Back To You

The quiet comeback (14)

It was Olivia who texted me the next afternoon.

Olivia: movie night at the house tonight. come. no excuses.
Olivia: we haven't done this in forever
Olivia: also nate's making that weird popcorn you like

I stared at the message, smiling without even realizing it. My phone buzzed again.

Olivia: madison.
Olivia: i'm not above showing up at your place and dragging you here myself

I rolled my eyes and typed back a quick:

Me: I'm coming chill

Truth was, I'd already planned to say yes.

After last night with Tayler — after the long, slow kisses and the quiet drive home that left me breathless — I expected to feel weird. Off. Like something had shifted and now everything else would feel out of place.

But it didn't. Not really.

I woke up this morning with a calm buzz in my chest. The kind that made you replay certain moments in your head while brushing your teeth. The kind that made your heart flip when you checked your phone for a text that hadn't come yet... but might.

So when Olivia invited me over, it wasn't even a decision. I wanted to be there.

Even if it meant seeing Tayler again.

Especially because of it.

⸻

The house was already loud when I arrived. I could hear laughter spilling from the open windows, the sound of music playing low in the background. Inside, it felt like one of those nights you wanted to bottle up and keep forever — warm lights, voices overlapping, the smell of buttery popcorn and whatever candle Aisha was obsessed with lately.

Nate and Cody were arguing over movie options, standing in front of the TV like they owned the place. Azra and Markell were setting up blankets on the floor, while Kelianne tried to shove an entire Costco-size bag of candy into a decorative bowl that was way too small.

I stepped inside and closed the door softly behind me.

"Madison!" Olivia appeared from the kitchen, grinning. "You made it."

She pulled me into a quick hug before immediately launching into a rant about how Markell always picked movies where everyone died.

"Not true," he called out from across the room. "Sometimes only most people die."

I laughed and tossed my jacket over the back of the couch.

Then I saw him.

Tayler.

He was leaning against the kitchen doorway, arms crossed, a soda in his hand. His dark hoodie hung loosely over his frame, and his eyes met mine for just a second.

He didn't smile like last night. Not the soft, teasing kind he gave me in the car.

This one was smaller. Just a slight pull at the corner of his mouth.

But it was enough.

I brushed past him a few minutes later to grab a drink from the fridge. Our arms touched lightly, and even that felt like a spark. Neither of us said anything. We didn't need to.

⸻

Blankets were everywhere. The floor was a mess of pillows and tangled legs. A movie none of us were really paying attention to played in the background as we all half-watched, half-chatted, throwing snacks at each other and stealing candy from Azra's carefully curated stash.