Scars of the Future Read Free Page A

remember?”
    I wrapped the towel around me before grabbing the second one to wrap my hair in and letting out a little laugh.
    “Sure you do. I haven’t seen you in almost a week.” Maddie and Josh were getting married in September and they had started transitioning her to his house completely. Every week her room was boxed up a little bit more and I felt sad each time I peeked in there. Josh Richards was amazing, though, and I knew he’d end up being the perfect husband. He’d loved Maddie for years and, even though they had fallen out of touch for a short period, the love they shared now couldn’t be touched by anyone.
    Maddie followed me into my bedroom and let out a huff of laughter as she sat on my bed.
    “You’re one to talk. When I’m here, you’re gone.”
    I pulled a pair of underwear out of my drawer before dropping my towel onto the cedar chest at the foot of my bed.
    “I know,” I said with a sigh as I got dressed slowly, pulling on a pair of jean shorts and a green tank top. “I feel like an ass leaving Sydney alone so much, but mom does so much better when I’m home. Until I get her moved into a nursing home, I don’t have a better solution.”
    “Whoa, Amanda.” Maddie frowned and shook her head at me. “I was kidding, honey. We both understand, trust me. It’s not a big deal. Besides, Sydney seems better with David around.”
    I nodded in agreement as I pulled a brush through my hair. “She really is. What are you doing today?”
    “Matt took the morning off and I’m going to help him pick out a couch.” Maddie picked up a magazine I had by my bed and started flipping through it. “Apparently his new girlfriend keeps bothering him about the hand-me-down one he has now.”
    I froze with the brush still in my hair and I stared at Maddie for a moment as she turned the pages, unaware of my reaction.
    I forced myself to unfreeze. The burn in my chest hurt but I ignored it as I relaxed my face.
    “Matt has a girlfriend?”
    Maddie tilted her head up to look at me and nodded slowly.
    “For a couple of weeks now, I guess.” Her eyes scrutinized me and I managed to give her a neutral expression.
    “Oh, good for him.” I walked out of the bedroom to blow dry my hair, and when I came back Maddie was reading the magazine again. She looked up when I walked in and tossed it to the foot of my bed.
    “Want to go with us? He’s going to whine about it most of the time, so I’d love to have a real opinion.”
    I shook my head. “Thanks, but I have a busy morning. Send me pictures, though. I want to see what you guys decide on.”
    “Who’s deciding on what?” Sydney appeared in the doorway dressed in knee-length tan skirt, white blouse, with a light blue sweater over it. The brown heels she wore added almost four inches to her height, but she still wasn’t quite as tall as me. Her blonde hair didn’t go beyond her ears, but it was styled to make her look like a business woman instead of the party girl I knew she could be. She was volunteering at the hospital for the summer by doing some administrative duties. She couldn’t stand to be idle with nothing to do, and it was good for her to put that new business degree to use.
    “Matty’s getting a new couch and I’m playing fashion police.” Maddie grinned at Sydney as she stood up. “You look so grown up, Syd.”
    Sydney scoffed and ran her hands down her skirt. “I know. It’s weird. I actually have to go but I wanted to say ‘hi’ to my elusive roommates.”
    I smiled at Sydney as I rolled my eyes. “I was going to say ‘hi’ when I came home last night, but the noises coming from your room told me I’d be interrupting something.”
    Most people would have blushed, but Sydney just grinned proudly. “I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not even a tiny bit.”
    She gave us both quick hugs before she disappeared down the hall. I heard the front door open and she greeted someone before yelling out a ‘Bye!’ Soft footsteps sounded