He absolutely did.
Picking up my phone, I call Madison.She answers after the first ring.“Hey.”
“Hello, beautiful Madison.How are you—are you all right?”
“So you heard about my call to the fire department?”
Perceptive woman.“Yes.It falls under the purview of security and safety.”
“More or less,” she says with a laugh.“I’m fine, I promise.I just thought maybe a carbon monoxide leak would explain all the weird shit going on, you know?”
“I know.Why don’t you stay with me tonight?I miss you.I miss talking to you, kissing you, giving you orgasms.I miss falling asleep next to you and waking up next to you.”
She hesitates.“I can’t.If I keep running away, I’ll never feel like this is my house.And I love this house.My great-aunt left it to me for a reason—because it feels like home.”
“Well, how about I come and stay with you?”I suggest.
“No, you don’t have to—” She stops and takes a breath.“Actually, yes.It would be nice.”
“I’ll be done with work around six, and I’ll come straight over.”
We say goodbye, and I lean back in my seat.She is always so reluctant to accept help, but just now, she did it without much argument.This is an improvement.
MADISON
I walk past Angeli’s, the lingerie store where Damiano fucked me in the dressing room.The very memory has me blushing.I wonder if I’ll ever work up the nerve to go back into that boutique.
I smile to myself as I walk.Things are good, for the most part.I’m trying to put the bombshell revelation about Kyle’s infidelity behind me, and things have been quiet at home.The past three nights, either Damiano, Seth, or both of them have stayed with me at my house.I love having them there—partly for the quiet, happy moments, partly for the scorching sexcapades.But also for the way that nothing spooky or mysterious has happened.No creaks or bumps in the night, no faces in windows, no smelly blankets.
I washed the blanket, but I haven’t been able to bring myself to use it since that night.In fact, it’s still in the dryer.I might need to buy a new blanket.
Other than that, though, I’ve been feeling better about everything.It helps that this is a gorgeous December day.The air is cool, but my skin is warmed by the sun.Even the few clouds in the sky look perky.
I’m nearly to my car when I see a familiar woman sitting in front of V’s Cafe.My stomach drops—it’s Eliza.I’d hoped to never encounter her again after Thanksgiving.
She sees me at the same moment I see her.Her face freezes in shock and she sets her coffee mug back on the table.“Uh, hey, Madison.”
It takes a moment for me to choke out the word.“Hey.”
We remain in awkward silence for a second, me on the other side of the little wrought-iron fence separating the coffee shop’s outdoor seating from the rest of the sidewalk.
“Well, take care.”I force my legs to take a step.
“Do you want to talk?”she asks.“I didn’t expect this, but I’ve been wondering if I should reach out.I’d love to talk with you, if you want to hear what I have to say.If you’re ready.But if not, that’s okay.”
If she were insisting, I would say no.But there’s a sad, hopeful spark in her blue eyes.
Fuck.I should say no.But I’m going to hear her out.Morbid curiosity, masochism, I don’t know why I would do this.But here I go.I round the little fence and join her at the table.A plate with a croissant sits in front of her, but she hasn’t touched it.
She looks over her shoulder.“Do you want a drink?I can flag someone down.”
“No, I won’t stay long.But thanks.”I don’t know why I’m here.I don’t know what I’m doing.Am I stepping up to a knife, so my memories of Kyle can be fileted all over again?
“I’m so sorry,” she starts.“For everything.You probably have questions, after Thanksgiving?”
“Yeah, I have a few.I guess the first one is, I always knew you were Kyle’s friend,” I say, “but I’d thought you were my friend, too.Was I wrong?”
She looks miserable.“I was a complete asshole back then.So was Kyle.I—I don’t know if you know, but Seth called me a few days ago.He wanted to meet, to ask about everything that happened with Kyle.”
