07 - burn in flames

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Q U I N C E Y

There aren't a lot of things that I expected to happen today.

I was just going to drop by my parent's house for a quick visit as I did once a week before heading back to work and ending my day by sitting home and binging a show or two before I fall asleep on the couch.

But seeing Maddox Broski on my parent's property wasn't on my to-do list for the day.

Or the upcoming year if I could have my way.

"What are you doing here," I muttered to myself as I stuffed my hands in my hoodie pockets.

A shiver trickled down my back as I stood on the pavement watching him talk to my father like they were good ol' pals.

Nothing in this situation was good.

I raised my hood and like a freaking burglar sneaked my way to the side of the house, opting to use the backyard as my entrance.

Though I wasn't carrying my luck inside my pockets for the day cause just as I was about to push the fence gate open, Mom's Samoyed, Bear came barking at me, tongue lolling out and tail wagging and all.

"Oh no, oh hell," I tried to budge the gate open but it was freaking stuck and when I budged it open it squeaked and it was already too late.

How did I not notice this huge cloud of fur?

The double-coated furry dog tackled my leg, rising on its back legs to greet me with enthusiasm that I couldn't at all replicate.

"Quinn, is that you honey?"

Especially when Dad's voice followed suit.

"Yep, the one and only," I winced pushing my hood down and rubbing Bear before turning to face my dad and the person I was going to succeed at avoiding if it wasn't for this traitor ball of fluff.

Bear ran circles around my leg as I stood there on the recently mowed grass before I finally lifted my head away from him and my eyes instantly gravitated toward Maddox who was staring right back at me.

Sweat started to coat my fingers the more I stood there taking him in and trying to figure out just how some trimming made him look that much better.

I wasn't blind, and no matter how much I forced myself to not notice every detail about him I couldn't listen to my own advice. Maddox Broski was a freaking flame that burned me even when I was miles away.

"Quit standing there and ogling him and come say hi to Maddox. Did you know he came back? Why hadn't you told me?"

Dad's voice grounded me back to the present. I looked away from Maddox and swallowed away my nerves. My cheeks heated as I looked away and moved to stand beside my dad. He was a long-retired man with a light beard and dark green eyes that wrinkled at the side every time he smiled.

Dad and I couldn't be further apart, not just by age but by nature as well.

Not only did he grow up in a family full of hard-working farmers but he was a reckless boy that took horse riding competitions way too seriously until he got injured and was forced to quit competing. Winning horse riding comps had always been his number-one priority until it wasn't.  After quitting, his family urged him to get a change of scenery since he was deep into the dark hole of depression. Dad and a few of his friends decided on going backpacking through the country and a few weeks into that, he met Mom on the beach after she and her friends joined their volley game and ever since, Mom and Dad had been a tight knot. He was the calm to her storm and she was the rainbow that shone after the rough rainy nights.

A few months after Dad retired he took gardening as his newfound hobby, hence the plants decorating almost every inch of their house. He was a plant's dad all the way through, even more than he was my dad.

Which quite honestly, I didn't mind. Anything that brought my family and loved ones joy brought joy upon me too.

Dad wrapped me in his beefy arms, his beard tickling my forehead as he squeezed me in his warm embrace.

"Hi Dad," I could barely choke out the words, especially when I could feel the eyes piercing through the back of my head. Every time I came to visit I looked forward to hugging my parents but this time felt different, this time I could feel just how empty I was inside.

"Quinn," Hearing that rich smooth voice that once used to be my favorite made me wish I could evaporate at any given moment and not have to face the man standing behind me but alas not all of us have the option to press pause and run away from our problems.

"Maddox, " In the seconds it took for Dad and me to separate, I had pasted on a perfect smile that I was feeling anything but inside. "Hey, I didn't know you were back."

Maddox's face contoured into confusion and for a heart-stopping horrifying second I thought that he might have recalled what happened two days ago but then his face relaxed, and a small smile made its way on his lips, lightening up his chiseled face and making me unable to move my eyes away from his face, "Well, it was supposed to be a surprise."

Pretty boys with even prettier smiles were and still to this day are my weakening.

"Nice to have you back in town son," Dad provided, clapping a hand on Maddox's shoulder when I was clearly too speechless to speak.

With my lips between my teeth, I cast my eyes away and managed to give a frigid nod. I brushed my clammy fingers against my jeans shorts just as Mom's truck pulled over in the driveway.

I sent a silent thank you to the God above for saving me from this awkward crisis I'd been forced into and nearly ran along with Bear to welcome my mom with more eagerness than he could ever master.

I could lick my mom's face right now for just appearing.

.
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that last sentence was totally unnecessary but I just couldn't help myself

Also, Maddox do be appearing everywhere. He's making an appearance in those first chapters more than I planned but let's be honest— I'm not mad about it

Anyway, thanks heaps for reading, I value you taking the time of your day and I hope my story doesn't disappoint.

lots of love and confetti,
—faith

August 19, 2023
SAT - 12:46 PM

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