CHAPTER
FOURTEEN
Brooke slid into a front table inside Fitzy’s café with a street view, eager for Madison to arrive.
Something was up.
Because when had Madison ever hit her up for a meeting? She’d immediately asked if everything was all right. Madison had given a crypticYes,saying she’d explain when they had coffee. Surely Madison wasn’t concerned about the renovations? Kyle hadn’t indicated any issues.
Her friend crossed the street at a healthy clip, dressed in her usual all black palette. The strong February wind ruffled her shaggy black hair. Madison needed a haircut.
Brooke waved when she drew closer, and once inside, Madison plopped down across from her, shadows under her eyes.
“Thanks for coming,” her friend began, her hands red and chafed since she’d forgotten to wear gloves and likely had her hands in too much dishwater. “I’m sorry I worried you. But I didn’t want to meet at the house or restaurant.”
To ease some of her own tension, she decided to have a little fun. “Have you finally decided to enlist my help in a makeover like I did for Thea? Your hands need lotion, and Ican have you in for your hair, brows, and a lingerie appointment stat.”
Madison set her elbows on the small table. “When hell freezes over. Shit. I know I need a haircut, okay? I always need a haircut. It grows fast, and I never have time. Usually I cut it myself?—”
“Oh God!” she cried out in horror.
“Wipe that appalled look off your face and listen.” She leaned closer. “I need your help. I figured Kyle had hit you up for Operation Madison, and since you didn’t show up with a recipe card for my life like Thea, I figure you were stumped on how to contribute.”
A waiter appeared, and after ordering, they were alone again. That was good because Brooke was still recovering from shock. “You’re right. I have been stumped. I also didn’t want to piss you off. Things between you and Kyle seem to be going well. I wasn’t going to intrude.”
“Smart of you and appreciated.” She gripped the table. “It’s about Kyle. I want to start an Operation Kyle, and you’re my first helper. I figure if he can do me—no pun intended—then I can do him back.”
Trying not to laugh, Brooke picked up her phone. “Whatever you need, I’m here for you. Do I need to take notes?”
“Knock yourself out. First, we’re not going to talk about how mushy I’m getting. Second, Kyle can’t know.”
“You two!” She set her phone aside. “I don’t like secrets.”
“Hey!” She wagged her finger at her. “You did it with Axel. Now, hear me out. Please.”
God, she was getting apleasefrom Madison. “All right. Tell me.”
Giving up her grip on the table, she fussed with the sleeve of her wool coat. “I need you to arrange for a whole bunch of puppies to be brought to the house so Kyle can pick one out.”
Her jaw went slack. “Puppies?Are you punking me?”
“No, I’m serious.” She rubbed her face. “He talked aboutgetting a dog before, but his mother and Paisley wouldn’t let him.”
“Bitches.”
“Right?” The corners of her mouth tightened. “Then he heard from his mother, but never mind that. You know how parents can screw with your mind.”
Boy did she ever. “I hadn’t realized that, no,” she joked.
Everyone knew about Brooke’s mother, who’d left the family and then found another—one where there was no place for Brooke.
“Anyway, he wants a dog, and I think it will make him feel…” She scratched her head, mumbling to herself. “Oh, I don’t know. More like he’s making his own decisions now and not being under their thumb.”
“So this is about empowering him,” Brooke supplied.
“Your podcast obsession is showing, but yes,” she answered, nodding. “He also mentioned filling some kind of void, so I figured this would be great.”
She tried to hide her smile. “So what’s the problem?”
