by Nicole Dykes
It's crazy how quickly life can change.
Thirty-One
Maddie
Claire looked so beautiful tonight in the red dress we picked out for her. I know it wouldn't have been Logan or Shane’s first choice, but those two would prefer she was draped in muumuu that went down to her feet.
It’s kind of cute to see how protective they are of her.
We dropped Claire off at the school gym for the dance, the Keller brothers both putting on a show of testosterone-filled dominance, before we drove to the tavern a block down from the school.
Literally one block down.
Small towns. One main road going through town, and that’s just how it ended up.
We walk inside, and I recognize Jake Harris from high school working behind the bar. He nods a greeting toward me and says loudly, “Holy shit! Maddie fucking James! I heard you went to LA and were fucking some producer.”
Shane and Logan both chuckle as they take a seat at the bar, and I sit next to Logan, shrugging out of my coat. “Nope. I’m afraid I’m not that interesting.”
Shane gives me a look like I’m ridiculous as he takes a drink of the beer Jake puts in front of him. “Yeah okay, Maddie.”
Logan shakes his head at us both and takes his drink, looking around the crowded bar. “Whole town’s here, huh?”
Jake looks around satisfied. “Gotta love Homecoming. And the team lost, so everyone’s here to drown their sorrows.”
The guys continue their conversation, but I’m distracted when I see Misty walking toward me, a tray in hand with empty beer bottles laying haphazardly, looking like they could crash to the floor at any second.
Holy shit. She looks the same, but maybe a little older. Still beautiful, but with wisdom and possibly sadness hiding in her eyes. “Misty?”
“Maddie? Is it really you?”
I stare at her, and she stares back at me in astonishment. “Yes.”
“Where the hell have you been?”
I can feel Logan shift on the stool next to me, probably waiting for me to answer her. “It’s a long story.” I look around the crowded bar and back at my friend, who is clearly working here. “I’d love to tell it when you have time, though.”
I can feel the look Shane and Logan are giving each other right now. Both of them expect me to run, and rightfully so, but I’m done running.
I want to right all my wrongs, and I definitely wronged Misty.
“Fuck it. I've got to hear this.” She looks over at Jake. “I’m taking a break.”
He waves her off, not arguing, as she grabs my hand and drags me to a corner booth that's open because most of the men here are either playing pool or telling others how to play.
“Okay, Maddie.” She stares at me intensely from her side of the booth. “Why did you leave?”
“I was pregnant.”
Her eyes widen with shock, but not judgment. There was never any judgment with her. “Pregnant? When you left?”
I nod. “Yes. And I just couldn’t do it, Misty.”
“Shit, Maddie.” She leans in closer to whisper as if it’s a dirty secret. “You had an abortion?”
“No.” I shake my head and glance back over at Logan, who must sense I’m looking at him because his eyes meet mine briefly before rejoining the conversation. “I had the baby, but I gave her up. I moved away and didn’t look back until she found us again.”
She leans back against the cushion of the booth. “Your daughter?”
I nod, unable to stop the smile spreading over my face. “Yes. Claire. She's now legally in Logan's care, and I’m back now for good.”
She stares at me, going over the information in her head and then laughs. Actually laughs. “Holy shit. That is some fucked-up, soap opera shit.”
Her laugh is contagious, pulling me into a fit of laughter with her that gains attention from the guys at the bar. Logan and Shane both shake their heads like we’re insane, but we don't care.
I wipe a tear that fell from the crazy laughter with Misty and try to gain my composure. “I know, Mis. It's completely insane and twisted, and I can't believe I ended up back here, but here I am.”
“Blink twice if you’re being held here against your will, Maddie.”
I stare at her, trying not to blink, and she laughs at me, shaking her head.
“I want to be here. More than anything. I got to take Claire to her very first dance tonight. I helped her pick out the dress for it, and I got to do her hair. I was there, and it was incredible.”
She smiles at me, her chin resting on her fisted hand. “Wow. Fuck, you have a daughter old enough to go to a school dance?” She stares out the window toward the only paved street in town. “Where the hell did the time go?”
“I’m not sure.”
Her eyes land back on me and have saddened. “Why didn’t you tell me? I wouldn’t have said a word.”
“I know you wouldn’t have. I’m so sorry, Misty. I wanted to tell you so badly, but I was so desperate to escape, that I didn’t tell anyone. I knew Logan would interrogate the shit out of you.”
“He did.” She looks over at him. “He went crazy looking for you, girl. A desperate man searching for the love of his life.”
I suck in a painful breath. “I know. I made so many mistakes, Mis.”
She waves that off, the blonde bun piled on top of her head bobbles with the movement. “Fuck, Maddie, who the hell hasn’t?” She raises her arms gesturing to the surrounding bar. “Clearly, I made some wrong turns.”
I laugh that off but am suddenly worried for her. “Surely some things went right. What about Garrett?”
I notice the tension forming in her neck and the veins pulled tight. “We ended years ago.”
“What? No. You guys were so in love."
“So were you and Logan.”
Fair point. “What happened?”
She shakes her head, the memory undoubtedly painful for her. “Same ole. We shacked up for a while. I worked at the diner, he worked out on the rig. He was always gone. Working so many hours for a shitty wage and we still could barely keep our heads above water. Fighting all the time.” A shiver takes over my body as she recounts her past that I was terrified of becoming my reality. “And then, he wanted to bring a kid into that mess.”
“I’m sorry, Misty.”
Her weak smile hurts to see. I know how much she loved him. “It was a long time ago. I told him I didn’t want to bring a child into our world, and that was pretty much it. He took a job in Oklahoma, and we said our good-byes.”
“Wow. I thought for sure you two would make it.”
Her eyes meet mine, the weight of her past clearly crushing her. “You were right about this town Maddie. It'll steal your soul.”
I can't help chancing a glance at Logan. I always used to say that.
That this town stole souls, but now I think it was Logan who was right.
It doesn’t matter where you are, as long as you have the right people around you.
And I abandoned everyone that ever mattered to me.
Thirty-Two
Logan
I’m talking to Shane and Jake about the game, but I’m also paying close attention to Misty and Maddie. They have been laughing and talking intensely like they never missed a beat.
Out of my peripheral vision, I notice Misty stand and then Maddie. They give each other a hug, but then Maddie leaves the tavern in a hurry, looking slightly frantic like she can't catch her breath. I’d love to pretend I waited a while before jumping off the barstool and following her outside, but I didn't. I’m out the door before Shane and Jake even notice Maddie was gone.
She's standing right outside the door, her arms folded over her chest rubbing her arms that are only covered by the thin material of her long sleeve tee.
“Maddie, it’s fucking cold out here. Are you okay?”
She nods her head, but I can see tears in her eyes as she looks over at me. “It's just a lot to take. Everything is different. M
isty and Garrett aren't together anymore.”
I nod my head and lean back against the brick building. “Yeah, I know. He's in Oklahoma, working for one of our competitors.”
She shrugs her shoulders in a flabbergasted, jerky motion. “How did that happen? I thought they would make it.”
I was pretty surprised when they split up, too. Garrett looked tired and broken the last time I saw him right before he left town. “They were a high school romance. You know the odds of that working out?”
Her eyes snap to mine with a certainty. “They really loved each other.”
I shrug my shoulders. The old Logan would probably be saying the same thing, but I’m older now. “I think love shines brighter when you're young. Hell, everything seems brighter.”
Maddie lifts her eyes toward the night sky. “Like the stars?” Her gaze stays on the sky above us. “Please tell me you haven't lost your love of the country sky and the bright shining stars.”
Fuck, I did use to love the country sky. I don't follow her gaze. Instead, I stare at the sidewalk under my feet. “I don’t look up at it like I used to, Maddie. Learned it’s probably best to keep my eyes down here.”
“No.” She looks at me with determination as she grabs my hand and pulls me to my truck, dropping the tailgate she climbs into the back. She holds her hand out to me, and I look at her like she's lost it. “Come on, Logan.”
I puff out the air from my lungs and decide to give in. Can't hurt.
We sit down, our heads against the back window and Maddie tilts her head up, her eyes filled with wonder. “You were right. I've seen the city horizon, and I've seen the country sky. Trust me, things are so much clearer here. You were right about a lot of things.”
Her hand moves to my chin as she lifts my gaze to the black sky, full of radiant stars, completely unhindered by any artificial light. It truly is a sight to see.
I glance back at Maddie, who is still peering upward, and my hands grasp the cold skin of her face in them as I direct her sight at me. “You were, too. I wish I could have seen Claire grow up, but then maybe she wouldn't be the Claire we know now. I have no doubt we would have made it work, Maddie, but I think you were right. There would have been a heavy cost.”
Her eyes search mine. “You really believe that?”
“I'm starting to. Your leaving changed me. But we all made mistakes on our own. It’s not all on you. Claire woke me up. She makes me want to forgive and move forward.”
“I don't blame you for being angry. I’m so sorry, Logan.”
I groan, my forehead resting against hers. “Aren't you tired of apologizing?”
“So tired of it,” she sighs. “But I'm truly sorry.”
“I know. I want to move on. This, whatever it is, I'm enjoying it. No more living in the past.”
She smiles, her nose brushing against mine. “I’d like that.”
My lips move to hers, exploring her mouth, talking with a kiss instead of words. She sighs into my mouth and moves to straddle my lap, and my hands slide under the fabric of her shirt, running over the silky-smooth skin of her back.
Maddie jumps in my arms when someone pounds loudly on the side of the truck. My lips part from Maddie's as I look behind her and see Sy, no longer in his uniform. “Don't make me haul you two in for public indecency!”
I chuckle and shout after him as he's already walking town the tavern. “Says the guy who fucked Tricia Powell on the playground at the park our senior year!”
He turns and flips me off, with a grin on his face. “Hey, I was drunk as fuck, asshole.”
I laugh and turn back to Maddie, who slides off my lap and straightens out her hair. “I forgot about that.”
“Yeah. They really didn’t care who was watching.” I stand up and walk to the end of the truck bed and hop off. Reaching both arms up, I signal for Maddie to join me. She walks to the edge, and I grip her hips, lifting her off. “Let's go get our daughter. Shane can catch a ride with Sy.”
She agrees, and we climb into the truck and head to the school.
It’s been an insane, fucked-up road to get here, but something tells me it’s exactly where we’re all meant to be.
Thirty-Three
Maddie
After Homecoming, I made it official and moved back home. My house in Kansas City is on the market, and I resigned from the real estate agency. Shane, Logan, and Claire helped me go through my things and decide what to bring back. After over a decade there, everything I cared enough to bring back fit in the back of Logan's truck with room to spare.
I’m selling the house fully furnished. I had some mementos, but it was all from my time back home.
I don't want to say that the years away were all for nothing. I learned a lot. I gained an education and experience, but I’m not living with the delusion that nothing was missing.
My living situation is currently undefined. I have things at Shane's and Logan's, but most of my nights are spent in Logan's bed.
I’ve managed to gain a few clients here already and spent a ton of time with Claire. Everything feels right, except for my relationship with my sisters. I left them too, and I’m trying like crazy to track them down and to fix things.
I want to do like Logan said and only move forward.
I take a deep breath and exit my car, hoping to do just that now.
It took me a little over a month, but I’m at my parent's home.
I walk up to the front porch, and before I can ring the doorbell, Kayleigh bursts out the front door. Her hand shoving me back with no real force behind it, just enough to stop me.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Her face that is now healed is full of contempt and a hot fury.
“I want to talk to you, Kayleigh. I know you’re mad, and I don’t blame you at all for that.”
“I’m not fucking mad. I just have no interest in talking to you, perfect little princess, Maddie.”
I love my sister, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to take her shit either. “I left because I was pregnant. I thought you, and Carrie and Megan would be safe.”
“You were knocked up when you left?”
“Yes.”
“Logan's.”
I nod, and cross one arm over my stomach, holding onto my arm. “Yes, but I didn’t tell him.”
“Wow. That’s really fucked-up.”
“I know. I made mistakes. I was young and scared. I swear I was trying to make everything better, but clearly, things got messed up.” I throw my hands up in the air. “Hell, I even drug Shane into it.”
Her eyes darken. “Shane knew?”
“Yeah. He was the only one.”
“What the hell, Maddie? Why would you tell him? Were you fucking him too?”
I don’t even blink at the accusation. “No. I needed his help, and like a good friend and brother, he helped me.”
She shakes her head in astonishment. “He knew where you were.”
“Only for seven months. Then, I left for good.”
“Motherfucker.”
I stare at her, trying to figure out how to approach her. I take one step closer to her. “Kayleigh, you’re my sister. I want to start new. Thanksgiving is tomorrow. I want you to come. Meet my daughter.”
Her anger doesn't lessen. “Your what? I thought you gave her away.”
“I did. It’s a long story. Come to dinner tomorrow, and we can catch up.”
She steps back, her hands up in front of her, symbolically pushing me away. “No. I don't want anything to do with this new Maddie.”
“Please think about it. Carrie is coming.”
“Our sister?”
I nod exuberantly, hoping that will entice her to come. “Yes. Have you seen her recently?”
She laughs coldly, pushing a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear. “Not for a while, but trust me, you won’t like what you see.”
“Why? Is she not okay?”
Silas said she was living in New York and was a successful PR agent. He's
still trying to find Megan.
She just snickers, scoffing as if I’m totally clueless, which I guess is true.
“Kayleigh, I want us all to be a family again.”
“Good luck with that." She pivots on her right foot, dismissing me before she goes back inside.
Well, that didn’t go as planned.
But what has?
Thirty-Four
Logan
Maddie groans into the pillow, her bare ass arching upward as my lips kiss slowly down her back, and my right-hand works her clit, bringing her closer and closer to an orgasm. Her hands grip the soft pillows, and her moans reach a whole new pitch, telling me she's close. Instead of pressing forward, I pull my hand away, causing her to whimper. “Logan,” she breathes out, the sound muffled by the pillow.
I drag my tongue along her spine, adding to her torment. “You want to come, Maddie?”
“God, yes.”
I sit up, resting on my knees and grab her hips, settling my dick between her legs, I lean forward growling into her ear, “Me too.” I slip into her slowly, taking my time, her body responding to mine instantly. “Do you want to come with me, Maddie?”
She lifts, resting on her hands as she meets each of my thrusts, taking me deep inside. “Yes.” The answer is a moan deep in her throat.
My right-hand reaches beneath her to find her clit to add to the pleasure, knowing it won't be long. It didn’t take long for us to fall back into the groove and rediscover each other.
“Logan, come with me.” Her back arches, and I feel her pussy strangling my cock as she reaches her peak.
Thank fuck because my balls are tightening with the familiar buildup of my impending release.
We collapse onto the bed, both staring up at the ceiling. Our bodies covered in sweat and panting from fucking for the last couple hours.
Shane took Claire to see a movie, and we wasted no time running up to my room.
