AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter Eighteen
Harper
Onemonthlater
“Do you want to go out? Stay in?” Madison asked.
I sprawled on my stomach across my bed, staring at a slight discoloration on my wall. Somehow it seemed like a more promising detail than traveling down the mental anguish rabbit hole ofLove in a Small Town.
“Stay in,” I mumbled against my quilt. “I need a break from people.”
The show wrapped two weeks prior, and though a part of me had hoped Flynn would reach out, he hadn’t. It was the final nail in the coffin of assurances that he hadn’t picked me, and none of what we’d said or done mattered. Maybe Candace or Dani had been playing me too, and one of them was off doing engaged things with Flynn.
I lifted my right hand and looked at the Claddagh ring he’d given me. Despite everything that had happened, I hadn’t been able to take it off. A small part of me still hoped things would work out. That he had a good reason for sending me home.
I still hadn’t quite come to terms with it. I’d fallen in love with Flynn. Every inch of the smoldering, sexy snowboarder drove me crazy more than not.
“Earth to Harper.”
“Yeah?” I turned my head to face Madison, standing near the doorway.
“You’re killing me right now. What if I go get takeout and bring it back? Maybe some of Finley’s cookies? The good kind that are full of sugar and full-fat butter.”
“And pie. Bring back a slice of pie.”
“I can do that. Do you want anything else?”
Of course I did. I wanted Flynn. I also wanted answers. One minute, we’d sworn that no matter what came at us, we would trudge through the fire together. The next, he’d sent me home. That wasn’t just mixed signals. It was a whole other matter entirely.
I raised my eyes to her and looked back away almost immediately. She reminded me of a sad puppy. “Stop, Madison.”
“I just feel so guilty. I pushed you to say yes.”
“I could’ve said no. You didn’t make me say yes.”
“I wish I could fix this. You’re making me really sad, and all I want to do is tell you that Colton and I set a date without feeling guilty about it.” She pulled her shoulders in and grinned.
I shoved myself up into a sitting position. This change of subject, I could work with. Anything would be welcome at this point, so long as it had nothing to do with that reality show. “You did?”
“June twenty-first. It just felt right.”
Squealing, I jumped to my feet to hug her. For the first time in weeks, something resembling excitement fluttered in my chest. I’d been on autopilot, getting through my days, trying not to let every space of my café remind me of stolen moments with Flynn.
“I love summer weddings. So much color!”
“I know you do. I might’ve let it influence my decision a little. Colton doesn’t really care. He just wants to marry me.” Her eyes danced.
“So many weddings this year.” A sigh escaped me.
“Don’t,” Madison warned, holding her finger up. “Don’t do it.”
“Not going there.” I waved my hands. There wasn’t anything good to come from pointing out that I wanted to get married in the fall and had perused hours of pins on Pinterest, pining after the mountain wedding I’d pictured for Flynn and I.
The one that wasn’t ever going to happen now.
“On second thought, I’ll come with you if we’re just doing to-go.”
“Probably a good idea,” she agreed. “But you’re not wearing that, are you?”
