Page 113 of Love me, Maddie Mendoza

She opened the door and slipped away from my reach.

When I finally went home, Maddie was gone.

And all her things with her.

Iglared at the offensive pink little mat, teeth bared. It mocked me with its uselessness.

Why did a potted plant needed a little crochet mat underneath?

It was impractical, and that was why my temper flared every time I arrived in the kitchen and saw the offending ring. I didn’t like how unreasonable it was.

It had nothing to do with the fact that it was the last trace of Maddie in the house. Nothing to do with my need to grab it and rip apart and then cuddle it to death. Not sure in what order.

“Bring it to her.”

My attention snapped to Jason, who was leaning on the counter, eating a peach with a disturbing grin. I wasn’t happy about the way he was watching me, but for the last three months, I got used to not feeling happy about many things.

My mood was dreadful, and only Jason, being who he was, could put up with me. Even Nick was avoiding my company. I did not blame him. I wouldn’t be in my own company if I had a choice.

“It could be a peace offering.” Jason kept going. “Start a conversation.”

I growled. I didn’t need to start a conversation. Maddie and I still talked. After sixteen years of friendship, we couldn’t act like strangers. Since Maddie moved to Aisha’s sisters, we saw each other plenty of times, but nothing we talked about was worth saying.

It destroyed me. Awkward encounter after awkward encounter, I felt my soul being ripped in two. I almost wished she was avoiding me all together.

A conversation starter was the last thing I needed. She said hello when we had classes together or sent forced smiles when she bumped into me in the halls. She texted twice to ask me to bring Xio to a doctor’s appointment when no one else could.

We gravitated around each other, and it was painful as fuck. Everything we should talk about never left our lips. When I saw her, I felt something gripping on my throat and stopping the important words from coming out. No, the last piece of crochet she accidentally left behind wasn’t enough to fix what was wrong.

I saw the regret in her gaze. It was enough for me to understand my place.

“I don’t need an excuse to talk to her.” I growled. I was five seconds from a screaming match. Every day, all day.

“Graduation is just around the corner.” Jason reminded me of the clock ticking above my head.

“I’m aware.” I replied, almost knocking the chair down when I stood up.

Jason tsked and tilted his head right. “You sure?”

“Am I sure I know about graduation?” I shook my head, confused.

He sighed. “About everything.”

I couldn’t think abouteverything, so I swallowed. “It’s just a setback. We’ll get over it. Soon, we’ll be back to normal.”

“And soon she will get another boyfriend or something?”

“What?” What the fuck did he know?

He shook his head, like I was insane. “I’m asking if that’s your plan. Back to being friends means at some point she’ll get be with someone else. And you’ll be what? Her best man? Maid of honor? Best person…?”

“Jason…” I rumbled.

He waved off his attempts to get the nomenclature right. “It doesn’t matter. What I mean is that you have to be ready for that. Are you?”

I squeezed my eyes shut. Three full months since I kissed her, and I could still taste her on the tip of my tongue like it was yesterday. My body remembered Maddie in painful detail.

After all the long nights we spent apart, I knew for sure what I missed wasn’t just Maddie as a friend. Yes, I missed her humor, crazy hobbies, and loyalty. But it was much more than that. I missedher.

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