Page 20 of I’d Be Honored

“I told you, I have a showing to get to.” Hayley’s posture was rigid as she lengthened her stride. “Goodbye, Madison.”

“So why’d you sit down?” Maddie jogged slightly to keep up with Hayley’s long legs. She couldn’t help herself. “You could’ve just kept walking, and I never would have even known you were there.”

“I’m starting to wish I hadn’t,” Hayley mumbled the words before she seamlessly stepped off the sidewalk and into the cobblestone street, crossing confidently in her pointed heels.

Maddie stopped then, rooted to the spot as pedestrians churned past her, and watched as Hayley vanished around the corner.

A heavy, warm breath rushed past Maddie’s lips, leaving her alone with the rumble of the neighborhood. Tension had rolled off Hayley in sharp, intoxicating waves, and Maddie allowed herself to get swept away by the current. The harder Hayley fought to sever their connection, the deeper she pulled Maddie under. She stared at the spot where Hayley had just disappeared and wondered if they would both end up drowning.

FIVE

IF HAYLEY HADN’T BEEN IN HER five-inch Saint Laurent heels, she would have skipped the whole way to work that morning. Okay, maybe not literally, since she’d never skipped a day in her life, but the feeling was all the same. She found herself humming in the back of the taxi as it crossed over the bridge, eager to finally start showing the new condos in Brooklyn.

Once Michael’s flawless photographs had gone live on her website, the listings practically leaped off the screen. Interest exploded immediately. Multiple agents contacted Hayley to schedule private tours, all hoping to get exclusive access for their clients ahead of the official open house the following weekend.

Her first showing of the morning in Tribeca had gone incredibly well—she expected to see an offer in her inbox by the end of the day—and Hayley found herself with time to kill before her second appointment that afternoon.

She stepped out of the apartment building and onto the sidewalk, her orange Birkin in hand, and breathed in the warm summer air.

The smell of cinnamon wafted toward her from a nearby churro cart, eliciting a rare smile. It was a sweet aroma from her childhood—of weekends in the park and walks home from school with her father. They would stop at every vendor they passed and then rank each treat before going home. They’d shared a churro from this very cart just the other day when he visited to see the finished condos in all their glory.

Hayley also had a habit of seeking out the same specific bench in Brooklyn Bridge Park whenever she had downtime in the area. It was the only spot she could count on to recenter herself, time after time, when the pressures of the world started to get the best of her.

That day, however, Hayley felt light as she meandered around Dumbo. She wasn’t at all worried about the housing market. She knew she’d sell the condos quickly. If anything, she needed to prepare herself for negotiations.

As a female realtor, Hayley hated that she was often judged by her demeanor and ability to please rather than by her intelligence. Early on, she had to learn how to be firm without being rude, how to get what she wanted without being labeled a “bitch.” In the male-dominated space of real estate, that line was razor-thin. If she pushed too hard on a price, she was “aggressive.” If she didn’t push hard enough, she was “inexperienced.” Every negotiation demanded that she read a room perfectly, smile at all the right times, and know when to hold her ground. It was an exhausting tightrope at times, and she had to walk it every single day.

Hayley’s pace slowed as she strolled along the East River, lost in her thoughts. Humid air wrapped around her, carrying the fragrant, earthy scent of the flower gardens that lined the path. Bursts of vibrant pinks and royal purples bloomed. Her steps fell into rhythm with the songs of hidden birds chirping from the green canopy swaying overhead.

As she neared her favorite bench, she found it was already occupied by another woman. A long blonde ponytail swayed in the light breeze coming off the water. Hayley couldn’t see her face from behind, but the way the woman held herself felt eerily familiar.

She veered off the path, trying to get a better look while admiring the way the rays caught the woman’s profile, highlighting the sharp line of her jaw and the ease in her posture. But as Hayley drew closer, her curiosity was quickly replaced with exasperation.

Madison.

Of course, it was.

Hayley braced for the familiar vein in her neck to throb, for her body temperature to rise, but neither happened.

She hesitated, taking a quick glance around the park to confirm they were alone before deciding to approach. If Hayley wanted a perfect, low-stakes chance to prove to herself that she could be cordial with Maddie, she couldn’t think of a better opportunity.

For Gemma, she thought, taking a deep breath to steel herself.

Within seconds, she found herself regretting the decision. Up close, Maddie’s soft pink, skin-tight workout set was even more compelling. Golden sunlight skimmed along the sculpted lines of Maddie’s statuesque frame in a way that sent an unexpected flicker through Hayley’s chest, a feeling she couldn’t quite name.

Hayley was having trouble focusing on their small talk, distracted by a single bead of sweat tracing a path down Maddie’s chest. She was grateful for her Dior sunglasses and hoped they were dark enough to hide her wandering gaze.

Then, Maddie’s phone vibrated between them.

The air around them crackled with the energy of a brewing storm, and Hayley knew she needed to get out of there.

It wasn’t until she was positive that she had lost Maddie in the crowd that Hayley finally slowed her pace, slumping against the brick wall of a busy storefront to catch her breath.

I must be coming down with something, Hayley rationalized, making a mental note to stock up on Vitamin C.

She felt fine all day, more than fine even. But then Maddie’s screen had lit up, and Hayley’s eyes caught the text before she could stop herself. Last night was hot. Round 2 tonight? The messages that followed were images, but Hayley couldn’t see details in the notification preview.

Instantly, her stomach turned, flooding her with nausea. Hayley hadn’t been sick in years, but she could think of no other explanation.