“The puppies or the driving experience?”
“Both. I mean, we don’t have a lot of time together, and spending a whole afternoon watching puppies piddle on the floor or Kyle zip around in circles… Never mind. Forget I said anything. Whatever it takes. And thank you. I know these are big asks.”
Brooke couldn’t stand watching her friend’s agony anymore. Even though she fully expected Madison to jerk away, she set a comforting hand over hers. Only, she didn’t pull away. “It’s not, and I’m happy to do it. Anytime.”
“Really?”Madison’s voice audibly cracked. “I spent three hours last night after Kyle went to sleep trying to figure out the car experience. Don’t even ask me about the puppies. I went down a rabbit hole there after that text.”
Brooke figured Kyle would tell her anything she needed to know. Right now, her other friend looked like she could use some encouragement. She searched for words as her heart squeezed. Having recently gone through the process of falling in love, she knew the signs. But seeing them on Madison was somehow both achingly beautiful and revolutionary. “No wonder you look tired. You stayed up researching these items?”
Suddenly Madison was giving her entire attention to her café. “Yeah. So what? It’s what you do, right? He’s been doing nice things for me. I want to do them for him too.”
“That’s really sweet,” she said, setting her phone down.
Another finger pointed in her direction. “We do not use ‘sweet’ and ‘me’ in the same sentence. Thea is sweet. I’m not. In fact, I’m worried I’ll have no great ideas after these two. But that’s okay. His birthday is in August so I have time. If you have any, let me know. I figure asking friends for advice—since Kyle did it for me—is efficient. Not cheating.”
Except the way Madison grimaced suggested she was searching for confirmation. “I would ask you or anyone else in our family for ideas on what to do for Axel. He’s not easy to buy for.”
“Buy him a tree,” she suggested immediately, pointing to a plane tree in the adjacent square. “Dude loves them. He’s been gushing about putting trees in these fancy containers onthe top floor garden space of the restaurant. They sell them at a florist shop on Rue de Bac. Out front and everything.”
Brooke pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. “I’ll remember that. Is there anythingyouneed? Kyle did ask for our help with Operation Madison, but this meeting is about Operation Kyle. What about you?”
“Do you have a magic wand in this handbag?” She picked up Brooke’s purse and shook it with a laugh. “Can you grant Michelin stars?”
Brooke reached for it and gently tucked it under her seat. “Wouldn’tthatbe useful. Anything else besides a star?”
Madison finished off her café and signaled to the waiter for the check. “Nope. I need to get to the restaurant. Thanks for helping me. You tell me if I can return the favor.”
She touched Madison’s hand, making her jump again. “There are no favors between friends.”
“You quoting Shakespeare like Doc now?” The waiter reappeared and Brooke let her pay for their coffees—Madison would insist.
“It’s friendship rules.” Brooke watched her friend dig a few crumpled bills out of her pocket. “I could get you a wallet if you like. Black, of course.”
She shuddered. “No, this works for me. I can’t stuff a wallet in here. My jeans would have a bulge, and one, I’m not a guy, and two, it would look like I had a tumor or something. Freak out my staff.”
“How about this, then?” She rose with Madison and walked out of the café, halting on the sidewalk in front of it. “I could arrange for a hairdresser to come to you and cut your hair. No blow dry. Just in and out. You could probably work on inventory while he worked even.”
She pursed her lips in an exaggerated way, agony present again. “I probably should since I eyed the scissors a couple days ago.”
She shuddered. “Please, for the love of God, don’t.”
“I hate this!” She scrubbed her face. “People keep taking my photo when I have to come out to the front of the house and say hello to the bigwigs. I probably look like I’ve been personally hunting down the ducks we serve on the menu.”
Brooke was tempted to touch the ends of her curly black hair, but Madison would swat her. “It’s not that bad.”
“Yeah, Kyle hasn’t suggested tossing a bag over my head yet.” She worried her lip. “He also wouldn’t mention me needing a haircut for the press stuff. I told him… Never mind. Fine. Only a cut? In and out? Plus, I can work?”
Some fast talking might be needed for her to find the right person, but she could arrange it. “Yes to all three.”
“Deal.” She casually knocked a fist to Brooke’s shoulder. “Thanks.”
Deciding to take advantage of Madison’s mushy side, she eased in and gave her a half hug. Madison patted her on the back and held herself stiffly but didn’t push her away.
“The Hug Fest continues.” She punched up a smile. “Lucky me.”
“If the hair appointment goes well, I can schedule one every three months if you’d like.”
She blanched. “Every three months?Not on your life.”
