Page 92 of Before the Encore

“Gotta say. This is one of the worst jokes ever.”

“It’s not a joke. Open your front door.”

After a few seconds, footsteps stomped towards the door, the lock clattered, and then it swung open. Madison stood before her, jaw slack, her hair scraped up into a bun. Baggy black shorts freed her calves, a sports bra revealing her hard stomach, skin slick with sweat. “Holy shit. What are you doing here?”

Bonnie swallowed, struck by the sight of her—sweaty and strong and utterly gorgeous. “Surprise.”

“Are you stalking me?” Madison teased.

Before Bonnie could answer, she picked Bonnie up, wrapping her arms around her waist. Her lips found hers, soft and firm, and she breathed in Madison’s smoky scent mixed with perspiration. Her sticky clothes clung against Bonnie’s skin.

“You’re all wet.” Bonnie laughed, tasting salt on her tongue.

Madison grinned back at her, carefully placing her back on the carpet. “Sorry. I was working out.”

She traced the hard lines of Madison’s arms. “I’m sorry I missed that.”

“You’re here now. I’ll give you a little taster.” She plucked her suitcase from the floor and scooped Bonnie up over her shoulder.

Bonnie giggled as they crossed the threshold into Madison’s apartment, the door closing softly behind them. The apartment was on the smaller side, too white and crisp, too ordinary to feel like Madison’s space. She carefully laid Bonnie on the sofa, her gaze combing over her like she couldn’t believe she was really there.

“How’s your ankle doing?” she asked, a bead of sweat trickling down her brow.

“It’s mostly okay.” Truthfully, Bonnie was grateful for the break. She didn’t want to dive into her problems with Bailey again. Not yet. She wanted to enjoy Madison’s company and forget about everyone else.

“Good. And cool shoe.” Madison’s eyes brightened, flicking over her. “I can’t believe you’re here. Do you want a shower? Are you hungry?”

Bonnie laughed, brushing Madison’s jaw with her fingertips, inhaling Madison’s potent scent of perfume and pheromones. “Yes and yes. Probably shower first, though, stinky.”

“Apparently, there’s a great sushi place. Not that I’d know,” she added with a smirk. “My uncultured arse would prefer fish fingers, but we can order in?”

“Sounds perfect.”

The bathroom was small with large white tiles and bright spotlights. The shower cubicle wasn’t big enough for both of them, so Madison showered first, and Bonnie took great pleasure in watching the soapy suds coat every contour of muscle. There was something domesticated about sitting on the toilet lid, catching up on details of the day while the water swirled down the drain. Intimate in a way Bonnie hadn’t experienced in a long time. The urge to write a song about it surged. The strength rippling along Madison’s trapezius as her arms washed, her tight bum jiggling with the movement, that smug look on Madison’s face when she caught her staring…

Madison stepped out of the shower, leaving the stream hissing, and Bonnie wrapped a warm towel around her shoulders. She kissed her, soft at first, tasting water droplets on her lips. Madison’s hands removed her clothes, breaking to pull her T-shirt over her head before landing back on her with a claim. She guided Bonnie into the shower reluctantly, eyes dripping over her like she was committing every detail to memory.

Bonnie sighed as the hot water cleansed her. Madison leaned against the wall with a towel wrapped around her hips, droplets snaking down her bare chest. The fear and uncertainty Bonnie felt earlier loosened, draining all the negativity from the past few weeks down the plughole.

The door buzzed, and Madison groaned, peeling herself from the bathroom tile to collect the food. Bonnie shut off the shower, and Madison returned in an oversized Black Sabbath T-shirt and loose-fitting gym shorts, handing Bonnie one of her PVRIS T-shirts despite her having her own suitcase full of clothes to wear.

They ate on the comfort of the sofa, legs brushing. Madison had ordered a katsu curry for herself and a sushi platter for Bonnie, packed full of fresh nigiri and a variation of fish and vegetable rolls. Nothing could beat The Blue Palace in LA, but it was surprisingly good—and Madison was ecstatic about not having to use chopsticks.

The leftovers were pushed onto the coffee table. Warmth spilled over their legs from the industrial floor lamp in the corner. Madison’s hair was slicked back and damp from the shower, revealing more of her chiselled jaw and sharp features, softened by her steady irises.

“I can’t believe you’re here.” She brushed her hand down Bonnie’s arm like she was checking if she was real.

“So you keep saying.” Bonnie smiled, heart and belly full. Being here with Madison, her problems shifted and shrunk. Smaller. Lighter. Manageable. The jealous doubts felt silly and inconsequential. She threaded their fingers together, smooth and soft. “Are you feeling settled in your new place?”

“Honestly, it’s still a little bare, but I don’t know what else to buy.” Madison squeezed her hand, a grin tugging at her mouth as she took in the room. “I have everything I need. And you’ll be very pleased to hear that Kam helped me put my bed together yesterday. No more sleeping on the floor.”

“That is good news.” Bonnie laughed, relaxing into the cushion. She took in the living space, hesitating. “You could’ve got a bigger place. Why didn’t you?”

Madison shrugged. “I don’t need it.”

Heat warmed Bonnie’s neck. Her penthouse in London was easily five times the size of this apartment. She didn’t need it either. What did that say about her?

Her gaze landed on Madison’s guitar and the black notebook beside it. “Are you working on something new?”