Page 76 of The Design of Goodbye
“Madison!” She was wearing burgundy suede pumps this time, black jeans, and a green employee polo. “I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Why?” I hoped my question hadn’t come off standoffish, but I was legitimately curious.
“I have questions. Let’s walk and talk.”
I glanced over to the cash registers where I thought I saw Liam. I didn’t have time to confirm, though, because Olive dragged me over to the produce section, where we started talking.
“Who are you to Liam?” she asked.
I’d spent the week of Thanksgiving break wondering that exact question. What did Liam think of me? Did he consider us friends? Did he even like me? What werewe?
Did he maybe want to kiss me, too?
“I don’t know,” I finally answered as we walked by the tomatoes. “He’s never told me.”
“Darn,” she muttered. “I was really hoping you’d tell me. I’ve been trying to get it out of him for weeks.”
“Has he said something about me?”
“That’s why I’m so intrigued.” She stopped to place a few misplaced bags of salad in their rightful places. “Liam rarely talks, but, lately, when he does, it’s about you.”
“Really?”
She nodded, looking as happy as I felt. “You’re good for him.”
“You think so?”
“I know so.”
We turned down the bread aisle. “Liam doesn’t open up,” she explained. “He’s like a book. You have to get to know him word by word, page by page. It’s a slow process. I’ve barely finished the first chapter.”
“I haven’t, either.”
“You will.”
“You think so?”
She picked up a smooshed loaf of bread off the floor, frowned, and cradled it like a baby. “I noticed a change in Liam a few weeks ago. A good one. It wasn’t much, but it was something. It’s because ofyou. All I’m saying is, I think you can finish the book. I think someone needs to.”
“I hope I can. I want to.”
She pointed to the gift bag I was holding. “Is that for him?” I nodded. “It’s not his birthday, is it?”
“I don’t think so.”
She visibly relaxed. “You had me worried there for a second. He won’t tell me when his birthday is. Which I don’t get because we have a mini celebration with cake in the break room.”
“That’s probably why. You could check his application. I bet it’s on there.”
“I do have that power,” she agreed. “Between you and me, I’d rather he tell me.”
“I understand.”
She veered down the candy aisle. Once we got to the end, I saw Liam. He was busy ringing up a customer’s groceries and didn’t see me.
“We can wait here until he’s done,” said Olive. “He can have an extra break. He deserves it. He’s been working a lot this week.”
“He has?”
