Page 19 of Before the Encore

Bonnie clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes bright. For a moment, the air shifted, softened. Madison’s chest, too, felt lighter. Freer.

Then she opened her big mouth.

“So, does this mean you’re in? The dating thing?”

Bonnie blinked. The softness steeled, and reality seeped in. “Fake dating,” she clarified. She strolled to the small fridge on the other side of the room and pulled out a bottle of water. Leaning back on the counter, she took a small sip. “I…honestly, I’m not sure.”

Madison sank into the soft leather, stretching her arm over the back of the sofa. “What’s stopping you?”

Bonnie laughed, this time devoid of humour. “You’re joking, right?”

She feigned nonchalance.

Bonnie rolled her eyes, taking another swig. “Ever since I met you, Madison, you’ve made things difficult. All your snark, your tardiness, trying to fuck anything in a ten-mile radius.”

“Ten miles? That’s a bit much.” She held up a finger. “And fucking and flirting are very different things.”

“Okay, fine. But you know what I mean. How am I supposed to trust that you won’t ruin this for me? That you won’t be spotted with someone else while we’re ‘together’ and make me look stupid in front of the whole world?” She glanced down at the floor, finding the industrial carpet suddenly interesting. “I don’t like lying to the fans. I don’t like lying at all. This is my whole life, and I just…”

Madison swallowed, her chest tight. “You can trust me.”

Bonnie snorted. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

“You can.” She saluted her. “Scout’s honour.”

Bonnie popped her hip, eyebrow quirking. “Were you even a scout?”

Madison’s mouth curled. “No.”

“See!”

“What? I told you the truth, didn’t I?”

Bonnie shook her head, but a smile teased at her lips.

Gotcha.

Madison stood, Docs scuffing the carpet until she stopped in front of Bonnie. “Look, I know I’m not the easiest person to get on with. My mouth has a mind of its own, and yeah, alright…I’m a little bit of a flirt—”

“A little?”

“But I don’t wanna fuck this up any more than you do.” She blew out a breath, finding it hard to hold Bonnie’s inquisitive gaze. “I’ll admit, I was sceptical about all of this. I thought Roberto had lost his damn mind when he suggested…” At the narrowing of Bonnie’s eyes, Madison cleared her throat. “Anyway, what I’m trying to say, in a really crap way, is that working with you hasn’t been…half bad.”

One eyebrow lifted. “Wow. Is that all you got? And here I was thinking you had game.”

Madison smirked. “You think I’ve got game? Something must be working for you, princess.”

Bonnie’s cheeks flushed, but her glare hardened. “Shut up, Madison. You’re infuriating.”

“I know, I drive you mad. But isn’t that what ‘love’s’ supposed to do? I’m sure we can give a convincing performance, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Bonnie’s gaze passed over her, slow, contemplative. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, eyebrows furrowing. Then she sighed. “I don’t know.”

Footsteps down the hall pulled Madison’s attention, and she took a step back, realising she’d been standing far too close to the pop princess. Madison threw herself back onto the sofa, stretching out her long legs.

Stale smoke reached the room, followed shortly by Kam and Frank.

Kam nudged him. “Told you they’d still be alive.”