We cried as we drank wine. Donna brought two old photo albums, and each picture seemed funnier than the last one. Finally, we found a picture of me and her sitting on the top of her old concrete steps, her old house in the background. I remembered the picture vividly. It was middle of summer, when it felt like everything was too hot, annoying, and you just wanted some relief. Playing in the pool was boring. Playing with the hose would get you yelled at for wasting water. And waiting for the ice cream truck wasn’t cool anymore, because we were in that weird stage of not being kids but not being old enough to do anything fun.

So, we’d sit on the steps and just talk.

For hours.

I put my hand to the page and stopped the entire night.

I looked at her.

“Hazel…”

I shook my head. “It’s been a week. I’ve been tied up with Maddox, getting him out of the hospital and settled. I’ve been waiting for this night for a long time. I’m so sorry, Donna. For everything. I took our friendship and threw it away.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Just listen to me. Please.”

“Okay,” she said.

“You were right. And I didn’t know how to respond to that. I didn’t know how to get help. I didn’t how to get away from it. And I put you on the spot to cover it all up. How the fuck could I do that to you? What was I thinking? Of course you’d reach a breaking point. Then you did, and I left.”

“Hazel…”

“Not yet,” I said. “You saved me.”

“I saved you?” Donna asked.

“I lived in regret for such a long time. And there were times when he would threaten to go after you. So, I stayed away. But…that night that you called me. When you were drunk. I decided right then that I was going to standup for myself. So, I did. I can tell you stories, Donna. And I will. But I want you to know that I never stopped regretting what I did. And I never stopped thinking about you. I would look you up. I saw how successful you were becoming. And it made me happy.”

Donna nodded. “Alright, my turn, so shut up.” She winked. “I shouldn’t have pounced on you like I did. I get it, Hazel. After I opened my first shop, I got with a guy who…you know…”

“No.”

“Yeah. The first time it happened, I instantly thought of you. Everything I ever said to you. Because now I was then the one cowering in the corner, afraid of him. I finally broke down and was able to do what I had to do legally to take care of him. But I get it. It’s unfair. It’s scary. It leaves you feeling so worthless and dark inside. And that’s the one thing nobody sees. How dark it is on the inside. I’m so sorry, Hazel, I never realized how dark you felt on the inside. My words pushed you away. I could have just thrown you out of my apartment and locked the door. I get it. That’s why when Maddox called me, I was running to the door.” She laughed. “I waited too long. We both did. Stubborn, the two of us.”

“Well, not anymore. I’m happy. Are you?”

Donna nodded to the engagement ring on her finger and smiled. “Very happy.”

“I think Maddox might be the guy to give me one of those,” I said. “And that scares me.”

“It should scare you,” Donna said. “That’s the great thing about it. It scares you, yet you say yes when the time comes.”

I closed the photo album. “Hey. Let’s take a new picture. Start a new book. You and me.”

“I like that,” Donna said. “And, hey, just to put it out there. I could use someone at my shop now and again to take pictures of the hair styles we do. We’ve been using our phones, and it’s not all that great. I was thinking of putting together a book. My…fiancé…”she said in an accent, “he works in finance and knows someone who knows someone who’s willing to publish the book for me.”

“Look at you,” I said. “All famous.”

I set up my camera and set a timer. The first picture we took was normal. Then we took a silly one. And then…well, we spent an hour taking pictures. Laughing. Crying. Hugging. Talking. Sipping wine. Filling our glasses while making goofy faces.

It was amazing.

I hadn’t seen Donna in years, but it was like I just saw her last Tuesday.

I may have had a little too much to drink.

Donna fell asleep on the couch first. I put a blanket on her and kissed her cheek.

I stumbled through my apartment and finally fell into my bed.

My phone then lit up with a text message.

Check your email, sugar

I fumbled with the screen and managed to get my email open.

Maddox had forwarded something to me.

A link.

To a house.

A house?

I looked at it.

It was a beautiful one, too. Right near the edge of Hundred Falls Valley. Complete with an in-law suite. A really big house.

I laughed as I looked at the pictures.

Then I text him back.

Planning on buying me a house and having Donna move in?

I giggled again, alone in my room.

Then my phone rang.

“Sugar,” Maddox said. “What did you think?”

“I don’t understand,” I said, feeling my words slur.

“Oh, that wine did you good.”

“Shut up.”

“Need me to come over and tuck you in?”

“Yes.”

Maddox laughed. “That house…”

“I don’t get it,” I said.

“Sugar, I bought it. Today.”

“What?”

“I got bored. So, I bought a house. For you.”

“For me? You’re going to live in the in-law suite?”

“No, sugar. We’re living in the house. And the in-law suite is yours. For your business. I love you, Hazel with the green eyes. You should get some sleep.”

“Wait, wait, wait…Maddox…”

“It’s okay. Just believe, and it’s all real. I’ll see you tomorrow, sugar.”

Maddox ended the call.

I hurried back to the pictures of the house.

I sat up in bed, smiling for a long time. A really long time. I couldn’t stop looking at the pictures.

A house? Maddox? Me? My business?

I told myself I must have had way too much wine. I was drunk and dreaming.

I put my phone next to me and shut my eyes.

I had myself half convinced I’d wake up and it would all be a dream.

But what a dream to have, right?

* * *

I woke up with a boulder on my forehead.

I heard voices talking.

I grabbed my phone, and after a few swipes, my eyes went wide.

It was all real. The text from Maddox. The email. The house.

Forcing myself out of bed, I went to track down the voices.

I opened my bedroom door and smelled food and coffee.

My stomach curdled, and I almost threw up. A wine hangover was terrible. Just terrible.

Then I saw Maddox.

He walked through my line of sight.

“Tell me what you think,” he said.

“You didn’t have to do this,” Donna’s voice said.

“I’m sure you two are feeling it.”

“I think Hazel got it worse,” Donna said.

I stumbled down the hallway and ran a hand through my hair.

“I’m fine, by the way,” I said. “And screw you both.”

“There she is,” Maddox said. He hurried to me and kissed me. “Good morning, sugar.”

“Are you allowed to drive?” I asked.

“Nope,” he said.

“What are you doing, then?”

“Making you breakfast,” he said. “It’s been long enough. And then I’m going to help you pack this place up. It’s moving day.”

“Moving…?”

“I bought that house. It’s ours, Hazel. The place is empty. Things are moving fast. Tate called in a few favors for me, and we’re allowed to start moving in today.”

“Today…”

“Today,” Maddox said. “I move fast, Hazel. When I see something I want, I get it.”

“Should I go somewhere?” Donna asked. “Give you two a minute?”

Maddox and I looked at each other. Then we looked at Donna.

At the same time, we both said, “YES.”

Donna stood up. “I’ll just take my breakfast to go…on the balcony.”

“Sorry,” I whispered.

“Don’t be,” she said. She winked at me.

Maddox scooped me up.

“You can’t be lifting me,” I yelled.

“Hazel, I mean this with all my heart. Be quiet, sugar. I’m going to carry you today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life. No matter how much it hurts or the risk it may cause me, you are worth everything. And for every day, week, month, and year you had to live feeling like you didn’t have that worth…I’m going to make it up to you. Starting now.”

Maddox kissed me, stealing my words, my breath, and the rest of my heart.

He carried me to the bedroom.

And that day, I figured out a good cure for a wine hangover.

Amazing, hot sex.