Chapter 7
The mall was a little too busy for her taste.
Nothing unusual for a Saturday afternoon, obviously, but she still didn’t like it.
Not that she had a lot of choice in the matter, because it was hard to find a day and a time when everyone was available for a girls’ day. Fortunately, they wouldn’t really go shopping. Mani-pedis and coffee was the plan, and she was currently waiting for her friends to show up, sipping on a latte and sitting in one of those super comfy chairs in front of a bookstore.
Checking the time on her phone, she saw she was ten minutes early and almost opened a game of Candy Crush, only remembering at the last second that she was stuck on level 586, and it was driving her nuts.
Luckily for her, she knew someone who was addicted to the game - even if it had surprised her at first. Pulling up her contact list instead, she quickly sent a text.
Hey, can I ask you something?
Ben - 1:51 PM - If it’s the pic we talked about, you’re gonna have to wait. I’m at work, I can’t whip it out right now.
Ben - 1:51 PM - I know, because HR already told me once. My parole officer too.
She laughed, shaking her head and mentally facepalming.
Ben - 1:52 PM - Anyway, what can I do for you, my little honeydew?
Ben - 1:52 PM - Fuck, I’m such a poet, look at that rhyme.
Madison - 1:52 PM - You do know that we’re just texting, right? No need to pretend.
Ben - 1:53 PM - I’m a method actor. I stay in character.
Madison - 1:53 PM - I’m stuck on level 586.
Ben - 1:53 PM - Ah. Doctor Goldstein needs my help.
Madison - 1:53 PM - There is no need to look so smug.
Ben - 1:53 PM - How the fuck do you even know how I look right now? Wait, did Everleigh teach you how to hack? That sneaky little… I can’t believe I went grocery shopping for her this week!
Madison - 1:54 PM - Woah, calm down crazy! You always look smug when I ask you to help me out with Candy Crush.
Ben - 1:54 PM - I’m not going to mention how emo I am that you know me so well you can guess my facial expressions through a text convo, OK? I need my man card safe and sound.
Madison - 1:55 PM - You lost your man card when you debated with Martha for half an hour about Titanic.
Madison - 1:55 PM - Wait, you’re at work? On a Saturday afternoon?
Ben - 1:55 PM - There was enough room on that door, Madison!!! Jack didn’t have to die and that’s that on that. Also, yeah. Had a few things to finish.
She paused at that, frowning. Most of the time, when someone had to finish some work during the weekend, they’d do it in the morning, so their entire weekend wouldn’t be ruined.
Madison - 1:56 PM - Do you have to work now because you were at the gym this morning?
He typed, then deleted, then typed some more.
Ben - 1:57 PM - Yeah?
Madison - 1:57 PM - Why didn’t you tell me? I could have gone alone. I’m sure Nate would have understood.
Ben - 1:57 PM - It was a heavy session.
Biting her lower lip, she tilted her head. It had been a heavy session. They had learned how to escape when you’re lying on the floor and a man is trying to get on top. That had definitely not been a pleasant moment, because it had brought back some not so fun memories. In the end, she had felt stronger once she had mastered the move, though.
Madison - 1:58 PM - Yeah, it was.
Ben - 1:58 PM - You OK? I mean, I know it’s not easy for the girls. Nate told me it’s definitely one of the handiest moves, but it’s stressful to learn.
Madison - 1:58 PM - Yeah. I’m alright. Is that why you took me to IHOP? Wanted to get my mind on something else?
She was beginning to think that Ben was much more observant and thoughtful than he let it on.
Ben - 1:59 PM - If that had been the case, I would have sent you a dick pic.
Or not.
Ben - 1:59 PM - Anyway, what’s the problem with level 586?
Madison - 2:00 PM - Nah, it’s OK. I was just waiting for the girls, I figured I could play a little. I’ll tackle the beast tonight.
Ben - 2:01 PM - That’s funny, that’s what girls usually say when they see me in all my splendor.
Madison - 2:01 PM - Are you that hairy?
Ben - 2:01 PM - …
He sent her a side-eye emoji, which made her laugh.
Ben - 2:02 PM - You are extremely dangerous for my manhood, you know that?
Madison - 2:02 PM - That’s funny, that’s what guys usually say when they see me in all my splendor.
Ben - 2:03 PM - Did you just make a dirty joke???
Ben - 2:03 PM - Holy shit, Madison! I’m so fucking proud I could cry.
She covered her eyes with her free hand, grinning. She could feel her cheeks heating up which was absolutely ridiculous seeing as this was a text conversation.
“Wow, who’s got you smiling like that, girl?” Harper’s voice reached her, and she snapped her head up, hiding her phone against her chest.
“No one.”
Violet eyed her suspiciously. “Really? It looks like you’re blushing. Did you meet a nice guy?”
“Nope and nope. Just hot with my coat on. Been waiting for fifteen minutes. Where is Everleigh?”
“Bathroom break. Again.”
“Already? Isn’t it soon for the baby to press on her bladder?”
Violet shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe it’s because she drank too much. She has dry mouth, it’s a symptom.”
She quickly sent a text to Ben, discreetly making sure no one could read who she was talking to.
Madison - 2:05 PM - Girls are here. Have a good day at work xoxo
A glowing Everleigh joined them while they were in the middle of an argument about which coffee shop they should go to after their little session at the spa. Madison couldn’t help but grin when she saw the beaming smile on her lips.
Everleigh had dealt with a nasty case of morning sickness but was apparently much better now. Joy was written all over her face. Out of all of her friends, she had always been the one who wanted to have a family the most. Harper always said she wouldn’t consider it until she hit thirty years old at least, Violet and Ian didn’t want children, and Madison was still completely unsure of the whole thing.
It wasn’t the case for Everleigh, and when she had found out that, due to a medical condition, the longer she waited, the harder it would be for her to get pregnant, she had taken matters into her own hands. With the help of Christopher, she had decided to not wait any longer for Mr. Right and just get to it.
It was obvious to everyone that Christopher was Everleigh’s Mr. Right, but unfortunately her friend hadn’t had the epiphany yet. The denial was strong with these two.
“Madison, look,” Everleigh said with a squeal, opening her coat and turning sideways, flattening her sweater over her stomach.
She gasped, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my God. You have a bump!”
Everleigh beamed, giving her the brightest of smiles. “Yes!! It finally popped!”
“Did Chris see it?”
She shook her head, almost shyly. “He’s out of town. Work trip. He’s coming back tonight, but I haven’t told him. I want to see his face.”
“And I guess the mani-pedi is to celebrate, right?” Harper asked, wiggling her eyebrows.
“Shut up. And yes, maybe a little. My libido is back.”
“You know, it’s good Chris never hears you talk about your sex life, because you keep using that adjective, and I don’t think it’s very flattering,” Madison said teasingly, hooking her arm with Everleigh’s.
“Oh my God, you sound like Ben.”
“What? No, I don’t.”
“Yes, you do. And believe me, Chris knows that… hum… this particular adjective is absolutely not representative of his attributes.”
“Tell me more, tell me more,” Violet started to sing as they arrived in front of the spa.
“You already know more than enough,” Everleigh replied, sticking her tongue out. “And I think you guys have been focused on my love life way too much already. Instead, I suggest we focus on Madison’s.”
Her eyes widening, Madison shook her head. “There is no love life.”
“I don’t believe you,” Harper said with a laugh. “You’ve been a little secretive lately. You are often on your phone, with a smile, and no, don’t even try to make me believe it’s because you passed a level on that damn game.”
“And you keep saying you have plans on Saturday mornings…” Violet continued.
Harper nodded. “Everyone knows that’s the code for ‘I’m not home on Saturday mornings because I spent the night somewhere else,’ so spill the beans.”
“I swear, there is no one,” Madison protested. “I just go to the gym on Saturday mornings, that’s all.”
The way Everleigh’s eyes widened was almost comical. “The gym? You? You hate that! That’s why you bought an elliptical bike, so you could work out from home!”
“Well… it’s a special gym.”
“Oh. Is it naked yoga? I always wanted to try that,” Harper asked in a hushed voice as they took their places in front of their estheticians.
“Ew, no it’s not! It’s just… some self-defense classes. A friend asked me to go and I said yes.”
“A friend?” Everleigh asked, glancing at Violet and Harper. “But… who?”
Madison bit her lips, pretending to focus on the catalog of nail polish in front of her. “Someone from work.”
There is no way in hell I’m telling them Ben asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend so he wouldn’t distract the women with his banging body.
“I always wanted to take that kind of class,” Everleigh said with a pout before rubbing her stomach protectively. “I would have gone with you if it wasn’t for Little Shrimp.”
“Ian taught me quite a few moves and made me go a few years ago,” Violet chimed in.
Harper looked at her in surprise. “Really? You never told us.”
Violet shrugged. “Well, it started as a game between us.”
“Say no more, I don’t want to get a mental picture.”
“I think I’m gonna go with a classic red,” Everleigh said suddenly, attracting the attention of everyone, much to Madison’s relief. “Chris loves me in red.”
“Ooooh… Chris loves you in red, huh?”
“Shut up, Vi. You know it’s not like that.”
“Yeah, yeah, you guys just spend all your free time together, made a baby, and you get all dolled up for him but sure… it’s not like that,” Madison sneered, closing the catalog. “I’ll go with a dark, forest green, I think.”
“Green will look amazing with your skin tone and your hair,” Violet said in approval, running her hand through the brown locks. “I’d kill to have hair that is so silky naturally.”
Madison sighed, eyeing the shiny curly locks her friend was sporting that day. “I’d kill to have at least a little bit of volume.”
“If there’s one thing black hair doesn’t lack, it’s volume, but I can guarantee you would stop seeing the appeal once you had to spend hours taming that particular beast. Mom keeps asking me why I don’t just cut it all and use a wig.”
“It could be nice to change your hairstyle regularly,” Harper said with a little shrug. “I can see the appeal.”
“Ian would have a fit.”
“Aaaaand?”
Violet giggled. “And if I make him keep his hair cut short, the least I can do is keep my hair the way he likes it. That’s what you do in a relationship. Compromise.”
There was a small thoughtful pause welcoming her words, until Harper sighed. “You just reminded me why I love being single. Thank you, I was starting to get envious of you and Evie.”
“Hey, I’m technically single!”
“No, you’re not,” the other three said in one flat voice before falling into a giggle fit.
Madison listened distractedly as her friends started to talk about the baby shower, even though they still had months to go before Everleigh reached that stage. All this talk of relationships and couples, while it usually left her cold and unbothered, suddenly made her feel suspiciously… wistful.
She liked being single. Her calm, quiet, and introverted personality had never gone really well with sharing her life with someone. It asked for too much openness. She had had a few boyfriends, of course, but somehow, it had been easier when she had been younger. It was young love - easy, uncomplicated, unburdened by the realities of adulting. She wasn’t sure she was made to share her everyday life with someone.
Eventually, it was bound to get boring and if she loved boring, she loved her brand of boring, the one that involved re-reading Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban for the 67th time, for instance, not compromising over whose turn it was to do the dishes. Domesticity seemed so bland to her.
She did miss the fun parts of having a boyfriend, though. The kissing, holding hands, and yes, the sex. It just never seemed enough to put up with the few guys she had tried dating in the last couple of years.
Unless she had been dating the wrong kind of guys.
Ever since she was old enough to be into boys, she had had a type. Nerdy, geeky guys. She always preferred The Flash over Batman, for instance. Someone who had the same passions and understood her language.
That being said… the last few weeks had also proved that other guys were nice too. Like Ben, for instance.
He definitely wasn’t her type. Too loud, too obnoxious, too charming, too attractive, and yes, even too wealthy. The differences between their lifestyles were astonishing, to say the least.
Yet… she had a blast every time. Every Saturday, their commute to the gym and back was filled with teasing and poking fun at each other’s little quirks. They almost never agreed on anything - for instance, he preferred Batman. He didn’t like pineapple on his pizza, which, again, hello crazy. His favorite color was green, hers was red.
But, as he had said, together, they looked like Christmas.
“It looks great, doesn’t it?” The esthetician tore her out of her reverie and she blinked, wondering what she meant.
“The color?” the woman explained, getting ready for the second nail.
Dark forest green.
Ben’s favorite color.
Well… damn.