I’m nervous. Today’s a huge day, not only because one of my best friends, Danger, is marrying his girl, Lunar, but because I’m seeing Madeline again, and to top it off Alex is meeting Ronan. Why she didn’t meet him prior to today, I’m not sure, but hey, she’s a big girl and taking your internet date on their first date to your friend’s wedding seems like a big deal to me. So she must care for him more than she’s letting on. As I run my hands over my tie making sure it’s straight, I look around my bedroom making sure it’s clean one last time. If all goes well after the wedding, I’m going to bring Madeline back here to spend some quality alone time getting to know each other. I want the house to look nice and less bachelor pad.

I’m picking Madeline up, and we’re heading out for a quick lunch before we drive over to the ceremony. Lunar and Danger didn’t want a massive bridal party, so they pretty much have Ryan and Tillie up there with them at the altar today. I honestly never thought I’d see the day that Danger tied the knot, not after the Ella fiasco, but Lunar is perfect for him and I’m glad to be a part of their future together. I’m glad they found each other, and I’m happy their day is finally here, after everything they’ve been through. I wouldn’t miss this for the world!

Taking one last look around my room, I nod and walk downstairs giving the fichus a flick on my way. Everything looks great, and I’m happy to bring Madeline back here if we decide that’s what we both want. I pull out my cell and send her a quick text letting her know I’m on my way.

During the short drive to her place I have the music on loud, pumping through my veins, giving me the courage to be the man that I need to be today. Madeline and Alex meeting has me more nervous than anything, and to be honest, if they don’t get along I’m not sure what I’m going to do.

I arrive at Madeline’s house and jolt back in shock. For a hostess, this place is incredibly nice. I know that’s judgmental of me, but honestly, I didn’t think a waitress could afford such a lavish two-story home such as this. It’s huge, almost as big as my place, and I take a deep breath taking in the sight, wondering if I actually have the right address.

I glance at the number on the post box, and sure enough, it seems correct. Getting out of the car, I stroll to the front door and ring the doorbell. The door swings open and Madeline’s wearing a knee-length figure-hugging red dress that kind of reminds me of the dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman, only a little shorter. The sleeves fall off her shoulders, accentuating her beautifully rounded shoulders. She looks stunning. Draw droppingly beautiful. A slow smile creeps up my face, and I shake my head slowly from side to side.

She frowns, running her hands up and down her dress. “Oh no, you don’t like it?”

I reach out grabbing her hand. “No, just the opposite. You look incredible.”

She blushes, looking down to the ground in a shy, embarrassed manner, and I move my hand under her chin making her look up at me as I stare into her beautiful green eyes.

“You’re incredible, Madeline.”

She sighs with a small smile, as she turns reaching inside to grab her clutch and then turns back.

“Thank you. Shall we get some lunch?” she asks.

“Yeah, let’s. But we better make it something quick. We have to be at the gardens by one.”

She grabs my hand and we move off to my car, her heels clicking on the concrete as we walk.

“Okay, where to for lunch?”

She shrugs. “I’m easy, somewhere that’s good for you.”

I noticed a local IHOP just down the road, so I pull out into traffic. That should be good enough to fill the need. As I head toward the IHOP, I notice Madeline looking down the road, shifting uncomfortably in her seat while staring at a particular building. It’s unmarked, and I don’t really recognize it as anything, but she quickly looks away as we pass. My forehead puckers in confusion, but I let it slide as I pull in a few meters further down the road at the IHOP. Her movements have changed, and she seems slightly agitated like she doesn’t want to be here.

“Are you okay?”

Madeline looks up to me and clearly fake smiles. “Yes sure. Can we head inside, eat, and then go?”

I screw up my face watching her and nod as I park the car. “Ah… yeah, sure.”

After exiting the car, we walk inside and take a seat near the back. Luckily, the restaurant isn’t too crowded, as I attempt to hide myself as much as possible from the patrons. I’m sitting with my back to the rest of the room so no one can see me while Madeline sits facing the restaurant, but she seems incredibly uncomfortable. Then it hits me—maybe this is where she works?

As she looks around the restaurant like she’s searching for someone, I reach out and grab her hand. “Madeline, do you work here?” I ask, and she looks to me. Her posture softening as she visibly relaxes.

“No, sorry. I’m okay, I promise. I just want to have a great day with you and your friends. I’m a little nervous.”

I nod as we pick up the menus and start looking them over. The front door of the restaurant opens with a tinkle of the bell and I have no idea who walks in, as my back is to them, but Madeline’s eyes open wide as saucers and she gasps. She sinks into her seat and tries to obviously hide. My eyebrows squish together wondering what’s going on so I turn around and watch the two police officers who have entered the IHOP.

My stomach sinks, and I slowly turn back to Madeline and take a deep breath. “Madeline?” I question, and she ducks down rather dramatically which bumps her fork off the table making it crash on the ground and draw rather obvious attention to us.

“Shit,” she calls out, turning away to face the back wall. Her chest starts to rise and fall like she’s panicking. Which in turn makes me slightly panic.

“Madeline, what the fuck?”

“Shh… don’t make him come over here,” she murmurs.

I turn to see the two cops already making their way over to us. If she weren't acting so damn strange they probably would have ignored us in the first place. One of them must be an ex or something?

“Ahh… Maddison. Fancy seeing you here,” one of the cops says.

“Maddison?” I query.

She turns back facing me, her eyes filling with tears as she looks from me to the two cops. “Officer Devon, I swear I’m not working. I’m here on a date.”

My head starts spinning as I try to figure out what the hell is happening right now.

“With a rock star? In your local area, Maddison? I don’t think so. Do you think we were born yesterday?”

I clear my throat. “Umm… sorry. What’s happening right now?”

Madeline swallows hard as she looks at me.

“Well Maddison here is going to come in for the third time this month… you’re getting quite a name for yourself, young lady. You need to stop this, Maddison. And you, rocker… well, I hope you have a good publicist because shit’s about to rain down on you hard when this news breaks.”

I shake my head still not really understanding what’s going on. “Madeline?” I ask looking at her, and both cops laugh.

“Madeline? That’s not the name she usually gives her clients. Not sure why she’s treating you differently, rocker. But nevertheless, you’re under arrest for the solicitation of a prostitute,” he says.

My eyes bulge out of my head, and I gawk at Madeline as she burst into tears. “What the fuck?” I scream out, as she brings her hands to her face and cries into them while the police stand tall next to us blocking our exit.

“Now you can come quietly down to the station with us, or we can cuff you both and drag you out?” he asks.

“Look, there’s been a misunderstanding. I was taking Madeline to my friend’s wedding. I had no idea she was a…” I pause as my stomach churns thinking of what she’s been hiding from me, but I guess now it all makes sense. The little hints she’s given me along the way. A hostess, but never the name of the place she worked. How she’s good at moving her body. Little things like that, all adding up now.

Shaking my head, I feel sick. I can’t believe the innocent girl vibe she put up was all an obvious act.

“Yeah, they all say that when they’ve been caught in the act, dude. So will you come quietly or are you going to make a scene that will make people get their cells out and start recording?” he asks.

I glance around to see people in the restaurant are already starting to take notice.

“Officer Devon, please, I promise you, we’re on a date. You know I never defend my clients. Matt is not a client. Please don’t arrest him,” Madeline begs.

I shake my head wondering what the hell fucking crazy world I’ve stepped into.

“Sorry Maddison, you’re in your area, I gotta take him in.”

Madeline closes her eyes and starts to cry into her hands as I clear my throat.

“Okay, look, I don’t want to cause a scene here, I’ll come, but will this take long? I have to go to my friend’s wedding.”

The two policemen laugh. “We’ll take you to the station, but we can’t guarantee you’ll get to your wedding on time.”

“Oh God, I’m so sorry, Matt,” Madeline says.

“Shit! Okay, look, is there something I can do. Can I go to the wedding and then come into the station afterward?” I ask and they both laugh.

Devon reaches down grabbing my arm and pulls me up then he starts ushering me out of the IHOP.

“Let’s go.”

“Look, what if I pay you to make this go away?” I ask and instantly regret saying it.

God damn, that was stupid. What the fuck was I thinking?

He shoves me through the door with the other cop and Madeline following behind me.

“Now you’re bribing an officer of the law as well as solicitation? You’re definitely not making that wedding now, bright spark,” he states leading me to his cruiser and opening the back door.

I can’t believe how monumentally fucked up this all is. This is far, far, worse than Jaci! I thought Madeline, or Maddison, or whatever the fuck her name is, was freaking perfect, and she’s a fucking hooker?

Fuck me!

I have literally the worst luck with women.

“Wrists out,” Officer Devon demands.

“What, why?”

“So I can cuff you.”

“But you said you wouldn’t if I came quietly.”

“Yes, and you did, but now you’re both getting into the back of the cruiser. I can’t have you getting all frisky together, can I?”

“You’re kidding, right?” I blurt out, and he raises a brow at me as if to say ‘does it look like I’m kidding.’ So I simply put out my wrists for him to place the cuffs on without a fight. This is happening, I may as well accept it. He then opens the door for me to slide into the back of the cop car.

Well, it’s official, I can now call myself a fully-fledged rock star. The sensible member of Recoil has finally been arrested. Shit’s going to hit the proverbial fan when this gets out.

I slide in to see Madeline already seated in the car, hands in her lap with the cuffs on like she’s done this quite a few times before. Which according to Officer Devon she has three times this fucking month. So pretty much once a week.

Fucking hell, literally, I’m in fucking hell.

The door shuts next to me, and I glance to Madeline who’s looking into her lap, tears streaming down her face, and I can’t help but feel angry and used. I felt a connection with her, and it was all fake. Did she know who I was all along, and she was using me to further her dancing career? Was this all a game to her?

“What’s your real name?” I ask, and she turns to face me as the car takes off toward the station.

“It’s Madeline. Maddison is the fake name I give to my clients. I was only ever real with you, Matt.”

I scoff and roll my eyes. “Did you know who I was from the start?”

She shakes her head. “No, of course not. I only really realized who Recoil are last night when I Googled you.”

I huff. “So you didn’t come after me for who I am to further your dancing career?”

Tears fall down her face a little faster. “Matt, no. I swear. I was me with you. Maddison is a lie, everything about her is only so I can pay the bills and hopefully have a career in dancing. But Madeline, that’s who I am. I swear everything about me, everything I’ve told you… that’s who I really am, Matt.”

“And you think keeping something… quite this huge, wasn’t going to be a big deal for me?” I ask, and Devon chuckles in the front seat to himself.

She swallows hard and chews on her bottom lip. I used to find it sexy when she did that, now all I see is the scared little girl behind this vixen woman.

“I thought if you got to know me, the real me… once I told you, it might not be such a… big deal.”

I can’t stop the guttural laugh that erupts from my throat as it echoes through the car. Her eyes sparkle with tears, and her mouth turns down as she gives me a forlorn look.

“Did you guys work out this little act, in case you got caught? ‘Cause I’m almost believing you,” Devon calls out from the front with a chuckle.

I throw myself back into the seat and turn away from Madeline, staring out the window for the rest of the car ride to the station.