Page 117 of Abyss

And if he’s wondering whether something is up, he’s biting his tongue until we speak tonight.

“Kavi, hi!”

I’m shaken from my stupor at the sound of Madison’s voice, and for a second, I wonder how long she’s been standing here. I rise to greet her, somewhat on autopilot, when she wrinkles her brows, examining her watch. “Am I late? I thought we agreed to meet at ten.”

I shake my head, letting her pull me into a surprisingly warm hug. “No, you’re right on time, as always. I just got here a little early.”

Putting her designer handbag on the table, Madison settles into a chair, noticing the medium mocha latte in front of her and arching a blonde brow. “For me?”

My face warms, my lips curving up with a hesitant smile. “A peace offering. It should still be hot.”

I’d remembered the coffee she’d ordered the last time we’d met here, but unlike last time, when I had all of fifty-nine cents left to my name, I ordered myself my favorite crème brûlée macchiato as well.

She takes a long sip, keeping her blue-gray eyes on me, as if taking the moment to study my sincerity. “I won’t lie, that, uh . . . that night caught me off-guard. Though, I really shouldn’t have reacted the way I did. I’m sorry about that.”

“You have nothing to apologize for, Madison.” I steeple my fingers together, laying my hands on the table and circling my thumbs around the other. “I don’t blame you for being as surprised as you were. I would have reacted the same way in your shoes.”

Madison tucks a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear, shaking her head and making her ponytail sway. “Truthfully, I had a feeling my dad was seeing someone. Just something about the way he carried himself at my wedding. I can’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but there was an air of excitement and happiness around him. I was actually going to ask him after the cake cutting, but got distracted. I even mentioned it to Brie when we were on the flight that night. I figured he’d tell me when I got back from my honeymoon but, yeah . . .” She looks out the window near us briefly, as if gathering her thoughts. “I just didn’t expect it to be one of my good friends.”

I wrap my hand around her wrist, my stomach going topsy-turvy. “I’m sorry for betraying your trust. Honestly, what happened between Hudson and I wasn’t planned.” I take a breath, warding off memories of the searing kiss in Hudson’s office and all the times we made love. His hands, his lips, those stormy-sea eyes that held me hostage as he ravished my body. “It sort of just . . . happened.”

“That’s what Dad said to me as well. He also said—”

“Actually,” I interrupt, refocusing the conversation for the reason I’m really here, our friendship. I also don’t want to hear anything more about what he said to her—I heardenough before I left his place that night. “I’d really prefer not to talk about your dad right now. What’s more important to me is whether you and I are still good. Your friendship means the world to me, and I never meant to hurt you. I hope you don’t think I took advantage or that this was some premeditated plan in any way.”

Madison turns her palm, capturing mine inside it. “We’re still good. I know this was something that caught you both by surprise, but I refuse for our friendship to be in question because of it. You’re important to me, too, Kavi, so despite what happens between you and my dad, we will always stay friends.”

Despite what happens between you and my dad . . .

My nose tingles and I quickly blink back the pricks of tears at the backs of my eyes, knowing she knows more than she’s letting on and respecting her for not betraying Hudson’s trust.

“I’m so glad to hear that.” I give her a relieved smile before taking a sip of my coffee, hoping it tamps down my tumultuous emotions. “Now, tell me more about your honeymoon.”

Jojo’s smile widens,her eyes wandering down my raincoat. “You kept it? Did you even try taking off the paint?”

I follow her gaze, taking in the patches of purple and navy paint from the night she hugged me inside that dank, dark shed. “Why would I? I think it looks more beautiful now.”

She giggles and there’s not a word to describe how happy I am to hear it. It’s chirpy and young, exactly how a teenager should sound when they’re genuinely content.

I’d asked her to meet me a few minutes before our class so I could catch up with her, given this is our last class.

I’ve gotten close to all the kids, so this class will definitely be bittersweet, but I feel good about having given them a new outlet for channeling their emotions in a constructive way. And though I won’t be here physically for them after this class, hopefully they’ll be able to rely on what they’ve learned to persevere and paint their future with vivid colors.

To this day, I’m saddled by my guilt for not having helped Nathan somehow—perhaps if I’d known he was in trouble earlier or if I could have convinced him not to follow those awful kids after school—but with every class I teach and every student I help, some of that melancholy and remorse lessens.

So, in a way, each student has helped me as much as I’ve helped them.

I give Jojo a hug before gently grasping her biceps. “How are you? Was that a little snort I caught at the end of your laugh?”

She laughs again, bobbing her head up and down. “I’m good. Things are good at home and with Max.”

My curiosity piques. “Yeah? Have you guys been going to counseling?”

She nods again. “I think we all needed it. There was a lot of repressed anger and resentment that needed to be addressed. We haven’t resolved all of it yet, but we’re laughing more as a family and talking things out before they become bigger, you know what I mean?”

A smile spreads across my face. “That’s great to hear. And you and Max are getting along?”

She shrugs. “She leaves a spot open for me to sit with her at her lunch table every day, and her and her friends don't wreck my room anymore, so I’d say that’s progress. Though she could work on not rolling her eyes with every sentence, but maybe that’s too much to ask for at this point.”

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