THREE MONTHS LATER

Maddie calls just as Austin unlocks the door to my house. It’s our first time home after three arduous months on the road. All I can think of is climbing into my bed, curling up against Austin, and sleeping for a week.

Instead I answer the phone, because I know she just wants to make sure we got home safe. Our week-long sleep can wait five more minutes.

“Hey, Maddie!” I greet her.

Austin enters behind me, wheeling my suitcase in, before setting his Tumi bag on the floor next to the door. I can’t understand how he’s still standing. I was just the girl selling merchandise at the show. Austin was running around the stage, night after night, expending more energy than a toddler who got into some coffee espresso beans.

Since he’s a seasoned professional, I followed his lead the entire time. Even though we went to bed as early as we could most nights, worked out whenever we had the chance, took plenty of naps, and ate a fairly healthy diet, the entire trip was still utterly exhausting.

“Are you home? Or still at the airport?” she asks.

“Just walked into my house.” I glance at the stacks of mail on the counter. Emily and Maddie have been coming by to take in the mail and feed my cat. Speaking of Oliver—I’m surprised he hasn’t run out to meow his displeasure at us for leaving him so long, while weaving between our feet to trip us into falling onto the floor to pet him.

“I’m so glad you’re back! I missed you! How was it?”

“Amazing and exhausting.” I kick off my sneakers.

“I thought you just went to a yoga retreat?”

She’s right. After a grueling three months on the road, we bid the guys and the van adieu and stayed in San Francisco for an impromptu weekend yoga and meditation retreat. I’ve never meditated in my life, though I do believe in the benefits of it. Before, I could never get my mind to slow down long enough for it to work. The fact that I was able to relax so easily in the classes was a huge sign about how much taking a break from the medical program has helped my stress levels.

“We were, and it was amazing, but you wouldn’t believe the toll three straight months of being on the road takes on the body.”

“Almost like three straight years of a residency, eh?” she quips.

I manage to squeak out a tired laugh. “Might have been worse. I can’t believe I thought I had it rough.”

Had Austin suggested we end the trip with a few whirlwind days, walking the hilly streets of San Francisco, I would’ve thought he was crazy, but the retreat was perfect—just what the doctor ordered for our weary minds and bodies. Plus, it gave us some much-needed alone time to reconnect on a completely different level. I wouldn’t trade that peaceful, romantic getaway for anything.

“I’m laying by the pool right now. It’s nice and relaxing. You guys should come over later.”

Austin comes up behind me and grabs my hips. Then he pulls me back into his chest and places soft kisses along my neck. I tilt my head to give him better access.

“I would love to, but I’m so completely exhausted right now, I just want to pass out.” She doesn’t need to know that I’ll pass out completely satiated after sex with my Energizer Bunny boyfriend.

“No worries. Trent just got here anyway.”

“I’ll call you—” I begin, but stop abruptly when I hear distant yelling on the other end of the line.

“How could you do this to me, Madeline?”

The tone of Trent’s voice makes my entire body stiffen. Over the years he and Maddie have been dating, I’ve seen how angry and intense he can be. Though I’d never seen him hurt her physically—and she’s never said that he has—his temper has always freaked me out.

I’ve noticed a pattern with Trent. When he yells at her, he’s usually wrong—and drunk.

“Maddie?” I ask firmly.

“How could you fucking do this to me?” Trent yells.

Maddie’s voice shakes when she answers, “Do what, Trent? I—”

“This is the last fucking time you will ever—”

Suddenly there’s a crash on the other end and I jump.

“Maddie?” I ask. I swallow hard and my heart pumps faster. “Madeline?” I ask, using her given name instead of her nickname.

But there’s no response from the other end. No sound at all.

“Liz?” Austin asks. “Is everything okay?”

My exhausted body is on high alert. Our eyes meet when I spin to face him. “We’ve got to get over to my parent’s house. Now.”

“Let’s go,” he says.

I shove my phone into the back pocket of my jeans and bolt toward the house to grab my keys. Austin doesn’t hesitate to follow or stop me to ask more questions. He knows me well enough to understand that if I’m dropping everything right now—something is very wrong.