The smell of alcohol burned Sherry’s nostrils. God, how she hated that smell. It wasn’t easy, but she ignored her instinct to move away. “To answer,” she forced out. “Try to answer.”

Madison put the glass on the coffee table and leaned back so that her face was thrown into shadow again. She seemed to prefer the anonymity of the darkness. “Phil told me that I’ve changed and that he wouldn’t know what to do with me anymore.”

“Does he want to end your friendship?”

“Nah, he’s been my best friend for years.”

“Is that mutual?”

Madison’s head jerked toward Sherry. “What do you mean?”

She had to treat this carefully, or Madison would jump up and leave or become aggressive. “When two people are in a relationship, they help each other, and they mean a lot to each other.” And that’s what Jake thinks about Madison and me now. Sherry forced this thought aside.

“Aha. And?”

“That’s how it’s supposed to be, but not how it is. At least not always.” Sherry also leaned back. “When we love someone, we hope that he…or she loves us back. We need this someone and hope that they need us too.” After a short hesitation she added, “That’s what I thought when I met Jake’s dad.”

“Phil never wanted to bang me.”

God, how she hated Madison’s choice of words sometimes. But she probably wasn’t even aware how much pain she caused by being so rude. “It doesn’t matter. The approach is the same. Would you be there for Phil no matter what? And do you think he would be there for you just as much?”

Sherry had expected a superficial, evasive, or sarcastic reply, but Madison kept silent.

“Madison?”

“He was in a relationship. Not one of his flings. A real relationship. And he didn’t tell me about it until today.” She shook her head. “But he told Liam. And he spends almost all his time with Liam. I think…” With every word, her voice became quieter. “I think he’s his best friend now.”

Sherry had planned not to touch Madison so much anymore, but she couldn’t help herself. She moved closer and laid her hand on Madison’s forearm.

“He and Liam love their snow candy. I haven’t touched that crap since Danielle caught me with it when I was sixteen and told me off big time.”

Madison’s words should have shocked her, but she’d met so many people over the years who tried to drown out their problems with all kinds of drugs.

The good news was that Madison didn’t take any illegal substances, as far as she knew, so Jake wouldn’t be exposed to them. Now, Madison’s alcohol consumption was an entirely different matter.

Madison turned to stare at her. “Why am I telling you all this?”

Sherry pulled her hand back. “Why not?”