Page 8 of I’d Be Honored

They were so earnest that Maddie’s heart ached as she turned back toward the couple, sipping her wine.

That. I want exactly that.

THE NEXT DAY, MADDIE SPENT HOURS poring over scripts Sandy had messengered over to her house before she left LA. Frustrated, she threw the pages down onto the comforter next to her. Ticket to Rio had been her last job, but not for a lack of options. Whether or not they were good options could be debated. The next packet she picked up immediately thumped onto the carpet. She wasn’t even going to waste her time reading a movie titled Zombie Cheerleader.

“Ughhh,” she groaned into the empty room. While she admired Caitlin for turning down the franchise offer, Maddie would have been grateful for the surefire success that always came along with being Caitlin Stone’s co-star.

“Mads!” Caitlin shouted from the other side of the door, shaking Maddie out of her self-pity. “Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes, okay? Meet us in the dining room.”

Shortly after, Maddie sat down at the table, noticing it had been set for four.

Weird. Caitlin hadn’t mentioned inviting anyone else.

Maddie certainly wasn’t prepared for Hayley Maddox to walk into the room.

The tall, striking woman wore money like a second skin. Maddie’s eyes tracked the pristine black blazer, matching slacks, and Christian Louboutin heels. The suit had clearly been tailored to her hourglass figure. Her perfectly symmetrical, heart-shaped face contrasted against sharp cheekbones and dark eyes. The combination was lethal, and Hayley knew it.

Since that first night they’d met, Maddie had been inexplicably fascinated by Hayley. The two of them immediately clashed, both fiercely protective of their best friends, whose history was complicated, to say the least. And while Hayley hadn’t been subtle about her dislike, Maddie had a tough time buying it. For some reason, she was convinced that it was all part of an act.

“Hayley, still dressing like an Italian mobster, I see,” Maddie teased as soon as she sat down, wanting to get under that incredible skin as quickly as possible.

“And I see you still dress like 1983’s finest Valley Girl,” Hayley retorted with an eye roll.

“I haven’t seen you since…” Maddie tapped a finger to her jaw, pretending to think. “Right, the Oscars. How have you been?”

Hayley took a slow, deliberate sip of wine, ignoring her this time.

“Oh, come on, you remember.” Maddie leaned across the table and lowered her voice as if Gemma and Caitlin wouldn’t be able to hear her. “You might not want to admit it, but I know you do.”

“So, when’s your return flight, Madison?” Hayley asked brusquely, her tone flat as she kept her eyes on her plate.

“I’m so glad you asked, Hayley.” Maddie smiled, shifting her attention toward Caitlin, suspecting that Hayley would sneak a peek in her direction if she thought Maddie wasn’t looking. “I haven’t booked my return flight yet, but I’m guessing around October sixth or seventh? I’ll be here until these two gorgeous brides say I do.”

Four whole months. Maddie beamed with feigned innocence.

She looked just in time to watch Hayley’s eyes go wide as she whipped her head toward Gemma, then wince and rub her neck.

“I told you Caitlin was going to ask Maddie to be her maid of honor,” Gemma ground out through her teeth, holding a forced smile in place.

“Yes, but I don’t recall you mentioning she would be here for the next four months.” Hayley mirrored Gemma’s lowered voice as if no one else could understand their mumbling.

“She is right here,” Maddie chimed in, “and she will be doing whatever she can to help these two lovebirds until they walk down the aisle.” She slung her arm defiantly across Caitlin’s shoulders and started to sing, “Goin’ to the chapel, and we’re gonna get married.” Maddie swayed as Caitlin laughed.

“Gee, I really love you, and we’re gonna get married,” Gemma sang the following line of The Dixie Cups’ single “Chapel of Love.”

“Fuck my life,” Hayley groaned under her breath and polished off her glass of wine. She tossed her blazer onto the chair beside her before reaching for the bottle to refill her drink.

The three of them broke out into laughter.

“Come on, Hay. Lighten up,” Gemma teased with a playful shove. “Maddie, how’s life in LA? Dating anyone?”

Clank.

Hayley’s fork hit the bone china as she began to cough.

“Hayley, are you okay?” Maddie asked with genuine concern. She started to rack her brain for the steps to the Heimlich maneuver before realizing Hayley’s dinner was still untouched. What was she even choking on?

Hayley waved her away, muttering, “I’m fine.”