Get the picture, cut out my middle

 "Well, of course, I'm worried about a lot of things," Maddie wasn't sure if she could tell Junie everything. Yet, it felt so grown up having a late lunch with her at the Coffee Shop. 

She knew about Raney. She'd asked if Maddie had seen him. 

"Do you suppose Harley is OK?" Junie asked as she held on to her cup of hot coffee. Naturally, Maddie was more worried about Junie having too much caffeine. Maddie sipped her lemon water as if she knew what was best for herself. 

"I'm sure she's just fine." Maddie didn't mean to hold a grudge, but she just thought it best to leave the whole Raney thing alone. She didn't want to know.

"I heard she moved in with him," Junie told her as she snatched what was left of her fries.

Maddie only sighed as she looked out the window. Autumn was so late this year, but there was a chill in the wind lately as if a change was coming.

"How do you know that?" Maddie didn't mean to be bitter about it, but it couldn't be true. She was certain Harley and Brick were going strong.

"Didn't you know, Lily's back."

The startling revelation left a bitter taste in Maddie's mouth. Everything had been so easy this October, but to hear about Boone's ex was like a ghost must be lurking. 

"I thought she was in Chicago," Maddie squinted hard as she finished up her leftovers to the side to stack up the plates so the waitress wouldn't have to clear much. "How? How do you know so much?"

"Well, Darry's got great hearing. He'd overheard it at the library."

"The library?" Maddie made a face of disgust. She worked there. She couldn't think who would have said anything about Lily. Darry was just a shelver. 

"I heard it from someone at school, too." Junie nodded. She had her connections.

"Well, I haven't seen her," Maddie felt she needed to text Boone about this. He'd said nothing. She felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. 

A part of her felt too strong to even worry about Boone's ex. Yet, it felt so troubling. Her relationship with Boone was no more than just being roommates who occasionally got cozy on the couch while watching old TV shows or a trip to the Pumpkin Patch and dinner with friends.