Page 53 of Where You Belong

She pops the cork and pours some into her glass before swirling it around and taking a drink.

“We deserve it.” I smile, lifting my glass in cheers before taking a drink myself.

“How have things been going lately?” she asks.

I try to focus my gaze on the TV because, honestly, that was a loaded question. She must notice the thoughts swirling through my mind when she follows it up with more.

“I’m gonna shoot you straight, Hae. You know you don’t have to go through all this alone, right? You have Corbin, who wants to be a shoulder for you to lean on, and you have me too.”

She’s right. I’ve pushed so many friends away over the years when I was with Atlas. Many of my friends I haven’t spoken to in months. I’m used to doing it all alone.

I never want to burden them or my mom with my problems. When I broke down and told her the truth about what was happening at home, I’ll never forget the weight I felt lifted off my chest having someone to talk to.

Madelyn has been a damn good friend to me since I moved to Arbor Creek. I had no more than pulled into the driveway when she was showing up for me, helping me unpack and giving me the job at her studio.

“I’m sorry.” I stare down at my lap. “You’ve been amazing to me since we first met. It was never my intention to push you away or make you feel like I didn’t appreciate it because I do.”

“That’s what friends are for.” She shrugs. “You don’t owe me an apology either. You’ve had so much on your plate lately. Even when you don’t talk about it, I recognize it. I just want you to know you don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here for you if you ever want to talk about it.”

I nod. “I’ve been in my head these past few weeks. I guess when I get like that, I tend to shut down. It’s just dealing with the divorce and the custody process. Atlas’s mood swings stress me out, on top of getting used to life being a single mom. Then there’s Corbin…” I trail off.

“I also found out some news recently about my father. News I wasn’t expecting to hear that has shaken me up. It puts me in a difficult place with you, Corbin, and your friends.”

“Alex told me.”

My eyes dart up to meet hers, surprised.

“I should backtrack and say Alex has been coming home grumbling a lot lately over Gage. He’s been moody, and it’s made their working relationship… well, rough. Alex is so easy to get along with, though. He goes with the flow, so it’s virtually impossible to get him worked up. He didn’t give me many details, but he mentioned Gage told him your father was connected to the accident that killed his uncle.”

I take another drink of my wine. I’m going to need more if we are going to go all in on this conversation. Madelyn laughs when I gulp it down, reaching across the coffee table to grab the bottle and holding it out to me to refill my glass.

“Until a few weeks ago, I thought I lost my father in an accident. I didn’t have any idea he was connected to his uncle, or his relationship to Gage and Corbin. Hell, I didn’t know anything about all of this.” I gesture with my hands, shaking my head.

“I mean, how would you? C’mon, that happened so long ago. Not to mention, it’s not like you came to town set on causing any hurt from it. The accident is in no way your fault.”

The anxiety I’ve been feeling over this conversation eases up. I still haven’t talked to Corbin about it. I don’t know when I ever will, but it helps to know Madelyn sees my perspective.

“It just adds another layer on top of everything else going on. The last thing I want is for my intentions to be misunderstood. I have no idea where Gage ever got the impression I came here for the wrong reasons, but the fact he insinuated I did bothers me.”

“Is this why you’ve been pushing Corbin away?”

“Part of it.” My heart squeezes in my chest. “It felt like everything was happening so fast. One second, I find out about the accident and who my father truly is, the past my mother has been working to cover up my entire life. Then the next, I’m dealing with Atlas at my door, drunk and grabbing me while my son is down the hall. I just needed to take a step back and remember my focus needs to stay on Huxton. He’s what is important right now.”

She nods. “You’re right. He should come first above all you’re doing, but Haelynn, so should you. I know I don’t have all the details of what happened when you were with Atlas or what brought you here specifically, but I do know you. I think you’ve spent so much time covering up and hiding from how you feel, putting Huxton at the forefront of your mind, you’ve forgotten to make sure you’re happy too.

“I don’t blame you at all for wanting to take a step back. All I’m saying is it shouldn’t have to be one or the other. Don’t you think you deserve to be happy too?”

Tears prick my eyes. She’s right. It’s been so long since I’ve focused on myself that I’ve almost forgotten what that’s like. She reaches her hand out toward me, folding it on top of mine, and squeezes it.

“Does Corbin make you happy?”

The tear streams down my face, and my lip trembles, responding with a subtle nod. “It scares me.”

She leans over to set her glass on the table before sliding across the couch toward me, wrapping me in a warm hug.

“He’s one of the good ones, Hae. I promise, they don’t get any better than Corbin.”

“Why does he have to be so damn perfect?” I retort, and Madelyn pulls back, laughing.

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