Chapter 126

Madison

I trudged down the sidewalk, eyeing the heavy clouds overhead, which hung like a bad mood over the city. The weatherman had promised rain by evening, but so far, the sky had been just threatening without delivering—kind of like my social life lately.

I pulled out my phone and dialed Hazel, shifting my purse to my other shoulder as I waited for her to pick up.

“Madison Harper, as I live and breathe,” Hazel’s voice came through after the fourth ring. “To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure on a Tuesday evening?”

“Very funny. Are you coming or what? I’m almost at Caffeine Dreams.” I sidestepped a guy walking his tiny dog, which yapped at me like I’d personally offended its ancestors.

“Coming where? Did I miss something?”

I stopped walking. “Please tell me you’re joking. Jackson? Coffee? The plans we made last week?”

“Oh shit,” Hazel muttered. “That’s tonight? I totally forgot.”

“How could you forget? You’re the one who i