adison
I pulled his door almost closed and continued to my room.
The bed looked exactly as I’d left it, covers thrown back, pillow still bearing the impression of my head. I climbed in, pulling the blanket up to my chin.
My phone glowed on the nightstand. Still no messages.
Good.
I closed my eyes, forcing my breathing to slow, counting backwards from one hundred like some internet article had suggested for insomnia.
Ninety–nine. Ninety–eight. Ninety–seven.
Alexander’s face appeared behind my eyelids, that almost smile when Ethan had called him “King Alexander.”
Ninety–six. Ninety–five.
His voice at the bistro was rough with emotion. “I miss you. I’ve missed you for five years.”
Ninety–four. Ninety–three.
The way he’d looked at Ethan, like seeing his son, was both painful and precious simultaneously.
I gave up counting.
Five days. That’s all I had to wait. Five days to see if Alexander Knight would actually follow through on his promises or if this was just another business maneuver dressed up as genuine feeling.
And then I’d decide. Whether to let him into my life again. Whether to risk everything I’d carefully built for the possibility of something real.
Whether to trust him.
My eyes finally grew heavy, exhaustion winning over anxiety. Sleep pulled at me, dragging me down into darkness.
**
The alarm shrieked at six thirty, dragging me from sleep, and I barely remembered falling into it. My hand slapped the nightstand, fumbling until blessed silence returned.
I stared at the ceiling, yesterday’s conversation with Alexander replaying in fragments.
What was I thinking?
The shower helped, hot water washing away the fog of exhaustion, if not the confusion. I dressed mechanically, jeans and a soft sweater, my hands moving through the routine while my mind stayed stuck on Alexander’s face across that bistro table.
“I miss you. I’ve missed you for five years.”
I pushed the words away, focusing on braiding my damp hair. Work. Ethan. My mother. Those were the things that mattered. Not Alexander Knight and his suddenly convenient feelings.
Ethan’s door was already open when I passed.
“Ethan?”
“In here!” His voice came from the kitchen, bright and cheerful.
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+25 Bonus
I found him at the table, his hair sticking up in every direction. Mom sat across from him with her coffee and newspaper, reading glasses perched on her nose.
“You’re up early,” I said, dropping a kiss on Ethan’s head.
“I couldn’t sleep! I kept thinking about T–Rexes!” He bounced in his chair. “Did you know they had teeth as big as bananas?”
“I did not know that.” I moved to the coffee maker, grateful Mom had already started a pot. “That’s pretty big.”
“Huge! Like this!” He spread his arms wide, nearly knocking over his orange juice.
“Careful,” Mom said without looking up from her paper.
I poured coffee, adding cream and sugar while Ethan continued his dinosaur lecture. Something about velociraptors and hunting strategies that I only half processed.
My phone rang.
I glanced at the screen. Hazel.
I answered, tucking the phone between my shoulder and ear while reaching for my coffee. “Hey.”
“Madison! Finally!” Hazel’s voice came through bright and energetic. “I was starting to think you’d forgotten how phones work.
12
“I literally talked to you yesterday.”
“Exactly. Twenty–four hours ago. That’s basically forever in friendship time.”
I smiled. “What’s up?”
“So, Oliver’s birthday party is the day after tomorrow.” Her voice pitched up with excitement. “Please tell me you’re coming. I really, really need you here.”
I hesitated, my mind immediately jumping to the café. “Hazel, I don’t know. The café’s been really busy and I can’t just-”
“Madison Harper, if you finish that sentence with an excuse, I’m driving to Connecticut right now and dragging you here myself. “She paused for dramatic effect. “I need my best friend here because my husband’s entire family will be asking invasive questions about when we’re having kids, and I need backup.”
“Can’t you handle his family on your own?”
“Technically, yes. But I’d rather have you there so I don’t commit murder.” Hazel’s voice softened. “Come on. It’s been ages since you came to the city. Plus, free food, open bar, and you can stay at our place. What more could you want?”
I glanced at my mother, who was watching me with that expression that said she was listening to every word. “I have responsibilities here.”
“Your mom can handle the café for two days. Right, Mrs. Harper?” Hazel’s voice went louder, clearly aimed at my mother.
“She absolutely can!” My mother called back. “Go to the party, Madison. Have some fun for once in your life.”
“See? Your mom agrees. Democracy wins.” Hazel’s enthusiasm was infectious. “Please? Pretty please with whipped cream and sprinkles?”
I bit my lip, weighing options. The café would be fine. My mother was more than capable. And honestly, getting out of Connecticut for two days sounded almost appealing. Almost.
“I need to think about it.”
“That’s not a no!” Hazel practically squealed. “I’m taking that as progress. Look, you don’t even have to stay long. Just come for a few hours, eat some cake, help me avoid Oliver’s aunt who keeps asking when I’m getting pregnant, and then you can escape
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back to your quiet Connecticut life.”
“You make it sound so glamorous.”
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“Because it is! Come on, Madison. When’s the last time you did something spontaneous? Something fun? Something that didn’t involve coffee beans or your adorable son?”
The mention of Ethan made me glance toward the table where he was still focused on his orange juice. “I have Ethan to think
about.”
“Bring him!” Hazel said immediately. “Oliver loves kids. Plus, there’ll be other children there. It’s a family party, not some wild nightclub thing. Ethan can play with Oliver’s nephew while we drink wine and gossip.”
I opened my mouth to refuse, then stopped. Why was I refusing? Because of Alexander? Because I was hiding in Connecticut, avoiding anything that felt too complicated?
That was pathetic.
“Alright,” I heard myself say. “I’ll come.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
