Page 110 of Smoky Darling

But that doesn’t matter now. Because life may have sent us traveling down separate paths, but we managed to find each other right back where we started.

My throat tightens and the tears I’ve been fighting since driving away from my house finally win.

“Ohmygod, don’t cry!” Maddie scoots closer, already sniffling.

“Why are you crying?” I start to laugh but it just comes out as more tears.

“I don’t know! Because you are!” Maddie snags a stack of napkins off a shelf, handing me half, before rubbing her own tears from her face. “Why are you crying?”

“It’s just… This feels like heartbreak and hope all wrapped together. And…” I squeeze my eyes shut, “and because I think I still love him.”

Maddie shrieks.