Page 16 of Cry Madness

I throw my arm around her shoulders and give her a tight, sideways hug. “Since the day I met you, babe. You’re stuck with me.”

“Like a barnacle on my ass,” she snaps with a laugh.

We cross the store trading insults as only best friends do, and after trying on the gown, I’m glad it fits like a glove. As the pretty, red-haired associate is packaging the dress, Ivory says, “Maddox is going todiewhen he sees you in it.”

Taken aback, I ask, “Why would I care what Maddox thinks about me when he sees me in the dress?”

“I’m sure you don’t,” she agrees, but there’s a doubtful note to her words. “But that doesn’t mean he won’t be drooling at your feet.”

After I left Wonderland, Maddox texted me that playlist of our favorite songs. I didn’t answer him, and he never tried to contact me again. Until today, leaving that damn note and stupid coupon on my car. Rationally, I know he gave me exactly what I wanted—to be left alone. Irrationally, I’m hurt he didn’t fight for me.

Not that I wanted him to, I lie to myself…

…because a part of me would have loved it if he had.

“Trust me, Ivory, I won’t even realize he’s there.”

Another lie.

I’ve been aware of Maddox’s presence since the moment I crossed the border into Grimm County. He seems to be everywhere in Wonderland, even when he’s nowhere around. He’s larger than life, and although I could have easily left that damned note in my car or crumpled it up and tossed it away, instead, it’s tucked away inside my backpack.

My mind might have tried to forget him, but my heart has never let him go.

Ivory, who always saw right through every denial I’ve ever made about Maddox and me being nothing more than friends, snorts out a laugh. “You keep telling yourself that, and maybe one day, you’ll believe it because I sure as heck won’t.”

“Whatever, believe what you want,” I retort. “Doesn’t change the fact that I want nothing to do with him.”

“No, sure, absolutely,” she agrees with a smirk, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “But those years when you were away? You were never truly gone because everywherehewas,youwere.”

I point to my head. “The top hat I bought and watch don’t count.”

“I didn’t mean them, babe.”

“Then what?”

My best friend glances at the sales associate, who is walking back toward us with my gown wrapped in a garment bag. She then leans in low and whispers in my ear, “Supposedly, Maddox, um… He hasn’t… That he doesn’t…”

“Spit it out.”

“You know.” She gestured at her crotch.

“No, I most certainly don’t know.” Then, with a snicker, I add, “Please tell me he caught crabs or something. That would be the cherry on the shit sundae of my life.”

“No!” she insists, horrified.

We go silent when the girl hands me the gown.

“Here you go,” she chirps.

“Thank you,” I reply, and as soon as Ivory and I are far enough away, I say to my friend, “So, what? What did Maddox do while I was in Riverton?”

And why is my stomach in a knot waiting for the answer?

“Nothing,” she assures me. “That’s the thing. He hasn’t… Done the sex.”

Thesex?

Oh, my God, okay. No. Preposterous. Maddox Hathorne celibate? Absolutely not. Ivory has a better chance of convincing me the moon is made of cheese than making me believe that Maddox Hathorne hasn’t had sex inthree years. He and March were gods at Hilltop, both rumored to have infamously lost their virginities way too young to women who should have gone to jail for statutory rape.