Chapter 373

Madison

“I’m sure.” The memory still stung. That little ‘read’ notification appearing within seconds. Then nothing. Days of silence that turned into weeks, then months.

Hazel was quiet for a moment. “What if something happened? What if he didn’t actually see it?”

“Stop.” I held up a hand. “Don’t make excuses for him. He got the text. He chose not to respond.”

“Okay.” Hazel raised her hands in surrender. “I’m just trying to understand why he’d show up now.”

“Because he’s Alexander.” I resumed pacing. “He doesn’t like loose ends. I’m a file he forgot to close.”

Hazel studied me carefully. “You still love him.”

“I don’t.”

“You’re lying.”

“I’m protecting myself,” I corrected. “There’s a difference.”

“Is there?”

I sank back onto the couch, suddenly exhausted. “It doesn’t matter what I feel. He’s engaged to Katherine. He has his life in New York. I have mine here.”

“Except he’s not married,” Hazel pointed out.