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“So?” Hailey pressed.
“What makes you say that?” I countered.
One of my sisters sighed dramatically. I thought it sounded like Lori.
“She came to bring by some flowers for my porch just now, and she looked like she couldn’t wait to grab hold of sweatpants and ice cream,” Val continued.
“Sweatpants and ice cream?” I repeated, more confused than before.
“Girl code for nursing a heartbreak,” Lori explained.
Fuck! I’d hurt her? That was the last thing I’d wanted.
“That’s a giant leap of judgment,” Jace said, speaking for the first time.
“No it’s not,” Lori said.
“She looked like she hadn’t slept much,” Val continued.
“I swear she seemed thinner too,” Lori added. “Or maybe that’s just because she was pale.”
“Those are signs she’s missing you. You two are so good for each other, Landon,” Hailey said. “You belong together.”
“I know. You’re right,” I agreed.
“Yes!” Hailey exclaimed. “Can you please say the words ‘you’re right’ loud and clear? Just this once. They’re music to my ears.”
“You’ve just given them ammunition to hold over our heads for years,” Will informed me.
“A lifetime,” Hailey corrected. “And you’re wearing a badass badge, Will. How can you be afraid of us?”
“Simple. Badge doesn’t work on you,” Will replied.
“Landon, do you want me to send the delivery guy to the hotel with the stroganoff?” Val asked.
“Yeah, do that. I’m texting you the address right now.”
After I finished typing and sending, I brought the phone to my ear again. “Listen, everyone. Thanks for calling me, but I have to—”
“Yeah, yeah, we’re letting you go back in your cave and brood,” Lori said. “But your brooding period has an expiration date, just so you know.”
After I clicked off the phone, I tried scribbling on my notebook again, but ended up pushing it away and shutting off my laptop. I knew I had to schedule that board meeting soon, but I wouldn’t be reaching any conclusions tonight, that much was clear. Energy rushed through me as I contemplated my future with Maddie instead. I didn’t have all the answers to how I could make things work, but I loved her. I loved her, and I wanted to fight for our future.
***
Maddie
I was exhausted when I got home. I’d given out close to one hundred business cards and brochures, and fifteen of the receivers seemed serious about redoing their gardens.
I was happy that I was finally home, even though my house was full of memories. I saw Landon everywhere: in my kitchen, my living room, my bedroom. But I still had some wound licking to do, and my home was the place for that. All that ass kicking had taken a toll on me, sapping all my energy. And dropping off the potted flowers at Val’s had been a sad affair. I was ready to try out a new nail polish.
I’d promised Grace I’d wait for her before I tested a new color, so I decided to take a bath first. I lay in the tub, covered in bubbles, and massaged my feet, which were protesting after a day of wearing heels. I even lit up a few candles and set them on the edge of the tub. Plugging in my earbuds, I carefully set my phone on the tiled floor next to the tub and sat back to relax.
Midway through my bathtub extravaganza, I thought I heard my doorbell ring but decided I must have imagined it. Grace had a key. Only when the water cooled did I leave the tub. Since my sister hadn’t arrived yet, I decided to hunt down some goodies at the store and make us dinner.
When I opened my front door, I nearly knocked over the beautiful flower arrangement. My heart stilled. I bent at the waist, picking it up. There was no card, but I only knew one person who could have sent this.
Days of silence and now he was sending me flowers? What did this mean? I set the arrangement on the coffee table in my living room, trying to calm my racing pulse. I lost that battle when a text message popped up on my phone.
