“Look, we can talk about how Dash and I snuck around all we want, but after seeing that, there's something that I think you should know.”
Okay, now she has my interest.
Madison leans in. She’s about to say something, but then she takes a sharp breath and backs away. “Oh, I don’t know if I should tell you.”
She takes me in, and the rest of our side of the table waits.
“If you’re questioning it, Madison, then you most certainlyshouldn’ttell him,” Cade says immediately.
Madison ignores him, practically vibrating with excitement. “I can’t hold it in. I just can’t. Not when I see his little puppy-dog eyes, begging for Honey to open her eyes.”
I stay seated and just watch her build herself up into a panic.
She jumps in her seat and turns back to me. “She’s going on a cruise tomorrow.” After she blurts it out, she sits back in her seat, tight-lipped, but watches for a reaction.
The only thing I give her is a lift of my brow.
“A cruise? Wow... I didn't even have to interrogate you. You just came out with it.”
She nods vigorously; her curled blonde hair bouncing along with it.
“It’s not my fault. This is the first time I've seen a smile on your face since we got here.”
“Okay.”
“She's spent the last month with that girl, Olivia.” She points over to my best friend and his very pregnant wife.
Traitor.
So I guess Honey staying at their place isn’t the only secret Mike and Olivia have been keeping from me.
“They decided to go on a girls’ vacation before the baby is born.”
“Interesting.” I lean back, playing with the rim of my beer as my gaze flits between my best friend and my Honeycomb.
“It's two weeks. She was telling Tiff all about it when we were getting ready this morning. Didn’t even try to hide it.”
I lean forward, resting my elbows on the table. “Where's she going on this cruise?”
“They’re flying to Florida and cruising the Bahamas.”
“Why?” It’s the first question that comes to mind.
Savannah, Cade’s wife, cuts in. “Do you need a reason to go to the Bahamas?”
“No. It’s not that. I just can’t believe they’d all keep this from me. There’s not even been a mention of it.”
“Doesn’t that tell you everything you need to know?” Dash asks. You know, I thought I liked the guy. He seemed quiet and just a little broody, but now, I’m not so sure.
“Apparently, she’s still trying to figure things out. She said she wants tofind herselfbefore school starts again—ifshe goes back to school at all,” Madison continues to ramble.
“What?” My chest tightens. Honey might not go back to college at all? That’s not something she’s ever mentioned to me before. Leaving St. Michael’s and taking a break, yes, but quitting college after all the work and years she put into it? That’s a huge deal.
“I told you it was juicy!” Madison bounces a little in her seat.
“And why are you telling me this?” I ask slowly. “So I can sit here tormented, picturing her surrounded by drunk guys at a bachelor party?”
“No.” She pushes me lightly on the shoulder, leaning into Dash with a smile. “I’m telling you so you can do something about it.”
