Page 5 of I’d Be Honored

Hayley shot a look at Gemma, whose eyebrows knitted together into a sharp line, warning Hayley to play nice. She held up her palms in defense, just visible enough for Gemma to see.

Maddie stood and began to move around the table as Hayley’s eyes involuntarily scanned her body. Her tanned California skin and sharp abs were on full display below a cropped pink T-shirt. Blue jean shorts barely reached her mid-thigh, revealing her toned legs. And those lips…

Stop it, Hayley.

To her annoyance, she’d forgotten the way Maddie often left her feeling unsettled. She’d be careful not to make that mistake again.

“It’s so great to see you, Hayley.” Maddie wrapped her arms around Hayley’s waist, a strand of blonde hair falling forward.

Hayley tried to ignore how warm Maddie felt.

“Madison,” she droned, patting Maddie’s shoulder once in a cold, obligatory gesture.

When Maddie pulled back, she punctuated the embrace with a wink that only Hayley could see.

Hayley wanted to crawl inside her skin. She forced her eyes toward the table and took a seat next to Gemma, as far from Maddie as possible.

Gemma began serving them filet mignon, broccolini, and mashed potatoes. “Caitlin made everything herself.”

Hayley glanced sideways at Caitlin, her skepticism clear.

“You may not believe me,” Gemma started, reading Hayley’s mind, “but she did. My devoted fiancée has been taking cooking lessons for the last year to surprise me.”

A soft pink crept up Caitlin’s neck. “I just wanted to make sure that I’m taking care of my soon-to-be wife.”

“Damn, I’m impressed.” Maddie looked over at Caitlin. “You couldn’t even make instant mac and cheese without almost burning down our apartment.”

The two of them laughed over a shared memory, leaving Hayley to roll her eyes just before she felt a sharp kick to her shin. She turned to find Gemma glaring at her with a forced smile.

“So,” Gemma began, filling the brief silence, “Caitlin and I are happy you both could be here. We thought we should dive into this wedding planning stuff as soon as possible.”

“First of all, I just want to say how thrilled I am to be here,” Maddie gushed. She reached for their hosts’ hands before continuing, “Caitlin, Gemma, you deserve this next chapter more than anyone I know. It’s going to be so beautiful.” There were tears gleaming in Maddie’s blue eyes.

Hayley felt a pang in her chest, suddenly needing air.

Four months of wedding planning. Four months of Maddie.

Hayley wasn’t sure which one would break her first.

TWO

MADISON CRANE FELT HELPLESS, TRAPPED IN an unbreakable cycle. Alone, lying on her couch, she opened her text thread with her ex-girlfriend. The most recent message was from four and a half weeks ago. That might be her new record.

Maddie: Busy?

Kim: Just waiting for you ;)

Maddie had met Kim two and a half years ago at the Chateau Marmont while out with Caitlin, and for several months, their story was a hopeful lie. They had started off hot and heavy, but the immense passion soon progressed into constant fighting.

The first time Maddie had invited Kim to a party in the Hollywood Hills with her, she noticed Kim’s wandering eyes. Suddenly, Maddie felt outshone by any woman even slightly more famous than her. In public, Kim made Maddie feel dull. But in private, well, Kim fulfilled a physical need. Even after their breakup, Maddie had secretly held onto the hope that one day their chemistry in the sheets could turn into something real.

A warm summer breeze pushed against Maddie as she stepped out of her car into the Los Angeles night. Each step toward Kim’s front door seemed to grow heavier as the wind howled around her. She tried not to read into it.

Maddie found Kim leaning against the door jamb with her arms and legs crossed, wearing nothing but an oversized T-shirt. The faint glow of her front porch light lit Kim’s face just enough that Maddie could see the satisfied gleam in her eye.

“Miss me?” Kim asked with a smirk that showed off a single dimple.

It doesn’t help that she’s so hot, Maddie thought to herself, hating the way her body responded to Kim. And then a smaller, weaker voice chimed in, Maybe this time will be different.