Page 42 of Real Forever
“Sure. Water would be great. Thank you.”
Madison took off her snowy boots and followed Jake into the open kitchen-dining-living area, which was clean and minimally decorated with high ceilings and one wall of large windows. The living room was arranged around a long, charcoal, textured couch and a massive tan leather ottoman doubling as a coffee table. A large TV hung on the wall opposite the couch. A gorgeous calacatta marble countertop and a stainless-steel apron front sink heightened the otherwise simple, white kitchen. A rich wooden dining table anchored the two rooms together.
“Your place is gorgeous, Jake.” Madison meant it too, even though it was the opposite of her bedroom at Lauren’s, which looked like a rainbow vomited up macrame dreamcatchers and half dead potted plants.
“Thanks. You came on a good day. Usually Zach has the place half filled with pizza crusts and dirty boxer shorts.”
Madison snorted. They both sat down on the couch, about a foot between them. Which was just close enough and just far enough to feel neither close nor far.Yep. Definitely awkward.
Madison tapped her fingernails on her water glass and scanned the room.Huh.He didn’t have any photos displayed. Some art. But no framed photos or even photos stuck to the fridge with magnets.
“Hey, why don’t you—”
“So should we—”
They both spoke and then stopped.
“You go ahead,” Jake said.
“No, it was nothing. You go ahead.”
“Okay, well, I was going to ask if we should try to figure out the plan. Have you looked through the photos? Were they clear enough?”
Madison pulled her phone out of her purse and opened it up to the photos app. “Yeah, they were all pretty clear. And you can tell it’s Tammy. Can’t see the guy in any of them, though. Here. I’ll send them to you.”
Jake swiped through the photos, zooming in on the woman’s face in the clearest shot. “That’s definitely Tammy.” He set his phone back down on the coffee table. “So, what do you want to do with it?”
“Well, that’s the thing. I’ve been thinking about it, and I’m not sure how I can get money from Tammy without her knowing who we are.”
Jake nodded.
“I also don’t know how much to ask her for. I know how much Lauren owes all together, but I’m not sure how much she’ll get back once this refund thing happens with the lawyer. I don’t know.”
“We could move forward with the letter from Nathan to start the refund process first and keep those photos in our back pocket? Maybe we won’t need to use them at all. Maybe the refund will clear up most of what she owes. She said the debt was all from NorAsana, right?”
“True. I know some of it was for conferences and advertising and stuff, but who knows how much.”
“Have you told her yet that you and I have been doing this?”
“No. I thought I’d have to tell her today when you were at the house, but then you snuck out and she was so upset about Dave I think she forgot. She’ll remember and bring it up, though.”
“I think you’ll have to tell her in order to get this refund. I don’t know how else we can do it without her sending in the leggings and making the refund request herself.”
Madison nodded. “You’re right. I just hate to spring this on her when she’s already so stressed. I hope she won’t be mad.”
“I’m sure she’ll see you’re trying to help.”
Madison made a face.I’m not sure about that, Jake.
“Okay, so we’ve got a plan then. You’re going to talk to Lauren, I’ll get the letter from Nathan, and then we can help Lauren get the leggings packed up and shipped back to NorAsana.”
“And then see where things are at after?”
“Sounds like a plan to me.”
Now what?
Madison slipped her phone back into her purse and zipped it shut. She took a slow sip of water. Jake sat back on the couch and cleared his throat. Silence hung like an anchor in the twelve inches between them.
