Page 99 of The Last Special Thing

“What do you mean?” Madisson leaned forward on the recliner.

“Weston told my parents about our trip.”

“What part?” Her face scrunched.

“All of it.” Amelia tried to smile, but the weight of the dinner pressed against her chest.

Madisson's face dropped. “No fucking way.” She shook her head in disbelief. “What did you say?”

“I’m moving to L.A. with Art.”

Her face soured. “Are you really doing that?”

“I don’t know. This is becoming a lot. When is enough, enough?”

“Yeah, I get that.” Madisson gazed out the window.

“They told me I could spend a year in Europe,” Amelia smirked.

“They fucking would.” Madisson howled with laughter and turned her attention back to Amelia.

“I don’t know what to do.” Her life had been laid out for her. It was the first time she deviated, and she was lost.

“Can I be honest with you?” Madisson said. “Without you freaking out on me again,” she said pointedly.

“Yes, let me have it,” Amelia conceded. She was still embarrassed about the way she had yelled at Madisson after their L.A. trip.

“He’s fucking bad news. He’s charming, he has his moments, but he’s lost. You can’t fix him. Going to L.A,” she trailed off. “You know that would not help him. Honestly, I’m saying this to you in our friendship bubble. I think Max will start looking for another roommate. There’s been sketchy people over, and it’s not good.”

It wasn’t surprising, but the revelation was heavy. He knew everything about her life, but he had shielded her from his dealings. Whether to protect her or to protect himself from her leaving him, she couldn’t be sure.

“Do you think I’m lost?” Amelia felt it, but reality had been blurring for months.

Madisson paused, weighing her response.

“Tell me.” Amelia’s words came out soft.

“If you go to Europe, I think you will be. UCLA is everything. Don’t give up your dream for this dude.”

She was right.

“I’m going to have to see him.” Amelia added, “Before your party tomorrow.”

“Do what you need to. You know I support you.”

“Do you know where he went?” She glanced around the apartment. “Or when he’s coming back?”

Madisson shook her head.

“Okay, I’m going to go then. I haven’t figured out how to do this yet,” she admitted.

“Whatever you do, you have me,” Madisson promised.

Amelia left the apartment in a hurricane of emotions. She wished she didn’t love him. Logically, she would break up with him right then. Call him and tell him that she was through with him putting her in these unforgivable situations. The problem was, he would talk his way out of it.

She drove home listening to the Twin Flames playlist he made, wondering how they had fallen so far, so fast.

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT