Page 89 of Slap Shot

“Yeah. I dropped Lucy off at my parents’ then went out with a friend from work. There was dark lighting and loud music. ”

“Pretty sure you just described every club to ever exist, Mads.”

“There were a lot of people there. VIPs, the bouncer kept saying, so it took us forever to get in. I think the place was called The Library?”

“No shit.” I lean closer to her. “That’s where we were.”

“You’re fucking with me.”

“I swear to god. I’ll show you the credit card charge for my twelve-dollar bottle of water.”

“Huh.” Her smile is coy. “Guess we were always destined to cross paths, Bombshell.”

“I guess so.” I pop a cookie in my mouth. “If your ex, Fark, ever bothers you again and you want someone to put him in his place, let me know. I’m more than happy to give him a piece of my mind.”

“His name is Clark.”

“Oh, I know what it is. That wasn’t a mistake.”

Madeline laughs. “Noted. I doubt he’ll make any more contact—tonight was probably accidental—but if he does, I’ll send him your way.”

“Great.” I nudge her knee. “Think you’ll be able to sleep now?”

“I hope so. It’s hard to hold onto that kind of stuff, you know?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “I do know. How about this: since you told me something that’s been on your mind, I’ll tell you something that’s been on mine. Fair trade,” I say.

“I can’t wait to hear.”

“I’m really glad you and Lucy are here.”

“What?” She shoves my uninjured arm. “Come on. That’s not what’s on your mind.”

“Let me finish. My mom passed away a few years ago,” I say.

Madeline freezes. Her grip on me loosens, but she doesn’t let go. “Hudson.”

“Yeah. It’s been a while since I’ve been happy like this. And I know you and Lucy are the reason why.”

“What happened?” she whispers.

“Breast cancer. Undetected until it was terminal.” I glance up at the sky. Mom wouldn’t mind that I’m talking about her; she used to love it. She was the life of every party. Bright and warm and so welcoming to others. “It all happened so fast, which I guess is a blessing. She didn’t have to suffer for years. I just… I miss her, you know? I’m doing better mentally than I was when she passed. I go to therapy. I’m not where I was when she was here, and I don’t think I ever will be, but I’m getting close.”

“Oh, you sweet boy.” Madeline sets down her glass and moves the plate. She reaches for me and wraps me in an embrace I didn’t know I needed until I bury my face in her hair and hug her back. Fuck the pain. “I am so sorry.”

“I wanted you to know. We’re friends, and my friends know that part of me,” I say into her neck. She smells like vanilla and the sand on the beach on a warm summer day. “Tonight was the first time someone other than her has taken care of me after I got hurt.”

“Thank you for telling me.” Madeline’s hand moves up and down my back. She rubs soothing circles over my sweatshirt, and her touch helps the tension leave my body. “What was her name?”

“Sarah.” The curve of my smile hits just below her ear. “I loved—love—her so much.”

“I bet she loved you more than anything in this world. Every mother loves their child an infinite amount, and you’re so special, Hudson. She was lucky to have you as a son.”

“She was pretty great.”

“Are the flowers on your leg for her?”

“Yeah.” I let out a soft laugh. “They are.”

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