Chapter Three Madison

M y stomach turns as I pull up outside of Mrs. Kendall’s home the following afternoon. I’d been able to convince Mom to close the bakery for the day and told Knox I’d meet him here before everyone else. But now that I’m here, I’m dreading everything that’s about to happen.

Not that I’d let them see that.

Taking a deep breath, I push forward, walking quickly towards the front door just in time for it to swing open. A short, stocky woman comes into view and introduces herself as Mrs. Macy Dorman.

“You must be Madison.” She smiles, making me feel slightly uncomfortable.

“I— I am. How did you know that?”

“I’m Mrs. Kendall’s attorney. I’ve seen plenty of photos of you and your friends to know exactly who you all are.” She laughs softly, gesturing with her hand for me to follow her inside. “Let’s get you situated. Knox is inside already.”

She escorts me into the living room and I immediately blink back the tears that threaten to run down my face. It’s so strange being here without Mrs. Kendall herself. The home that had felt like a safe haven to me for so many years now feels cold and lonely.

Part of me half-expects her to walk in with her huge, loving smile and wrap me in a hug. But she doesn’t, and the reality of that cuts something deep inside me.

“Madison, you made it!” Knox says with a smile as he stands from one of the brown chairs in the living room, wrapping me in a hug. “I’ve missed you. It’s been too long.”

“We literally see each other all the time,” I chuckle. “I don’t think you can make it two days without an old-fashioned donut and my mom’s coffee.”

Knox is the only one of our friend group to have stayed in Willowcreek with me. And honestly, he hasn’t changed much since high school. Other than becoming the right hand to his father’s carpentry business. The talent that he has never ceases to amaze me.

“Touché,” he replies, pushing back his blond shaggy hair from in front of his brown eyes.

“Is Callum not here?” I ask, searching for Knox’s partner and perfect soulmate.

“No, he’s working—”

We barely have time to jump into any further conversation as voices from the front door catch our attention and I turn to see Kylie walking in. My heart is on the verge of combusting with excitement as tears prick my eyes again and I jump up to give her a hug. Though, Knox beats me to it, and I’m left to scowl at him until I get my turn.

Despite the amount of time it’s been since I’ve last seen Kylie, she still looks the same. Except for her gorgeous red hair that she finally learned to control. God knows her parents always complained about it when we were younger. And now, her love for art and years of practice led her to open her own studio in New Orleans doing what she loves. To which, I couldn’t be more proud of her .

The moment she pulls back from Knox and turns to me, I can’t hold back. I know she isn’t a hugger, but I’m too happy to see her not to wrap my arms around her. After a second of stiffness, she gives in to my embrace.

“Your hair,” I say, grabbing one long curly red strand. “It looks great!” And it does. It doesn’t look as wild and unkept as when we were young.

Soft laughter escapes her that seems to be slightly forced as she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and gives a slight shrug. “Yeah…”

Though I’m barely able to make out anything else that she might have said, as my eyes catch sight of the one man I haven’t seen in a very long time. Legs trembling and my heart racing… Jaxson Rivers walks back into my life and he steals my breath away, just like he did in high school. I’m a complete mess in a matter of seconds.

Back then, I had such a complete crush on him, certain that my teenage fantasies would come true. Instead, the man was so preoccupied with being the shining football star with Asher and Knox that he never even noticed.

Or maybe he did… and I’m the one that was an idiot.

Taking a moment, I try to collect myself. Calm down, Madison. It’s just Jaxson. He’s just another typical, run of the mill guy, nothing to get excited about.

I don’t believe my lie for a second. He’s hotter than I remember him being. Even with the same shaggy brown hair that he had back then, there’s something… more to him. More professional, more… Godly.

Almost like a sex God took over the rock-solid body he had in high school and gave him sharper features and a knowing glint in his eyes that I couldn’t be happier for. The black slacks and maroon button-up have to be designer because they were clearly custom tailored for that impressive physique. The man may not have been playing football anymore, but it’s clear he still finds time to work out.

If only it had been him in my dream…

The moment the thought crosses my mind, his gaze scans the room and lands straight on me, almost as if he can feel me lusting after him from over here. The intensity in his eyes all but sucks the air from my lungs as he proceeds in my direction.

Oh, fuck me .

A deep flush crawls up my face as I try to stop my eyes from roaming his body. I mean I desperately need to get laid, that’s obvious. But I don’t need to look desperate… Though, I could be desperate for him if he wants me to be.

“Madi.” His deep, sultry voice slides over my skin and I shudder in pleasure. “Long time no see.”

Fucking hell… Get yourself together, woman, and get over this stupid crush. It was so long ago. He’s just being friendly!

“Jaxson… Well, I suppose if you took some time off from cooking and came back to visit more often it wouldn’t be so long, would it?” I reply in a playful, sarcastic tone that causes him to chuckle. The sound oddly similar to the man from my dreams.

“Glad to see some things haven’t changed,” he replies with a shake of his head. “You still have that mouth on you. Now, come here and give me a hug.”

There’s no hesitation on his part as he steps towards me and I awkwardly give him a hug. My senses are completely overwhelmed by the deep, dark, earthy aroma of his cologne. It wraps around me like a warm blanket, taking me back to the days we used to lay under the treehouse in the grass during the summer right before a rainstorm.

Though the moment he breaks away, I can’t help but be slightly annoyed. Not because he was bringing up memories of the past. Because the way he looks at me is almost like he’s seeing the little girl who used to hang around with him at the treehouse, not a full grown-ass woman who would rather have him bend her over the kitchen counter while he spanks her ass.

“You okay?”

His question pulls me out of my thoughts as I stand back from him and clear my throat, my eyes roaming over his body once more. “Mhm… I was just thinking about something…”

“Oh, really?” he chuckles. “If I remember correctly that was never really a good thing back in the day?”

Smartass. My brow lifts slightly as a smirk touches the corner of my lips.

“Neither is the chef who looks like he’s been eating too many of his creations.”

A deep roar of laughter escapes him as he nods his head and slowly pats his stomach. “I can promise you that behind this clothing, it is nothing but rock-hard abs. Wanna see?”

Oh sweet baby Jesus…

As much as every part of me wants to jump on that offer, I instantly back down, face flushing red as I roll my eyes, shaking my head. Jaxson looks incredible, there’s no denying that. But his words fluster me to the point of being speechless, and it’s at that moment that Asher walks in and I’m honestly glad for it. Because otherwise I would more than likely embarrass myself even further.

Asher makes his way around, greeting Knox and Jaxson first as I make my way back to talk to Kylie, before he approaches.

“God, Asher, you got huge! What kind of drugs are you pumping these days?” I reply as he rolls his dark eyes, shifting slightly uncomfortable under my comment. I’d meant it to sound like a sarcastic bitch. That’s who I was, when I wanted to be. And regardless of his gaze looking nothing but unpleasant… he knew I was joking.

It’s how we always got along.

“Gee, nice to see you, too, loudmouth. I see some things never change.” I shrug at his comment, a mischievous smirk glittering the corner of my lips as his phone starts ringing. “Excuse me, I’ve got to take this.”

Sam and Asher dated in high school, but broke up when she found out he was cheating on her… the entire thing was a complete catastrophe honestly. He swore up and down that he didn’t do it. Then admitted he did. Though I’d always wondered if there was more to his story.

Regardless of the past though, I’m glad to see him again. To see everyone really.

“Madi?” Sam’s voice pulls my attention from where Asher disappeared through the kitchen doorway. My eyes widen with excitement at the sight of her.

“Damn, girl,” I say, giving her a hug before slapping her ass. “I bet you can still fit in your cheer uniform. I miss you, but hate you at the same time.”

She laughs, pulling back from me. “At least you’re shaped like a woman and not a schoolgirl! ”

I don’t get the time to voice much else before Mrs. Dorman appears in front of us and we all take our seats. “I know everyone would like to get reacquainted, but you all arrived at different times and some of you were late.”

Our eyes all dart towards Dante, Knox’s older brother, who strolls in wearing a five-thousand dollar pimp suit and a doesn’t seem to give a shit attitude over her calling him out as he takes a seat with a who-gives-a fuck kind of gaze.

We didn’t hang out much with him when we were younger. Probably because he thought we were too young for him. Which only makes his appearance that more strange.

What in the world is he even doing here? I don’t remember Knox mentioning his name when we spoke on the phone.

As my attention shifts back to Mrs. Dorman, I catch a look of surprise from Sam out of the corner of my eye. I glance at her, brows furrowing slightly as I look towards the kitchen to see what she’s looking at.

And that’s when it hits me. Asher.

She must not have noticed him when she got here, though he was in the kitchen. And judging by the flustered look on her face, she isn’t prepared either. Almost as much as I was seeing Jaxson again.

Though watching him take a seat near Knox and Jaxson, I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if they never broke up.

Mrs. Dorman clears her throat, pulling me from my observations. My eyes turn back to her just in time to see her turn on the television, my mind being blown away once more as Mrs. Kendall fills the screen and tears burn at the backs of my eyes.

“You young hellions were some of the only few to really use and love my treehouse,” she says, her voice amplified by the speakers. “The kids these days don’t play outside and use their imaginations anymore. They grow up with those phones and computers stuck to their faces all the time.”

She looks away for a second then back into the camera. “I’m leaving it, along with my home, to the ones who truly loved it the most. All of you. ”

Shock fills me, my lips parting as a slight gasp escapes me at her words. The gesture is more than I can have ever expected and glancing around the room, I can see everyone else is just as surprised as I am.

I mean, yes, we spent the majority of our childhood and teen years here at her home. But that was so long ago, and since graduation, we all moved on with our lives and only some of us actually stayed put to continue here in Willowcreek.

So, to leave it to us all… Mrs. Kendall definitely had something in mind when she made that decision.