Page 65 of Forever Home

“I don’t know,” she shrugs, gazing down at her plate. “I’d always wondered what it would have been like to have siblings. To have a big family. I mean… you moved away, and from what my mom says, you haven’t been back to really see them. Which is none of my business or anything, I just always wondered if having that many siblings was a bad thing.”

I wasn’t angry at her for making her confession. I actually understood where she was coming from because for a long time, I wondered what it would be like to not have siblings. Whether or not things would have been different between me and my parents.

“I know what you mean…” I reply, giving her a smile so she knows I’m not offended by her statement. “What about you, though… you never left this place. Why not?”

She pauses for a moment, opening and closing her mouth before placing her fork down to lift her wine glass once more to her lips. “I guess I never wanted to leave my mom,” she finally admits softly. “Not like she asked me to stay or anything. It’s just always been the two of us… and I wanted to stay to help her. I didn’t want to let her down.”

“I don’t think you could disappoint her if you tried, Madi.” The admission slipped from my lips before I could think about what I was saying. Though it seems that the comment did justice rather than cause issues. A small blush crosses her cheeks as she picks up her fork and continues to eat.

“Thanks…” she replies with a slight pause as she swallows her food. “Maybe one day I’ll change things, though. I do want to travel the world… see new places. Maybe open a bakery.”

Hearing her say she wants to open a bakery brings a smile to my face. “I think you would be amazing at owning a bakery. I mean, the cupcakes you made are phenomenal. I can only imagine what else you have in your recipe book of tricks.”

The soft laughter that escapes her at my comment makes my smile grow. There’s always been something about her laughter that seems to brighten a room, and simply talking to her about everything going on in our lives is like walking back in time to when we were childhood friends.

Back when things made sense and life was easier.

By the time the evening winds down and dinner is finished, the two of us step out into the cool evening air with laughter as we make our way towards my vehicle. Her arm linking through mine as she points to the stars and tells me about everything she learned while helping the middle school science club over the summer.

“I’m telling you… these kids are too smart for their own good.”

“I bet.” Opening the car door, I settle her in and head back towards her apartment above the bakery. My mind racing over the evening, wishing that it wasn’t coming to an end. However, the moment I pull up to the bakery, she hesitates in getting out.

“I have something to admit,” she blurts out, catching my attention.

“Oh? And what’s that?”

“Well…” she starts, pausing once more. “I went into a sort of baking frenzy and ended up making three dozen cupcakes…”

Chuckling, I raise a brow, turning a bit more to stare at her. “Is that right?”

“Yeah…” she nods. “Maybe you want to come up… for dessert?”

Dessert. Oh, you have no idea what kind of dessert I want from you.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Madison

Idon’t know what I was thinking when I blurted out about the dozens of cupcakes that I had spent all afternoon baking before I called Sam to help me out of the nervous state I was in. But the one thing I do know is that I don’t want him to go. I don’t want the evening to end, and more than anything, I want to see where this could go between Jaxson and me.

The moment we’re upstairs and in my apartment, my heart begins to race. My mind spins as I take in the state of my kitchen and the three dozen cupcakes that sit cooling on their racks upon my counter. For a moment, I feel embarrassed at the state of my apartment. But when I turn to face Jaxson, his eyes are alight with what seems like wonder.

“You made all those today? You mustreallylove cupcakes.”

“Uh—yeah. I tend to bake when I’m… flustered,” I reply, trying not to let out that I was nervous about our date but obviously failing drasticallyat doing so. Because the moment it leaves my lips, he turns to face me with a small flash of a grin.

“Flustered? What had you flustered?”

I open my mouth to speak, but close it quickly. What can I honestly say without making myself look like a complete idiot? Though I probably already did that this evening on more than one occasion. Though it was great catching up with an old friend, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Which was completely bizarre. I’ve known him forever.

“So… this lady called about a last-minute order…”Liar.

He doesn’t say anything as I watch him make his way towards the kitchen. His eyes fixated on the unfrosted cupcakes among other things that I’d left out before going to dinner. I suppose in the midst of preparing and spending time with Sam, I hadn’t considered that Jaxson may have been coming home with me.

“They look delicious,” he says as I make my way towards the fridge to take out the container of homemade frosting that I’d prepped earlier in the day but never got to use.

“Here… try this.” Taking off the top, I hand him the container. The dark rich chocolate frosting is thick and fluffy within the bowl. He takes the bowl as I open the drawer and hand him a spoon. The man did not waste a second in diving in and popping a spoonful of the rich chocolate frosting in his mouth.

“Oh man…” he moans, his eyes meeting mine. “This… this is fantastic.”

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