PATIENT LOVE

Chapter nineteen

"Look who decides to finally come home," I scold Lana as she walks through the door, but I'm really glad to see her.

"I missed you too Mads," she hugs me.

"So I heard you're taking a few days off," she says sitting down on the couch and patting a space next to her.

"Yeah, I'll be back so no worries."

"Is there anything you want to tell me?" she asks.

"Oh, God Jackie told you," I say, eyes widening.

"No, that huge love bite on your neck told me," she points and I immediately clamp my hand down on the spot she's poking at.

"Oh my God," I say embarrassed, wishing I hadn't put my hair in a ponytail.

"So who is it? Please don't tell me it's Roman," she cringes.

"Oh, God, no...it was Harry," I say, not meeting her eyes.

"Excuse me? I don't think I heard you. Did you say Harry? Harry Styles?"

"Yes?"

"How the hell did that happen?" she exclaims. So, I explain everything to her, starting from the beginning and with all the times Harry and I have been acting as more than just friends or business associates and then I tell her about what happened with Roman and what happened last week.

"He hasn't even called?"

I shake my head, not trusting my voice to speak. Explaining everything brought back emotions I wanted to pretend didn't exist.

"None of it surprises me though; I always got the vibe that he wanted more from you. Anyone who was looking close enough could see it in his eyes."

"Yeah, well what happened now because it's been a week."

"I don't know, but hey listen to me, don't let this screw you up. I don't want you going back into that place again after what happened with Roman. You deserve so much better, Madelyn." She says and I feel the tears prick at my eyes because she only uses my full name when she's serious and I just know she means what she's saying and I believe her. I deserve more.

"Thank you, Lan," I cling to her and we hug for a few minutes.

"Hey why does Jackie know before I do?" she says as if suddenly realizing and I laugh at her.

"Well you weren't around much and when you were I didn't want to bring it up or knew how to, you seemed happy with whatever is going on between you and Chris and I didn't want to talk about a relationship that never even started." I explain.

"Oh, makes sense." She says. "About that," she pauses. "Chris asked me to move in with him!"

"Oh God, when's the wedding?" I say, genuinely happy for her even though I'll miss her around the apartment.

"Shut up, he hasn't proposed or anything, but things are going so well Maddie, I see a future with him," she gushes. I pull her into a tight hug and I don't let go.

We don't let go for minutes and I shut my eyes, feeling the few tears escape.

"Don't cry or you're going to make me cry," she says in a shaky voice.

"I know, sorry, I love you Lana and I'm so happy for you," I smile at her as she wipes under my eyes.

"You know we'll always see each other, best friends until death do us part."