Page 37 of Reckless Flames

“Snack break?” she offered, tearing them open.

I laughed, grabbing a cookie. “You remembered my favorites!”

Munching on the cookies, Madi’s curiosity bubbled to the surface. “So, spill the beans. You and Ben...have you guys, you know, hooked up yet?”

I nearly choked on my cookie, coughing and laughing at the same time. “Jesus, Madi! You don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

She shrugged, unapologetic. “What are sisters for, if not to pry into each other’s love lives?”

I shook my head and lied. “No, we haven’t ‘hooked up.’ It’s not like that. We’re just...figuring things out.”

Madi waggled her eyebrows. “Figuring things out, huh? Sounds like a romcom in the making.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Maybe it is. But it’s complicated, you know? With everything going on...”

“Yeah, I get it,” Madi said, softening. “But for what it’s worth, I think he’s good for you. And Caleb too, for that matter. He sounds like a great kid—an easy intro to child rearing."

Speaking of Caleb made me think of a moment that had warmed my heart just days ago. “Caleb’s amazing,” I said, my voice tinged with affection. “He asked me the other day if I was going to stay with them forever.”

Madi’s expression softened. “What did you say?”

I sighed, the memory vivid in my mind. “I told him I’d be around as long as they wanted me. He gave me a hug that almost squeezed the life out of me.”

“That’s so sweet,” Madi cooed, clearly touched. “You’re already like family to them, Soph.”

Her words resonated with me, stirring something deep inside. “It feels like that sometimes,” I admitted. “Being with Ben and Caleb...it’s made me see things differently. I never thought I’d fit into this kind of life, but now...”

“Now you can’t imagine being anywhere else,” Madi finished for me, understanding dawning in her eyes.

“Yeah, exactly,” I said, feeling a sense of belonging I hadn’t realized I’d been craving.

“How about we make some sandwiches?” Madi suggested. “I’m starving.”

I nodded, grateful for the distraction. “Sounds good.”

In the kitchen, we worked side by side, assembling sandwiches with an assortment of fillings we found in the fridge. The simple act of making lunch together, something we’d done countless times growing up, felt comforting, grounding.

As we sat down to eat, the conversation flowed easily, ranging from wedding plans to childhood memories, the laughter and banter a balm to the soul. It was moments like these, I realized, that truly defined family—not just the big, life-changing events,but the quiet, everyday interactions that wove the fabric of our relationships.

Finishing our meal, Madi packed up the wedding decorations, her earlier teasing replaced by a warmth that spoke volumes about our reconciled bond.

“Thanks for today, Soph,” she said, genuine affection in her voice. “I’ve really enjoyed this.”

As we headed to the front entry with the boxes, the sound of the front door swinging open and closing with a soft thud caught our attention. Then Ben came striding in, a look of concern etched across his face, which was unusual for his typically calm demeanor.

“Hey, what’s up?” I called out, sensing the shift in the atmosphere.

Ben approached us and nodded at my sister. “Hi, Madi. Looks like you two have been busy.”

I didn’t give her a chance to answer. “Ben, has something happened?”

“You’re not going to believe this,” he started, his voice tight with tension. “I got a call from a buddy of mine that I used to work with. He’s a total computer geek, and he’s been monitoring somelocal fan sites and blogs for me, trying to track down any leads on your stalker.”

Madi, who had paused with her hand on the door, slowly turned back. “And?” she prodded.

Ben pulled out his phone, scrolling through until he found what he was looking for. “He found a blog, a Sophie Wright fan page. But here’s the kicker—the admin’s been posting some pretty obsessive stuff. And with some digging, he managed to trace the account.”

My heart started to race, a mix of fear and anticipation swirling in my chest. “Do they have a name?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

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