Page 40 of Haven

“You keep everything locked down so tight. You know you don’t have to, right? It’s not a bad thing to let other people in.” Maddie leans her head on my shoulder and sighs. “I’m here. I always will be.”

“This isn’t about me, Mads.”

“Okay. Say I go along with that. I’m going to need you to explain to me why I—your favorite and only sister—had to find out there was a you and Ashlyn by spying through my windows. What the hell?”

“I thought you were going to give it a rest?” Not that I believed her when she said it.

“Have you ever known me to give it a rest? I’m sorry. I’m a little stunned. You two make perfect sense. I’m not sure how I didn’t see it before.”

I’m not sure there’s anything about Ashlyn and me that makes perfect sense, but I don’t bother correcting my sister. Maddie does know me better than anyone. Hell, she and I spent two years in therapy together and separately after she moved out, just working through the trauma of our childhood and the fucked up scars it left on our souls.

I quietly watch the girls play, thinking that in a different lifetime maybe Ashlyn and I would have made sense. Maybe Madeline could have been mine.

Fuck that.

We can still make sense.

I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to Coach and Scarlet.

Dixon

Listen, I know it’s Sunday and we actually have a day off, but I really need to meet with both of you.

Coach

Today? I thought we were meeting tomorrow.

Scarlet

I’m in the same damn house as you. Why are you texting me?

Dixon

I need thirty minutes today.

Coach

Want to swing by my house or does this need to be in the office?

Scarlet

I’m not going into the city today. Your house works for me, Coach.

Dixon

When?

Coach

Three?

Scarlet

Okay.

Dixon

Thank you.

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