Maddie POV
The sound of Averie and Sandy's laughter filled the air, but my mind remained far away, wandering toward Stephen. As we walked through the mall, I felt that familiar weight in my chest. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, everything seemed to lead me back to him.
“Maddie, cheer up, girl!” Averie poked my arm with an excited smile.
“I'm fine,” I lied, forcing a smile that didn't convince me, much less her.
“Ah, don’t give me that. Today is a day of fun and distraction! Let’s go into this store,” Sandy insisted, pulling me by the arm before I could protest.
It was a boutique full of beautiful pieces. The kind of store that made a point of showing off glamour with gold labels. Just looking at it made me want to have all those pieces in my wardrobe. Averie and Sandy were
