Page 70 of Sweet Poison

“Come on, beautiful creatures! I made a loooot!” Mrs. O’Sullivan adds.

Willow doesn’t waste a second. She grabs my hand and pulls me up from the blanket. I stumble a little, still lost in that warm and strange feeling from before.

As we walk hand in hand toward the house, flowers are still floating around us. I feel my heart thudding—not just because of the waffles but from being here with her and everyone who is a part of her colorful and happy world.

“I hope waffles make you happy, Madden!” she signs, her eyes bright as she looks up at me, like she’s waiting for me to say something. I glance at her as she guides me forward, and for the first time in what feels like forever, the usual sadness and anger that cling to me like a second skin start to fade away. Those feelings float off like the petals in the breeze.

I don’t feel like something bad is nearing. And for once, that’s okay.

Maybe, just maybe, I can allow myself to be happy with these rare but kind people, even if my time here has an expiration date.

Because the feeling in my chest is one I haven’t felt a day in my life—it makes me hate my existence a little bit less.

Willow

The sun hangslow in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the resort’s garden. I settle into my favorite yoga pose, the softearth beneath me grounding my thoughts. Inhale. Exhale. The rhythm of my breath is slow and steady, like the gentle waves in the distance.

As I close my eyes, my mind drifts to thoughts of him—of Madden. Moments from last night flash through my mind like a romance movie playing before me.

His smile was subtle at first and then it took over his handsome face.

The sweet interaction with the little girl and how his eyes shone with tenderness for the girl.

Then the kiss.

The kind of kiss that makes the world tilt on its axis and sends shivers through your bones.

Every second I spend with him feels like we’re still kids, somehow. Like time hasn't passed at all, and nothing has changed. We’re in my mother’s garden, surrounded by wildflowers and dandelions. I can almost feel the soft petals brushing against my forehead, the scent of jasmine swirling around us.

That’s how every moment with him feels, even when he’s acting like a grump.

I touch my lips, the tingles from his kiss still linger. A thrill rushes through me, but then confusion settles heavy in my chest.What does it mean? What does he want? I’ve never had a boyfriend, never navigated this strange path of feelings and relationships. Before, I didn't really care. Relationships— whether romantic or platonic never felt safe.

But with him? Everything feels different.

I’ve always been so sure of everything—my family, my safe, quiet little world. But him? He’s a whole new world I don’t understand.

One thing I’m sure of is that somehow my heart and soul have always known it was him.

I inhale deeply again, letting the calm of my surroundings settle over me. I try to clear my head, but the memory of Madden’s smile lingers, like a wild dream. What was he thinking when he kissed me? Does he feel the same way? Or was it just a moment? A spark that eventually will fade? Am I just a distraction?

The feeling of being watched creeps over, and I open my eyes. A breeze stirs the flowers around me, their vivid colors swaying together, as if they’re moving in sync.

And then I see him—Madden—standing a few paces away, watching me with an intensity that makes my heart skip a thousand beats. It’s as if he can see right through me and now knows the secrets my heart hides.

For a moment, the world fades into the background. It’s like time has stopped, and all I can hear is the loud beating of my own heart.

Does he know? Does he feel the same way I do?

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

My heart starts to beat in sync with the steady steps he takes toward me. Each footfall feels like it’s echoing in my chest like a thunderstorm.

His black eyes drift from my hair down to my face. I can feel the heat rise in my cheeks, my skin hot under his penetrating gaze, like I’m suddenly the center of his universe. His gaze travels slowly down the rest of my body and my skin feels hotter than before.

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