Page 55 of Something’s Brewing

He turned.

Madison stood on the patio, framed by the warm wash of summer evening light. She wore a simple sundress that moved gently in the breeze, the fabric skimming her knees. Loose waves of hair fell over one shoulder and a tentative smile played at her lips. She looked effortless and stunning all at once. For a moment, Garrett forgot how to breathe.

He crossed the room and slid the door open.

“Hi,” she said softly.

“Hi,” he managed, hoping she couldn’t hear the way his heart had just decided to sprint.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

The moment Garrett slid open the patio door and she stepped inside, Madison knew. She didn’t even need to see the table. She smelled warm garlic and ginger, soy sauce, something sweet and savory simmering together, and the unmistakable crisp scent of fried egg rolls. “You made Chinese?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

Garrett’s mouth curved in a small smile, and he nodded.

She stepped further into the room and finally saw the table. Her throat went tight. “No one’s ever done anything like this for me,” she said quietly, almost to herself.

He shifted his weight, suddenly looking unsure. “Well, you deserve it.”

She looked at him . . . then really looked. He watched her reaction like it mattered more than anything else in the world. He’d remembered the smallest details she’d mentioned in passing: her favorite color, her love of egg rolls confessed during a late-night conversation, and how she liked her coffee. He’d guessed that she’d rather have played ice hockey than figure skate. He seemed to find her in a crowded room. He sees me. He wasn’t just being nice. He understands me in a way no one, except Mason, has ever taken the time to before—not even my parents.

They moved to the table without speaking. Garrett served her first, carefully placing a golden egg roll onto her plate before spooning glossy pieces of General Tso’s chicken beside it.

“Go ahead,” he said. “I want to know what you think.”

Madison took a bite of the egg roll. The crunch gave way to warm, perfectly seasoned filling, flavors blooming across her tongue. She closed her eyes before she could stop herself. “Oh . . . wow,” she moaned.

He shifted in his chair, smiling.

She swallowed and immediately picked up the chopsticks and tried the chicken. The sauce was rich and balanced—sweet, spicy, and with just enough heat to make her lips tingle. “This is incredible, Garrett. The best I’ve ever had.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Full disclosure. Lily helped. A lot.”

Madison smiled. Of course Lily had. But Garrett had planned all of this. He’d spent time and effort when he didn’t have a lot of extra time to give.

For her.

Her gaze lingered on him longer than she intended, emotions rising so quickly she could barely keep up with them. She was falling. Hard. And crazy enough, the realization didn’t frighten her the way it should have.

“Thank you,” she said, referring to far more than just dinner.

They ate slowly, talking and laughing, the candle burning lower as the summer night deepened outside. Eventually Garrett reached for two small plates and slid one toward her.

A large golden fortune cookie, slightly uneven and obviously homemade, sat on a plate with a small white paper sticking out of it. She blinked in surprise. “You made fortune cookies too?”

“No. Lily did. And I’m not entirely convinced I wasn’t set up. Lily was smiling way too much when she left.”

Madison laughed and picked it up, the delicate shell cracking softly beneath her fingers. She unfolded the slip of paper inside and read the words to herself:

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is stay.

Her breath caught. The room seemed to go very still. She looked at Garrett, who was watching her with quiet concern, completely unaware of what she’d just read. Because staying meant building a life she’d always intended to walk away from.

But looking at Garrett now—he already felt like home.

“Not going to share?” he said.

“Not right now.” Madison folded her fortune and set it by her plate. “Your turn,” she said.