Madelined around, her smile brightening when she saw the familiar face standing a few feet away,
“Aren!” she whisperedendredly, hei wokce a mibir el suprise and delight.
*Ill, girl” he replied, waving his fingers playfully befoer walking met to her,
“Dve been good, but I’ve been wonded about you” he said bisexgression softening
“Oh, dan be. I’ve been great she replied, brushing off his concern with a wwer of her hand.
“Hmmm, tell me about 1” Aaron murmujet, arching his bem as though he could tell the wasn’t telling him eregthing
They went best in one of the comfortable booths by the window alten Madeline picked up her rider from the counted. As she sipped her coffee, Aaron slid into the seat across from her and
dhe
= 1 krone You’ve wondering about the wedding, yeah?” she began, setting her up
Aaron nodded, Maning forward slights,
*1’ve had susplek of him chrating Ist a really long time” she admitted,
“And I’ve seen this same wretcan with him a couple of times. Tot I decided to leave it all behindwhen Fraught him cheating on me just a drie minutes before I walked down the aisle to
Aurm pasped, his hand thing to port his mouth as he quickly looked around to avoid drawing attention,
“Are you lou real?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper,
And it’s always been the same woman. The one talked abou
“Lelly?” he asked, and Madeline modded.
“Norway. The nerve of that losed!” he said, shaking his head in disbelief
Madeline waved her hand mively, a calm smile spreading across her fare,
“You know the en aziest part?” she added, Traning in slightly as if sharing a juicy secret.
Anthook his head eager for more details,
She was the one planning my wedding all along”
Aaron’s jaw dropped, and he spiraled softly, slapping the cable lightly with his hand,
“I swear” she said, het toe laced with dry humor,
“I didn’t even realize in until someone called her name, Emily”
,nch, tch. Sebastian played with the wrong lady” Aaron said, shaking his head as he sipped his iced coffe
Meies” Madeline replied with a chrug.
“I’m glad, though led to feel so scared and choked up before, but now feel happy. Like myself, you know?”
on led at her, raising his cup in mock celebration,
“Hallelujah, gliny, glory.”
(” he said, and they both burst into laughter.
As the laughter died down, Arcontracted into his bug and pulled out a sleek black envelope. Sliding it across the table toward her, he wiggled his eyebrows dramatically,
tadelinmasked, picking up the envelope and examining in culously,
“We’re having an award and dinner night for the company this weekend” Aaron explained.
“Since you and Selustion air no longer together, I figured we might go together. Pull some heads and break some neck!
When Mader opened the envelope, she saw a formal invitation with gold lettering, and she laughed, the smiled broadly at Aaron’s consi
“That’s trally meet of you. Aaron, but I already have someone I’m going with” she said, sliding the invitation back toward him
dangasped his hand clutching his chest theatrically as though he had been stick by lightning.
“You done moved un already? So soon? I like that” he teased, grinning.
Madeline took atlant sp of her rate, a playful smile curling her lips as she leaned back in her seat,
“You’ll see,” she saidcoyly.
“He’s sonar star who’s print bakeven me than we could together”
limosi chcked on his drink.
Hope she replied, biting is het pastry and endling commainly.
“You’ll just have to wait and find unt
Aaron Laughed, shaking his bradin mock frustration,
“Fine, fine. But you’d better not hold out on me for long. You know I live las dramaul”
Madeline laughed, experiencing a sense of joy in heart that had beening for, he won’t looking back with get off the first time in a long time. Rather, she was anticipating the weekend, fresh starts, and the life she was at last taking back as het own
“Chapter 29 – Rekindled Comforts
Chapter 29 – Rendled Comforts
The warmth of the afternoon light followed Madeline as she entered her comfortable apartment after Innch with Aaron. With a sigh, she taked a hand through her halt and set
the counter. Her mood had improved from the lighthearted chat with Aaton, but now she needed to concentrate, she hadassignments to finish and deadlines to meet.
She opened her laptop and started typing while seated at her desk. The room was filled with the gentle clatter of keys and the occasional coffer sip. She worked carefully for hours, letting, hereas pour into her rats.
Her body ached from sitting for so long, so the striched her aims above hri head as the afternoon went on. She strolled into her bedroom and lay down, deciding the deserved a rest. Her sheets gentle embrace was too good to resist, and she soon fell asleep.
