The Journey Home(12)
Author: Kelly Elliott

“No. Oh, God, no,” I whispered. Cale’s eyes seemed so sad as he looked back at me. “I can’t…I can’t do this.”

I pushed my chair back, reached for my purse and made for the door. Monica was right behind me.

I was breaking into a run by the time I pushed the door open. When the fresh air hit my face, I gasped for breath. My lungs felt tight. Monica placed her hand on my back, rubbing in circles.

“Take a deep breath, Maddie,” she said. “In through your nose and out your mouth.”

I felt tears in my eyes. Was Cale the guy Zoey couldn’t shut up about?

“No,” I said. “No, this is not happening. Zoey’s with Cale?”

Monica’s eyes were filled with pity. I couldn’t stand it. “I’m going to kick her damn ass,” she said. “She knew how you felt about him.”

I began shaking my head. “No, she didn’t know about Cale. I mean she knew, but she couldn’t have known how strong my feelings were.”

Monica laughed gruffly. “Please! I’m telling you she overheard us talking about him.” She looked back toward the door. “You have to confront her, Maddie.”

“What? Confront her with what? Tell her she’s dating the guy I had a one night stand with? The guy I blew off, and then obsessed about for two years?”

Monica reached for my purse. Grabbing my phone, she pulled up Zoey’s name.

“What are you doing?”

“Asking her sorry little ass.”

I pulled the phone from her hand. “No!” I said. “No, I need to get out of here. I need time to think.”

I’d started walking down the dock ramp to the parking lot when I heard her voice.

“Maddie? Monica? Oh my gosh!”

I stopped in my tracks.

“Aw, hell. Here we go.” Monica said. I gave her a look.

“Don’t say a word,” I whispered, looking at Zoey.

“Hey stranger,” I said, my voice cracking.

Zoey sauntered toward us. She didn’t look good at all. Her face was pale and she looked like she’d lost more weight. “Zoey, are you feeling okay?” I asked.

She smiled slightly and nodded. “What are you two doing here?” Her body was tense. She didn’t seem at all happy to see us.

“Oh, um…we just left the title company and were heading here for lunch and…”

Her smile faded before she forced it back onto her face. “Wait, you bought a house here? On Beaver Lake?”

I smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I did.”

“I see. Well, nothing like being the last to know,” Zoey said, glaring at Monica.

Monica grinned. “Oh, you’re not the last. Her parents don’t know yet.”

I closed my eyes and attempted to regulate my breathing before opening them again.

Zoey gave Monica a dirty look before grabbing my hands. “I’m so happy for you, sweetheart!” she said, plastering on that fake smile. “Anyway, my boyfriend is here and I’d love for you to meet him. I have some rather big news myself!”

Panic set in. “Well, um…we were just leaving. I forgot I had to…I um…I need to go buy…”

Monica yelled out, “Laundry detergent!”

I snapped my head over to give Monica a wide-eyed glare.

Zoey laughed. “Laundry can wait. Come on, I want to introduce you both to my guy.”

She pulled me back into the restaurant. I looked over my shoulder and mouthed, “Laundry soap?” at Monica. She just shrugged.

Before I knew it I was walking up to Zoey’s table. Cale leapt up to greet me.

Zoey stopped and gave me a smile I’d never seen before. She almost seemed…pleased with herself. “Cale,” she said, “this is my dearest friend, Maddie Powers. Maddie, this is my boyfriend, Cale Blackwood.”

Zoey’s stress on the word boyfriend didn’t go unnoticed. Cale glanced at her quickly before returning his gaze to me.

A million thoughts raced through my head. Do I let her know I know him? Do I tell her Cale is my mystery guy? The guy I’d been desperately in love with for the last two years?

Then it hit me: This was the guy she met in Starbucks. The guy who’s fucked her every which way but loose. My stomach clenched and my heart broke into a million pieces. He’d moved on. And, in that moment, I knew what I had to do. I stuck out my hand and attempted to smile. “Hello, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Cale.”

Cale looked down at my hand, then back into my eyes. I couldn’t quite tell what he was feeling. He eventually reached out and took my hand in his. I gasped slightly when our fingers touched and everything from that night two years ago zipped through my body. I quickly pulled my hand from his and looked away.

Cale cleared his throat. “It’s, um…my pleasure, Maddie.”

We both just stood there, attempting not to look at each other. Cale’s friend, Jack, stood up and reached out his hand. “I’m Jack Rembrandt, it’s nice to, uh, meet you.” He turned to Monica and smiled. “And you are?”

Zoey chuckled. “Where are my manners? This is Monica Price, Maddie’s friend.”

Both Cale and Jack shook Monica’s hand as she attempted to politely follow my lead.

“Waiter! Can you please bring us two more chairs?” Zoey asked, winking at me.

Monica and I both panicked and shouted, “No!”

Startled, Zoey jumped. “Nonsense,” she said, giggling. “You’re staying for lunch.”

Before I knew it, I was sitting directly across from Cale. I looked away and smiled at Zoey as she gazed back and forth between Cale and me.

Zoey gave me a sly smile. “Is everything okay, Maddie?” she asked “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Monica hit me on the leg under the table. I grinned and shook my head. “I’m fine. Totally fine.”

We spent the next fifteen minutes listening to Zoey describe how her and Cale met, how wonderful the last month had been, and how she couldn’t believe both Cale and I had bought houses on Beaver Lake. When Cale heard that, he stared at me, shocked.

The waitress set down my Caesar salad as I attempted not to look at Cale. I glanced up to see Jack and Monica glaring at each other. This was turning into a nightmare. I need to get out of here.

“Zoey, I really need to go,” I said as I reached into my purse to take out money. I could ask the waitress for a to-go box.

“Oh no!” Zoey said. “Not yet. I haven’t even told you the best news!”