Page 45 of Forever Home

“Are you serious!” she gasps. “Oh my God. I fucking knew they would get together.”

A soft chuckle escapes me, remembering the way the two of them were beneath the treehouse wrapped in each other’s arms. “Yeah, it was sweet.”

“Sweet?” Madison laughs. “Jaxson, are you getting soft on me now?”

“Is that a bad thing?” I ask, curious to know her thoughts.

“No, it’s not,” she replies softly, a slight hesitation back in her words. “Maybe I’ll get to see more of this sweet side of you when you get back.”

“Sounds like a plan,” I chuckle. “And in the meantime, if you or your mom have questions about the contracts, don’t hesitate to call me. I’m happy to help.”

“Thanks, I’ll definitely let Mom know that. But I do have to get going… I’ve got to finish this cake order. The customer’s picking up as soon as we open tomorrow morning.”

I don’t understand the disappointment that fills me hearing her say that, but I completely understand what she means when you’re busy in the kitchen. “No problem… but Madi…”

“Yeah?”

“We’ll talk, right?” I ask, realizing how stupid I sound. “Like friends and whatnot… you’ll call or text, won’t you?”

There’s silence for a moment as I hear her take a breath. “I never not want to talk to you. But, are you going to call me?”

“Yes,” I reply, without hesitation. “Why would you think I won’t?”

“I don’t know, Jaxson. Maybe because every time you leave Willowcreek, you sort of disappear. Not just from my life, but all of ours.”

Her admission stings in a way I don’t expect it to. I never considered before that my silence and distance would make them feel any sort of way. I mean, Asher and I kept in touch here and there over the years, butnot like we used to. I suppose I’d just got caught up in everything in my own life, never considering anything else.

“I promise you, Madi… I won’t do that again. I’ll call and text you every day if you want. So, will you?”

Again, silence. Before a soft breath comes through and for a moment I feel like I can almost hear her smiling through the phone. “Sure, Jaxson. I’ll call. I’ll see you soon.”

“See you soon, Madi.”

The moment the phone call ends, an empty feeling fills my gut. As if leaving right now, is the wrong thing to do. And part of me is starting to wonder if it more so involves me leaving Madison.

Chapter Eighteen: Madison

Two months. It’s been just over two months since Jaxson left. The contracts are almost completed as Mom and I wait on a few last-minute adjustments. The producer was trying to put in things that we weren’t okay with. Like changing up the scenery and adding to the times they were allowed to film, not to mention having to close the bakery all together during filming. Which of course Mom said she wasn’t willing to do, and after much back and forth, they agreed to her changes.

And Jaxson, well… At first, he was amazing, sticking by his word of wanting to talk and stay in touch. Our conversations the first few weeks were more than what I expected.

Long hours talking back and forth. Laughing as we take trips down memory lane. Most of our laughter fell to the memories we shared from when we were between the ages of twelve and fourteen. When our groupwas known for getting into trouble. Though, we always were backed up by Mrs. Kendall when anyone tried to say anything.

But as much as I loved our conversations, they slowly began to fizzle out. Our long conversations cut shorter and shorter. And instead of nightly, the days between our conversations grew further and further apart. To the point that when it hit month two, I barely got a text back.

Just left on read.

I try not to let it bother me. To pretend that it’s not a big deal and remind myself that we aren’t together, but it still hurts. It hurts in a way that makes my stomach drop, and my heart sink into itself. A feeling that perhaps I’m not good enough to get even a single text back.

So, instead of continuing to look desperate or needy… I stopped.

I stopped texting, and I haven’t looked back.

Thankfully though, Sam and Kylie have kept me busy with plenty of entertainment since Jaxson has been away enjoying his big shot lifestyle. A slight bit of envy fills me over the thought that everyone else is doing something with themselves. Taking risks, owning their own businesses and I’m still here living under my mother’s shadow.

I mean, I love her. And I’ll always be here to help her. I just can’t help but sometimes wonder if I could be doing more if I really set my mind to it.

“So, you’re sure she’s here?” Sam asks, the two of us in my car, head over to Mrs. Kendall’s house after a very concerned conversation with Kylie that seemed a little unnatural for her.

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