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Payton blinked.
Madison stared back at her. Shit. She’d just said that Payton was beautiful.
She’d said that out loud. Fuck.
“That’s bad math,” Payton said with a completely neutral expression. “But yeah, I guess?”
Madison shook her head. “No. I told you why I picked you. Because I needed someone I could trust. Your age has nothing to do with it. Well, I hesitated to ask you because of it if you really want to know, so no. I didn’t purposely try and find a date that was significantly younger than me.”
“So, my age does bother you? You know, if this was a real thing,” Payton said, motioning between the two of them.
Madison ran a hand over her face. Why did it feel like they were about to have an argument?
She pushed herself off the bed, her hand resting on Payton’s arm. “We’re both tired. That was a shock. And I’m going to take a shower.”
She left Payton standing there, because she really did need to take a shower. The few hours of sleep she got weren’t enough, and she felt like a long, hot shower would make things a lot better.
19
Payton gave Madison some space, because whatever had happened between them after returning to their room was strange and entirely unnecessary.
Things had gotten a little edgy, and they were probably both just jet-lagged and maybe nervous about the wedding, so Payton left Madison a text that she’d gone out.
The hotel where they were staying was a short walk to Hyde Park, and Payton found herself heading back there again, although she took the path to the right this time.
After a while, she took a seat on a bench and checked her emails, replying to Ashley’s ten-plus messages looking for an update.
Payton blew out a breath as she typed out a reply, hardly believing the words she was sending her best friend.
I met her ex-wife and she’s fucking gorgeous. How am I supposed to compete with that?
Also, the woman she’s marrying now is our age.
And we’re going to dinner with them some night this week.
Payton slid her phone back in her pocket and did some people watching, her foot bouncing, a mixture of nervous energy and anticipation running through her body.
The show would be starting before the weekend then.
Payton blew out a breath, not even knowing if she was more scared or excited. The feeling of having Madison’s hand in hers, even for those few minutes earlier, still made her heart swell.
This was sad.
Payton was painfully aware of that, but this was where she was in life right now. Crushing on her very unavailable, but at least gay, boss.
Payton’s phone chimed in her pocket, and she slid it out, a smile coming to her lips as she read Ashley’s message.
ASHLEY
Go for it!! Lay it on thick! But maybe agree to it first? That way it’ll be entirely acceptable behavior, even if you are dying inside.
Payton stared at her screen. She could have so much fun with this if she could only put any actual feelings she had for Madison aside.
And there was a strange part of her that kind of wanted to protect Madison? To make her ex jealous even if Madison didn’t care about that.
She started typing.
PAYTON
