Page 28 of Make Me Swoon

“Are you going to go?” Sutton asks and I take another bite of pizza, shrugging.

The truth is that I’m still undecided on that. I want to find my place in the world, where I belong, and the truth is that I don’t think it will be with them. Still, I guess it wouldn’t hurt me to go and try. Maybe I’ll have enough to pay Hudson back by then and I’ll be getting back to my trip and I can stop there first.

“Did he kiss you goodnight?” Madelyn asks.

“Yeah,” I say and I can feel my face heating as I remember the way that he kissed me goodbye last night.

They all ohh and giggle and I laugh, taking a sip of my pop.

“Are we going to The Fainting Goat after this?” I ask before I take another bite of pizza.

“Sure,” Madelyn says with a shrug, and I see Iris bite her bottom lip.

“Should we invite Flynn?” Sutton asks and Madelyn gives her a dry look.

I’m sure she’s getting tired of the comments about how good the two of them would be together.

“No, it’s girl’s night,” she says, taking another bite of her pizza and I laugh.

The subject changes to upcoming holidays. Sutton is already starting to plan for Halloween at the Mystery Cabin and potentially doing some themed nights or promotions. I told her that as long as I didn’t have to dress up like I was working in some kind of haunted house that I was fine with it, but I have a feeling that Stan might be harder to talk around.

The three of us throw out ideas like decorating the miniature golf course and having a deal on it or even setting up a haunted house inside the Mystery Cabin. Iris mentions advertising in the local papers or on social media sites like Facebook or Instagram. Madelyn recommends billboards on either side of the Mackinaw Bridge and I see Sutton writing them down on her phone.

I can’t help but wonder if I’ll be here to see any of it.

We finish off our pizza and pay our bill before we head across the street and down the block to The Fainting Goat. It’s live music night and the band is already in full swing when we walk in and grab a table close to the bar.

Sutton grabs us a round of martinis and we settle in to listen to the band play. The place is pretty crowded.

“Did Hudson ask you out again?” Sutton asks as the band takes a short break.

“Yeah, he’s going to cook for me tomorrow night.”

“Marry him,” Madelyn says with a straight face and I laugh.

“I’m being serious!” she insists. “Does he have a brother by chance?”

“Does who have a brother?” Flynn asks as he plops down into the chair next to Madelyn.

“Hudson,” I tell him, and I can’t help but notice the way that he frowns at hearing that Madelyn was interested in someone else.

“So, does he?” she asks and Flynn shifts in his seat, taking a sip of his beer.

“No, I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure he’s an only child. At least he’s never mentioned any siblings.”

“You can ask him for me tomorrow when he cooks for you,” Madelyn says and I laugh.

“Ugh, I bet it’s going to be delicious,” Iris says with a moan and I see Madelyn stare at her.

“There is something wrong with the way that you’re more interested in food than the man,” she says with a frown and Iris laughs.

“He’s a famous chef with an entire cabinet of awards. It’s literally guaranteed to be incredible. I think it’s weird that you’re not excited about it,” Iris argues and I smile as they start to bicker.

“Yeah, but we’re not getting to eat it,” Madelyn says and I see Sutton roll her eyes before she interrupts them.

“Have you talked to Arlo yet? Maybe he can cook too,” Sutton suggests and Iris’s face turns beet red with a blush.

Her eyes dart to the bar but Arlo isn’t working tonight.

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