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If I tell him, everything changes.
He’ll hate me. No matter the reason behind my motives.
Not only will he hate me, but he’ll never trust me again. I can’t lose him. The thought makes my stomach lurch.
“Maddison?” Holland says, pulling me from the thoughts in my head.
“I’m so sorry, I was lost in thought, what did you say?”
She laughs. “You sound like me. I swear, I can’t keep my focus on something for longer than fifteen seconds these days. I was asking if you were planning on moving in to Briggs’ house? I thought he said something to Reed about it, but I wasn’t sure if I overheard it correctly.”
“I’m not sure, honestly. We’re kind of just taking things day-by-day, you know?”
Holland nods, her blonde curls matching my own tonight, seem to bounce with her movements. “I’m not being intrusive, I swear. I guess just curious about the girl who Briggs is head over heels in love with.”
What?
Wait, did she just say Briggs is inlovewith me? That’s... that’s not at all true.
…is it?
“Don’t look so panicked, babe. You can’t tell me you didn’t know that he’s crazy about you?”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I shake my head. “I- I... I mean, we’ve never said that, and we’ve only been an actual couple for a few weeks.”
This time, it’s Juliet that laughs and looks at me incredulously. “If there’s anything I’ve learned about these men… they love, and they lovehard. It doesn’t matter if it’s been a day, or a week, or three years, if that man loves you, he loves you. Time doesn’t define that. Liam still looks at me like he did back then, and if anything, he’s crazier now about me.” She smiles. “If I can offer you any advice, and feel free to tell me to shove it at any point, I just... I see a lot of myself in you and I can see how much you two both care about each other.”
“But love? It just seems so soon and I-”
She nods. “Listen, my nana’s best advice she ever gave me was to listen beyond words. Sometimes people say things in anger, or things that they don’t mean. Sometimes people aren’t good with words. Instead, they show their love. In their actions. In affirmations. In their touch. Communicate in whatever way works for you, but put it first. Even if you think it’s been too short of a time, what do you feel when you’re together? That’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
“Wow,” Holland murmurs, “I think I’m going to cry. That’s some seriously good advice. Relationships are hard, raising children is harder. But communicating and leaning on your man when things are hard is what it’s all about.”
Suddenly, the air around me feels suffocating. It’s not that I don’t appreciate their advice, it’s just I wasn’t expecting it to be so fitting for our situation.
For the secret that I’m hiding.
Now more than ever, I know that I have to be honest with Briggs if we’re going to be together and move forward. Soon.
“Okay, enough of the heavy stuff, I have an idea… you girls down?” Juliet smirks mischievously, and I immediately nod. Anything to get my mind off of the conversation we just had.
“Let’s go.”
“Oh my god, Maddison, you look… like a freaking goddess.”
“Like a literal angel.”
Both Juliet and Holland stare at me with slacked jaws and wide eyes.
At first, I thought Juliet’s idea was terrible and wondered why I’d agreed to come blindly in the first place. But now… I think it’s exactly what I needed.
“I swear, if Briggs doesn’t rip that off of you and maul you, I’m going to do it myself,” Holland assures me. She’s wearing a piece that’s completely different, and she literally looks like a supermodel, so that compliment coming from her, makes me feel amazing.
“Are you sure?”
Glancing back at the mirror, I scrutinize my reflection and the skimpy lacy lingerie that’s glued to my body like a second skin. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever worn before, but Juliet and Holland insisted I at least try it on, and I’m so glad they did.
The white lace makes my skin look darker, it’s almost as if it glows against the creamy white fabric. It makes my boobs perkier, with the sheer fabric then tapering around my waist into a matching pair of underwear with gold garters. The entire set does look quite goddess-like in golds and creamy white.
