been keeping secrets from me! How is it that my two best friends are having the time of their lives, and I’m over here collecting cobwebs?

Call me a reborn virgin at this point.

“Asher and I did see each other at his launch event.”

Shock fills me at her response as I smack my forehead. “Damn, I wish I was a fly on the wall for that.”

Moving closer, to the edge of my seat I stare at her with a smile spread across my face. “Tell me, was it worth it? Was his dick bigger than you remember from high school? Please tell me he made you come at least once or twice. Oh, tell me he fucked you in ways I only dream about?”

“God, Madi. Didn’t your mother ever wash your mouth with soap?” Kylie asks me jokingly.

Shrugging my shoulders I lean back in my chair, “She tried once, but I let loose a stream of cuss words so loud and long she ended up using the soap for her ears. Honey, haven’t you ever listened to boys talk about women? If you think I’m bad, you would probably never talk to a guy again. But we’re getting off-topic. Please, Sam, continue.”

“I’m not giving you any details, you perv, but I’m willing to say that I was very satisfied. We saw each other at the event, and we went to his room, and had a good time.”

I knew it .

“Wait,” I reply, knitting my brows together. “Sam, you two are like fated mates or something. You can’t tell me that’s it. Just a good time?”

“What do you want me to say, Madison?” Sam asks me in a huff. Clearly frustrated by the topic of conversation. “That I got carried away? That for a minute I let go and allowed myself to feel for him again?”

Honestly, I’ll never understand why she carries the grudge she had against Asher from years ago. He made a mistake, yes. But everyone does, and this woman needs a wake-up call.

“Yes,” I sigh, shaking my head. “People change, Samantha. We are not the same as we were in high school. We haven’t been keeping in touch and so much has changed in all our lives. Let him in. How can you deny the possibilities if you never give him a chance?”

“Yeah, give yourself this chance,” Kylie adds in nodding her head. “I think Asher is a good guy and he’s always adored you.”

“I don’t think I can handle it if I get my heart broken again, guys,” Sam finally admits, her eyes casting towards her coffee as she hangs her head with a look of defeat. I never meant for her to be upset by what we were talking about, but at the same time… she has to wake up.

If the man I’m meant to spend my life with came back to me and was trying, I’d let him.

I’d allow myself the possibility to hurt, just to say I tried.

“You can’t live your life in fear, Sam,” I finally say, watching as her eyes lift to mine. “You have to let go and let love in again. You're just not cut out to be a cat lady.”

My words cause her to scoff with amusement as a small smile litters her lips and Kylie joins in with her own slight chuckle. I do have a point though, Sam is definitely not cut out to be a cat lady.

Me on the other hand… That’ll end up being my future.