Page 53 of I’d Be Honored

“It cheered you up, didn’t it?” Maddie laced their fingers together again.

Hayley squeezed Maddie’s hand, her thumb tracing gentle circles against her skin. “I used to watch that movie with my mom all the time. It was her favorite.”

“It sounds like a beautiful memory.”

Hayley looked at her, a faint spark replacing the sadness in her eyes. “Hey—do you have plans tomorrow night?”

Maddie straightened. “I don’t.”

“I have a few things at work I can’t move in the morning, but if I clear my afternoon, would you want to take a little trip with me?”

Maddie smiled, blinking in surprise. “I’d love to.”

“Great. Pack an overnight bag. I’ll pick you up at one.”

THE NEXT AFTERNOON, HAYLEY PULLED UP in front of Gemma and Caitlin’s brownstone a full ten minutes early. Maddie was already outside, sitting on the steps, buzzing with curiosity.

“Nice car.” Maddie grinned as Hayley made her way around a spotless black BMW X7 and opened the passenger door.

“Thanks,” Hayley replied smoothly, taking Maddie’s bag with one hand. Once Maddie was settled in her seat, Hayley gently closed the door before placing the duffel into the trunk and climbing back behind the wheel. “I don’t get to drive it much, but I keep it for whenever I want to leave the city.”

Leave the city?

“Where are we headed?” Maddie asked, noticing the way Hayley’s face shone with the warm afternoon sunlight.

Hayley just smirked, adjusted her sunglasses in the rearview mirror, and pulled into the New York City traffic. “Don’t you worry about that. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”

“Passenger princess?” Maddie gasped giddily. “It would be my pleasure.”

Hayley laughed as Maddie synced her phone to the car’s Bluetooth. For the next two and a half hours, Maddie became the self-appointed DJ—occasionally gracious enough to take requests. They argued playfully over Maddie’s pop anthems, which Hayley thought were overrated, and Maddie teased Hayley back with a deep groan every time Hayley queued up another one of her melodramatic ballads.

The miles slipped by unnoticed as they giggled and bickered and harmonized with the sunroof open and a warm breeze in the air. Maddie was shocked when Hayley announced they were already there. And then she couldn’t believe her eyes.

An enormous white mansion rose into view as they passed through towering iron gates and swept around a broad, circular driveway. Baby-blue shutters gleamed like polished jewels against the sunlit stucco.

“My grandfather bought this beach house back in the sixties.” Hayley turned off the ignition. “It’s been in the family ever since.”

“It’s incredible,” Maddie breathed, and she meant it. She’d been desperately missing the beaches near LA this summer. With a bright smile, she reached for the door handle, but Hayley stopped her with a gentle touch on her arm.

Maddie slowly put her hand down and leaned back, watching as Hayley walked around the front of the car and opened the passenger-side door for her.

Hayley had a surprising knack for the whole girlfriend thing, Maddie thought ruefully. Especially for someone who claimed never to have any interest in being one.

The Hamptons had always been one of those places Maddie heard about in passing, a sun-soaked world that she had fallen in love with thanks to Summer House. She’d never seen it in person—until now.

Hayley carried their bags inside, leading Maddie through a bright foyer that opened up into a sweeping, airy great room. A modern custom-built kitchen blended into the living room, but Maddie barely noticed either. Her eyes were drawn straight to the wall of windows framing the shimmering blue ocean, so immense it felt as if it had swallowed the horizon.

“Come on. I’ll give you the full tour.” Hayley reached for Maddie’s hand, entwining their fingers as she guided her deeper into the family home.

Everything inside glowed with soft whites and warm tan hues, touched with pops of sea-glass blue, making the whole home feel like a private beach oasis. The house had six bedrooms and eight bathrooms, but its real selling point, in her opinion, was the view.

Outside, a wide green lawn led to a sparkling pool, and just for good measure, a full-sized tennis court tucked into the side.

“This must have felt like paradise when you were younger.” Maddie turned to face Hayley.

“It was.” Hayley leaned forward, her forearms resting on the deck railing, looking out over the secluded beach and glittering water below. “We came here every summer.” Her smile was full of nostalgia.

“Do you still come often?” Maddie mirrored Hayley’s position, shoulder to shoulder.