Page 10 of I’d Be Honored

“You look really good tonight.” Maddie’s gaze softened, the words completely earnest. Then, with a small smirk, she added, “Try not to let it go to your head.”

Hayley cleared her throat before turning on her heel and striding out of the kitchen.

Oh, but I’m the drama queen, Maddie thought to herself.

She pushed off the marble as she heard the rustle of Hayley’s blazer and the initial stir of goodbyes from the dining room.

“I’m going to get going.” Hayley gave Caitlin a stiff hug and Gemma a quick kiss on the cheek as they tried to protest. “Thank you both for having me. And Caitlin, dinner turned out great. Truly.”

Maddie stood, casually planted in the doorway that Hayley would have to leave through, waiting to see if she would get a goodbye from the ice queen.

Hayley apparently chose to slip past Maddie without a word. Maddie shifted just enough for her to pass, their shoulders brushing in the doorway.

Maddie inhaled sharply, holding her ground as Hayley froze. She wondered, for the second time that night, whether Hayley had also felt the same jolt of electricity that jumped between them.

“This is going to be fun,” Maddie breathed into Hayley’s ear.

Hayley closed her eyes and shook her head slightly as if to clear it before stalking out through the front door.

After it slammed shut, Maddie turned to find Gemma and Caitlin staring at her with matching looks of concern.

MONDAY AFTERNOON, MADDIE AND CAITLIN ARRIVED at Kleinfeld Bridal to check off another item on the list—Caitlin’s wedding dress. The store was closed to the public that day, but for a celebrity like Caitlin, the upscale bridal boutique was open for a private appointment.

Maddie sipped on her champagne, sinking into a lush velvet couch as her best friend tried on the first dress.

“Hey Cait,” Maddie shouted from the lounge, hoping she sounded casual. “What’s Hayley’s deal?”

Caitlin’s laugh filtered out from the fitting room. “That’s a loaded question. What do you want to know?”

Everything.

“Is she single?” Maddie asked instead, holding her breath as she waited for Caitlin’s answer.

“Yes, but don’t get your hopes up.” Caitlin poked her head out from behind the door. “Hayley doesn’t do relationships.”

Maddie furrowed her brow. “What do you mean?”

Caitlin retreated into the dressing room, fabric swishing as the consultant helped her step into a dress. “She’s never been on a date. Not once for as long as I’ve known her. She’s been like that since college. You’ll have to ask her why, though.”

Maddie nodded, processing that information, even though Caitlin couldn’t see her. Sometimes she forgot that Caitlin had lived with Gemma and Hayley for a full year before moving to LA.

“And the business attire? Does she even own a pair of jeans? I’ve literally never seen her in anything but a suit.” Expensive, exquisitely tailored suits. Maddie kept the last part to herself.

A memory of curvy hips swaying in a gray pencil skirt as Hayley walked into Madame George suddenly resurfaced. Maddie remembered thinking that night, Damn, those legs belong on a billboard in Times Square. Her eyes traveled higher to the top three buttons of Hayley’s blouse that had been left undone, her cleavage showing in a way that felt intentional.

Maddie’s pulse hammered now, just as it had two years ago.

“To answer your question.” Caitlin’s voice came muffled through the door. “I think her suits make her feel powerful, or safe, maybe.”

Maddie was quiet for a moment as she thought.

Seconds later, the dressing room door swung open, and Caitlin walked out. She took one look at Maddie’s face and groaned, half to herself. “Damn it. Gemma was right. You need to forget about Hayley, Mads.”

“Wow.” All thoughts of Hayley vanished at the sight of her best friend in a white dress. They had talked about this day for nearly twelve years, and now it was finally happening for one of them. “Caitlin,” she whispered as her vision blurred.

Caitlin stepped onto a circular platform positioned before three large mirrors, each angled to capture her from every possible vantage point.

“I know you haven’t tried on any others yet, but I love this gown. You look beautiful.” Maddie walked toward Caitlin, a glass of bubbly champagne in each hand. “To be fair, you could literally wear a brown paper bag, and it would still look incredible on you.”