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When I got home, I noticed that Maddie’s car was still not in the driveway. She had been out the whole day. I hadn’t spoken to her all day, so I decided maybe now she had calmed down enough for us to have a civil conversation.
I sat in my truck and dialed her number. It rang and rang with no answer. I tried it again, but again, she didn’t answer.
‘Hi, you have reached Maddie; sorry I can’t come to the phone right now but leave a message, and I will get back to you.’
“Maddie, I know we aren’t on the best terms right now, and I know it is all my fault. I haven’t said this to you yet, so I might as well say it now. I’m sorry. I’m sorry I disrespected you, and I am sorry I said those words to you. There is more that I want to say, but I will wait for you to come home, so we can talk face to face.”
And then I hung up the phone.
I got out of my car and made my way into the house. I headed straight for the shower and washed away all the sweat and grime from my body.
Living with Maddie hadn’t been as bad as I had thought it would have been. When she had first told me I needed to move in with her, I had expected all things to be black and dark or pink and frilly. That was because Maddie was either this girly girl who reminded me of those popular ‘it’ girls in those teen dramas. Or she was dark and unapproachable due to her resting bitch face, and the fact she hated people.
I was downstairs heating the leftovers Maddie had made us two nights ago when I heard a knock at my door.
I walked over to the front, half expecting to see Lily asking for peanut butter. She had developed a craving for it, and her house always ran out. Maddie made sure to keep a secret stash for her. But when I opened the door, I was shocked to see Ash standing there with tears running down her face.
I hadn’t seen her or talked to her since I dropped her off at her house last night.
“Ash? What are you doing here? How did you know how to find me?”
“Mrs. Benson mentioned you had moved in withher.”
I sighed. “Look, Ash, you can’t just come to my home like this unannounced. Maddie is my fiancée, and I know for a fact she wouldn’t want to see you in her house. So, I am going to need to ask you to leave.”
“It’s my birthday today,” she sniffed, and I stilled. “You forgot, didn’t you?”
Her birthday meant that it was also Sarah’s birthday. Not once had I ever forgotten Sarah’s birthday. Every year since her passing, I would take flowers to her grave, and I would reread the letter she wrote to me before she died.
“I…” My voice trailed off.
“I told you that, with her in your life, you would slowly start to forget Sarah, and I would lose you in the process, too.” The tears were falling once more. “I waited for you to call me or even text, so we could go and visit her together, but nothing ever came. Have you forgotten about her already?”
I needed some water. I walked off to the kitchen, leaving her by the door. I heard the door close behind me, and I knew that she was following me into the house but, to be honest, I didn’t even give a shit.
My mind was still stuck on the fact that I had forgotten Sarah’s birthday.
I reached into the fridge and guzzled down a bottle of water that I had found. When I was done, and I rested my hands on the counter and hung my head low. I let out a shaky breath trying to grapple with my emotions.
How had I forgotten?
I never forgot her.
I felt a hand touch my shoulder, and I jumped.
“It’s okay.” Ash’s voice was soft and comforting, but it did nothing to ease the guilt inside of me.
I shook my head. “No, it’s not. I forgot…I can’t believe…this just…what the fuck?”
My chest felt like it wanted to cave in on itself. I took in a few deep breaths, but nothing was helping. I kept hyperventilating.
Ash snuck under my arms and placed her hand on my racing heart. She then brought her other hand to cup my face. I stared down at her, my blue panicked eyes meeting her Jade ones. And then I saw her.
I saw her face swimming in those green pools.
Sarah. I closed my eyes inhaling that familiar vanilla scent. I took in a few more calming breaths, jealously relishing in the nostalgic scent. I could feel Sarah’s heat surrounding me. It was no longer Ash’s hands holding me; it was Sarah.
I leaned into her touch, pressing my body into hers. Her hot breath fanned my face. My face drew closer and closer until finally, our lips collided. Our tongues tangled together in a heated moment. I brought my arms around her waist and pulled her in closer.
Her hand left my cheek and traveled up into my hair. She tugged on the strands, gently causing me to moan in pleasure.
“This has to be some kind of fucking joke.”
Like a bucket of ice-cold water washed over me, Maddie’s voice broke my trance. Reality sank back into my brain, and I ripped myself free from Ash’s hold.
“Maddie.” I took a step toward her, but she held her hand up stopping me.
“Just take the trash out, Anderson. I’m tired. I had a long day.”
She stormed out of the kitchen and made her way up the stairs before slamming her bedroom door.
