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Was Payton with that woman today?
Madison had to assume that Payton had gone back to her place last night or at the very least stayed out with her for the rest of the night.
Madison’s stomach turned at the thought of that woman’s hands on Payton, and yet she’d been the one to suggest it.
The door to the bathroom flew open, and Payton’s eyes locked onto hers before she cursed and then apologized. “Sorry!”
“Payton,” Madison said, not even knowing what she was going to say, but then the door swiftly closed, leaving her alone again, her heart hammering in her chest.
Madison exhaled slowly as she lifted a hand out from beneath the warm water, the droplets falling as she ran her hand over her face.
She shook her head, trying to get her shit together, knowing she’d have to have that conversation with Payton now and clear the air, even if that meant hearing all about Payton’s night with that woman.
Madison got out, drying herself off before putting on her robe and pulling the door open, her wet hair falling across her shoulders after she’d run a brush through it, not wanting to take too long in case Payton left again.
“I’m so sorry,” Payton said from the living area when Madison emerged. “I didn’t think to knock.”
“No, it’s my fault,” Madison said with a sigh. “I forgot to lock the door.”
Madison forced herself to look at Payton who was sitting on the couch, wearing white shorts and a navy tank top, her blond hair cascading over her shoulders. She looked refreshed, unlike herself, and the obvious signs of tiredness that had met her when she’d briefly checked her reflection before leaving the bathroom.
Madison stood between the two rooms, leaning against the wall separating them as she tried to figure out what to say. “Payton,” she said softly, waiting for her to look up.
Payton lifted her gaze, her hands clasped, her elbows on her knees as she stared at Madison, her expression unreadable.
“I don’t know what happened,” Madison said, crossing her arms over her chest as she spoke. “Last night. I don’t know why I said that.” She stopped talking because suddenly her throat felt like it was going to close up, choking the words off.
Payton stood up, coming towards her. “I couldn’t believe you’d say that.” Payton visibly swallowed. “After the other night?” She shook her head, her lips tight. “I don’t know. It just threw me completely.”
“I’m sorry,” Madison managed, biting the inside of her cheek, waiting for Payton to tell her that she’d had a great time without her.
“Did you regret saying it? When you left?”
“I regretted it the instant those words left my mouth,” Madison said with a sigh as she looked away, unable to take the intensity of Payton’s gaze.
“Then why did you suggest I go off with her? If you regretted it right away?”
“I don’t know.”
“I think you were scared,” Payton offered, her voice gentle. “I think you were afraid to feel whatever this is,” she said, motioning between them.
Madison shook her head. “I don’t know what I was. I just panicked, I guess.”
“Nothing happened,” Payton said after a moment.
“What?” Madison asked, her attention snapping back to Payton.
“Nothing happened with that woman at the bar. We got stupidly drunk. I don’t even know how I got back here. I think she put me in a cab and somehow got me to tell her what the name of the hotel was.”
Madison searched Payton’s eyes. She wasn’t lying. Not that Madison even thought that Payton was capable of lying to her face, but there was something in the sincerity of her expression that told Madison that she was telling the truth. “But I thought she was interested?”
Payton shrugged. “She was.”
“And you...”
Payton’s lips spread into a smile. “I’m too busy trying to convince my boss to let me be more than her pretend girlfriend.”
Madison’s eyebrows rose. “What?” she asked, feeling her own lips curve into a smile full of relief.
