Page 1 of Ever With Me

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MADDIE

“No,no, no . . . don’t do this to me,” Madison Yardley breathed, feeling the blood drain from her face.

Across the small table from her, Josh Hawkins refused her eye contact, his fingers curling around a paper coffee cup.

Josh.

Who, until three weeks ago, she had been certain would put a ring on her finger any day.

Sure, it had been a whirlwind relationship of four months. They’d moved in together after two weeks, and Mom had freaked out about that fact, but—when you know, you know.

Or something like that. Maddie had been sure she’d “known.”

“I’m in a really hard position, Mad, you know that. Gina’s family is sponsoring the main stage on Friday night. And Luke is my cousin, after all. She just?—”

“Doesn’t want her boyfriend’s connections going the way of his ex? Yeah, I get it,” Maddie managed. She wrinkled her nose, the smell of the stale brew Josh had grabbed from the coffee cart making her feel physically ill.

It had been his idea to meet here at the town hall—in “neutral” territory—before the fall festival committee meeting. Here, where Gina wouldn’t get jealous about their meeting. She was one room over, already waiting in the main hall, while Maddie had to endure the humiliation of being spotted talking with Josh in an awkward corner near the entrance by everyone arriving.

Maddie breathed as calmly as possible. “I understand that it’s your cousin who’s in River House, but I’m the one who scheduled them to play for the last night of the festival. If they play on Friday, who the hell am I supposed to get for Saturday night? The festival is a month away, Josh. Booking a musical act bigger than River House would take months, not weeks.”

He shrugged. “No one says Saturday night’s act has to be bigger than Friday’s. That’s just your family wanting their sponsored event to be the biggest and best.” A guilty streak of red crawled up his face despite his words.

She clenched her fingers into fists. “You’re completely screwing me with this. All because the Stricklands can’t let go of their hatred of my family. Everyone knows the last night of the fair is the biggest night. What the hell am I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know. Get a local act?” Josh stood abruptly. “It’s not my problem. Figure it out yourself. I’m just the messenger.” Josh slid the envelope across the table. “This is the deposit back from Luke. Gina’s family has paid him for Friday night instead.”

Maddie resisted the urge to shred the envelope to pieces.Seriously?

“Deposit or not, I should sue Luke and River House for breach of contract.”

Josh shoved some of his blond hair out of his eyes. “I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t make him sign one, then.” He smirked smugly, then tossed his coffee cup in the nearby trash can. “See you at the meeting.”

A fresh wave of tears stung in Maddie’s eyes as he disappeared.

Dammit.Hewouldknow she hadn’t officially signed a contract with River House. Maddie had been so excited about getting such a big-name country band for the festival that she hadn’t worried they’d screw her over like a lesser-name band might.

But none of that hurt as much as the way Josh had done a one-eighty.

And here I am. Still half in love with him.

God, she wanted to hate him so much.

Maddie pushed a strand of honey-blond hair behind her ear, cursing at the perfect wave she saw out of the corner of her eye.Why did I put so much effort into my hair tonight?

But Josh’s callousness toward her was unexpected. He never would have done something like this to her—or her family—before.

She stuffed the deposit into her purse and searched for a tissue. After dabbing the tears from her eyes, she swiped her nose. Somehow, she needed to compose herself so she could go into the meeting tonight.

What the hell am I going to do?

She already imagined the triumph on Gina’s face when she’d announce to the committee that River House would take the main concert stage on the Stricklands’ sponsored day. All for what? To make Saturday’s concert look less important?

The pettiness of it all was sickening. Gina wanted a win.

But damn if I have to let Gina know how defeated I feel.

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