Page 37 of 15 Summers Later

Normalcy is a foreign concept, and every decision feels like a crossroads that could either lead us to healing or trigger the memories we’ve fought so hard to suppress.

—Ghost Lakeby Ava Howell Brooks

Madison

From inside the house, Madi looked through the gauzy curtains Nicole had hastily sewn after they moved into the farmhouse that hadn’t seen a woman’s touch in years. She still felt annoyingly breathless as she watched Luke walk away.

What had just happened?

For a minute, she could swear Luke Gentry had looked at her with an expression of...admiration. More than that.Attraction.

For the tiniest of moments, he had actually looked as if he wanted to kiss her.

That was impossible. Why would the most gorgeous man in town look at her that way? The man had single-handedly increased the pet adoption rate in the county among the female sector, at least, so they could have an excuse to bring their fur babies into his office.

She had to be imagining things. Luke certainly could not be attracted to her. She was Madison Howell, of the fumbling words and the leg brace and the mouth that couldn’t smile completely.

It must have been a trick of the light or maybe her eyes were filled with dust kicked up by Paul Lancaster’s lambs.

Eventually, she let the curtain fall and made her way to the kitchen, where she found Nicole sitting at the table, nibbling on a piece of dry toast, a half-empty coffee mug in front of her.

“Morning,” she said, her voice a croak. Her eyes had deep shadows and her hair looked like she had lost a fight with a rabid raccoon during the night. Which was probably an accurate description.

“Morning.”

“Was that Luke I saw drop you off?”

She nodded, bustling about to make some tea, since she wasn’t in the mood for more coffee. “Yes. He needed help giving some lamb vaccines at the Lancaster farm, so I volunteered.”

“Did you tell me about it? I don’t remember.”

“Probably not. It came up last night and we made final arrangements after we left the Burning Tree.”

“Oh right. After you ditched me.”

“I didn’t ditch you! I told you I was leaving. As I recall, you seemed fine with it. But maybe my memories of last night are clearer than yours, for obvious reasons.”

Nicole made a face. “You know you should never trust what I say when I’m having fun with a gorgeous guy. What if he had turned out to be an axe murderer instead of a sweet guy from Canada?”

“He still could be. I’m sure they have axe murderers in Canada, too.”

“Seriously. You shouldn’t have ditched me. What about our buddy system?”

Guilt pinched at her. “You’re right. I’m a terrible friend. I should have stayed with you. I was just...tired of people bringing up Ava’s damned book.”

“I get it,” Nicki said, her features soft with sympathy.

Madi was quick to change the subject. “I noticed you didn’t bring your car home. I wasn’t spying, I was up with the dogs when you rolled in with Austin. He seems nice.”

“He is. And smart, too. He’s in grad school right now in hydrology.”

And advanced make-out sessions in the driveway, apparently.

“Are you seeing him again?”

“Yes. He wanted to go out again tonight but I have to work. We’re talking about next week. Also, my mom texted me this morning before I was up. She wants to be sure you’re planning on coming to dinner tomorrow.”

Oy. Tilly Gentry Walker didnotgive up. Surely Luke hadn’t even had time to let her know Madi was conflicted about attending. Apparently the woman wanted to cover all the bases by having LukeandNicole remind her about the meal.

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