I should have remembered that about her. Dammit, I should have been standing next to her. Working beside her. I’d been socaught up in my own feelings, I hadn’t even thought about the fact that we’d kind of tossed her into the deep end.
“Sorry,” she sighed, tucking a loose wave behind her ear. “I didn’t expect these feelings to come up.”
“Don’t be,” I said gently. “I should have checked in on you.”
Madi undid her bun and ran her fingers through her hair. “I just . . . You know, it’s upsetting. I used to have friends. And I could have had more, but I was so focused on my career that I never took the time for relationships.”
“I get that.” More than she probably realized. “You’ve built something for yourself and there’s no shame in that.”
“No,” she said. “Despite the fact that I was fired, I’m proud of myself. I am doing the job I always dreamed of having, and now I just . . . I’ll just keep applying to other studios and looking for freelance opportunities. It’ll be okay. But, I’m lonely.” Her voice broke. “I’m solonely. And being here, being in that room—I felt the complete opposite of that.”
“And it hurts.”
“Yeah.” She swept her hair back up and crossed her arms, tearing her gaze away. “I don’t know why that is. I mean, look at me. I’m nothing.”
“You’reeverything.” Her cheeks went scarlet as I breathed out those words. “Madi, I’m still getting to know you, but I know two things. You deserve to be loved. You deserve to be happy.”
She stared at me for a moment, and then tipped her head back against the wall. “I’m trying. I like myself more now than I did a few weeks ago. I promised myself I wouldn’t let any chances pass me by ever again.”
My gaze lingered on her lips.
“I like myself when I’m with you,” she whispered. “And I like myself when I’m with Dallas.”
The beat in my chest was a little faster now. All the words I wanted to say failed. I wasbadat this.
Madi pressed her lips together. “Areyouokay? It seems like you’re having a hard time. Is it the orders? Or something else?”
“It’s everything,” I answered honestly. “I hate being the center of attention. I love everyone in that room, but I don’t know—I’ve been hiding my feelings for Dallas for so long that it feels wrong to . . .”
“Want him?”
It all sounded bad. It was ameproblem that I didn’t quite know how to explain.
“I thought after Friday, the two of you were doing well . . .”
“We were,” I said. “He hasn’t done anything wrong. I’m just—” I huffed out a breath, frustrated with myself. “I’m a coward. That’s what it is.”
Madi frowned, but before she could say anything else, a voice called from the other room.
“Are y’all okay?” It was Avery.
“Yeah!” I called.
She cleared her throat. “Maybe we should go back now.”
Or we could stay here forever and I could keep focusing on your mouth instead of the way that dress looks on you.
“Yep. Before everyone joins us in the hallway. They’re nosy like that.”
She grinned. I started to turn that way, but then her fingers circled my wrist. I looked up as she gently pressed me back against the wall.
“Can I kiss you?” she whispered.
“Always. Even when I’m being an idiot.”
“How about especially when you’re being an idiot?”
My laugh melted into a moan as she leaned down and kissed me. Her lips were sweet against mine, soft and pliable. She tasted like sugar. I whimpered as the kiss deepened, going until I was breathless.
