Choosing Happy (Madison Square #2) (6 page)

I nodded, forcing a smile. Her face brightened since she’d achieved the approval she craved, and I winced. Fuck, seeing that look was eating me alive. Every instinct I had was screaming for me to pull her close and protect her. Tell her that she was enough, that she was worthy, anything to get rid of that look in her eyes.

“So,” I said, clearing my throat and folding my arms across my chest. “What flavor are you?”

She turned back toward the machines, pursing her lips while she thought. “I don’t know,” she said. “What do you think?”

I looked over the options and smiled when I found what I was looking for. “Maple bacon donut,” I said, confident in my choice.

“What?” she scoffed. “That sounds nothing like me.”

I laughed. “Sure it does. A little sweet, a little salty, with just the right amount of sass.”

She watched me closely for a moment then turned to face me, folding her arms across her chest and matching my stance. “So then, what about you?”

I took a step closer and shifted my weight, looking into her eyes to meet her challenge. “You tell me.”

She turned and searched the machines. A wicked grin spread across her face, and I ducked my head to hide my smile. I could practically see the smartass beginning to stir behind her eyes, and I was loving every minute of it. She was opening up again.

“French toast,” she said.

“French toast?”

“Yep.” Her smile was bright again. “French toast. It sounds good in theory, but you’ll probably end up regretting the decision later.”

I leaned in close to her, breathing in her sweet scent. “I can promise you would have no regrets.” Her eyes went wide, the creamy skin of her throat moving as she swallowed.

I smiled in victory about rattling her again and took a cup from the dispenser beside the machine, filling it half with maple bacon donut and half with French toast.

I turned back to her, her face twisted in disgust. I shrugged. “They go good together.”

I headed over to the register and dropped the cup on the scale.

“Five seventy-three,” the cashier said.

I nodded to Madison. “It’s on her.”

I grabbed the cup off the scale and turned back to where she stood, still gawking at me. I scooped a large bite of yogurt into my mouth. “Mm, so good,” I said “You should try it.” I gave her a wink and headed out the door.

I walked up another block before dumping the foul tasting stuff into the trash, spitting and wiping it from my mouth to get rid of the taste. That shit was nasty, but the look on her face made it all worth it.

A few minutes later, I pushed through the door of The Den and made my way to our table in the back, where Alex and Drew where already eating. I dropped into my seat on the end with a stupid grin spread wide across my face.

“What’s with you?” Drew asked around a mouth full of fish.

My smile widened, and I sat back in my chair, resting a hand on the table in front of me.

“Maple bacon donut,” I said slowly, enunciating every word like it was precious, because Madison absolutely was.

Alex and Drew looked at each other, wearing matching confused frowns. Alex raised an eyebrow at him, but Drew just shook his head.

She threw up her hands and sat back in her chair. “You know what? I don’t even want to know.”

I laughed as my phone began to vibrate on the table. I looked down, my smile fading as I saw the words
Dad Office
flash across the screen. I stabbed my finger on the ignore button and slid the phone a little further away from me.

“He’s been calling a lot lately,” Drew said, his face full of concern.

“Yeah,” I sighed.

“What do you think he wants?” Alex asked.

“No idea,” I said, “and I have no desire to find out.”

Chapter 7

Madison

The dreaded day was finally here, dinner with my parents. I stood in my closet with my hair still wrapped in a towel, searching for an outfit my mother would approve of, which was difficult to say the least. I settled on a sleeveless dress with a navy bodice and full white circle skirt falling to just below my knees.

I kept the make-up simple, and my hair was easy enough. I went with a pair of red stilettos that gave me a little height and a string of pearls that belonged to my grandmother.

Liam was waiting for me in the living room. “You look very patriotic,” he said with a chuckle.

“Shut up!” I said, smacking him with my clutch. “You look like Daddy.” I stuck my tongue out at him.

Liam was wearing a navy suit with a silver tie. He looked great but clearly uncomfortable. My baby brother, while very handsome in one, was not the suit and tie type. It was one more thing that irritated my mother to no end. I guess he was hoping to get through this evening without incident as much as I was.

When we reached the hotel, Liam took my arm and led me toward the restaurant. We stopped just before the doors and took a deep breath as we approached the hostess stand.

My parents were creatures of habit. Whenever they came to town they always stayed downtown, at The Spencer. The hotel was a landmark in the city, regal and elegant. The lobby was grand with marble floors, crystal chandeliers, and mahogany paneled walls.

The restaurant had an art deco feel: black and white tiles, white linen table cloths, and gold Chiavari chairs. As the hostess led us to the table, I straightened my shoulders and smoothed down the front of my dress, preparing for battle. My father stood when he saw Liam and smiled as he shook his hand. He turned to me, his eyes going wide as he took me in, but I could see the clear approval in his eyes.

“Pumpkin,” he said as he wrapped me in his arms. “I like the new look,” he whispered into my ear. Clearly a self-preservation tactic. If Mother didn’t like it, he didn’t want to be caught on the losing side.

“Thank you, Daddy,” I said, returning his hug.

“Hello, Mama,” Liam said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. She didn’t say a word because her fierce eyes were focused on me. Liam straightened up and made his way to the other side of the table. My father pulled out my chair and I took a seat, dropping my napkin in my lap.

“Hello, Mother,” I said, adjusting my napkin and refusing to look at her. I could feel her eyes boring into the side of my head as I took a sip from my water glass.

“What have you done to your hair?” she asked. Her tone of voice made it perfectly clear she was not a fan.

“I decided it was time for a change. Do you like it?” I said with a smile. When in doubt act dumb.

“Hmmm,” she said. It could have been worse, so thank God for small mercies.

The waiter approached, and my father looked relieved as he ordered his drink. I stuck with club soda while Dad and Liam both went with a double scotch. Lucky bastards. I could use a scotch right about now, but Mother insisted it was not ladylike.

My mother looked regal, as ever—her blonde hair styled into a tight chignon, her cream Chanel suit perfectly pressed, paired with her usual double string of pearls.

I did my best to keep the polite smile on my face as she watched me, waiting like a cobra for her chance to strike.

The waiter returned, passing out our drinks and taking our orders. As soon as he left, I asked my father about his horses and he was off. It was a trick I’d learned long ago. Find the topic your dinner guest is most passionate about and find a way to bring it up in conversation. Keeps the conversation flowing so no one notices you’re counting down the seconds until the evening is over.

By dessert, Liam and I were sure we’d escape the table without having to deal with Mother’s disapproval, but we were oh so wrong.

“Your father and I have come to a decision,” Mother said, interrupting Dad’s rambling about his latest Triple Crown contender. She set her napkin on her plate and placed her hands flat on the table. “This foolishness has gone on long enough. We believe it’s time you came home.”

Liam tossed down his napkin like he was throwing down the gauntlet. Let the fighting begin. “We’ve been over this before. I am not going back to law school. I don’t understand why you keep insisting on…”

“I will get to you in a moment, William,” she said, cutting her eyes at him. “I am speaking to your sister.”

I whipped my head toward her. “Excuse me?”

“We have gone along with this living-your-own-life nonsense for long enough. It’s time you came home and got serious about your future.”

“My…my future?” I said, my jaw practically at my feet.

“Yes, your future. For God’s sake, Madison. Close your mouth. You’re not a fish,” she snapped.

I looked at Liam, who was just as floored as I was. I turned to my father, who was suddenly fascinated by the ice swirling in his glass. He would be of absolutely no help, as usual.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“We never should have let you go through with graduate school, but you met Michael so it seemed to serve its purpose, but that’s over now. It’s time to put all of this mess behind us. I will set you up on the boards of a few local charities, and you will live at home with your father and I until such time as I can find you a suitable husband.” She said all of this insanity with a completely straight face, like it was perfectly natural to ask your forty-two-year-old daughter to give up her life and career to move home so you can arrange her second marriage. Maybe I was dreaming. I pinched my thigh to be sure. Nope, wide awake.

This was unbelievable! I was seething. She was insane! Mother turned her head back to me and narrowed her eyes. Oops, I must have said that last one out loud.

“I beg your pardon, young lady!”

What happened next was a little blurry, but I snapped. “You are insane if you think I’m moving home. This has to be a joke. I have a life, I have a career. I’m a fucking adult, not some rebellious teenager putting off college to party, Mother!”

Mother cut her eyes to my father, who stumbled but quickly sat up to play his role. “You will not speak to your mother that way,” he scolded. I just glared at him.

She continued like it wasn’t up for discussion. “You have proven that you cannot make an informed decision with regards to how you live your life. Now that your disaster of a marriage is behind you, we can move forward and find you a more suitable match.”

That one statement sent me over the edge. She was the one who pushed me to marry Michael in the first place. I wanted to wait, but she wouldn’t hear it. Now, she was acting like the divorce was my fault.

I was furious. My face was hot, and I imagined you could see steam coming from my ears. Liam sat back in his chair, trying to put more space between us in case I blew.

“And as for you, my dear William, you will finish school and you will join your father at the firm. Your father and I will not allow you to waste your life behind a bar, serving drunks and lowlife degenerates.”

Liam opened his mouth to argue, but I was quicker on the draw. “Absolutely not,” I said enunciating every syllable, my face flaming with white hot rage at her ludicrous demands.

“This is not up for discussion, Madison. We have made our decision,” she said, her face a mask of perfect calm.

I threw my napkin down on the table and got to my feet, almost knocking over my chair in the process. “Liam, let’s go.”

“Sit down,” she said through her teeth. “You are making a scene.”

I was done. I no longer gave a shit what she thought. I was my own person. I’d made a life for myself and was at a turning point in my career. I didn’t need her. What was she going to do, cut me out of her will? I didn’t need her money, and I sure as hell didn’t need her.

Liam came to my side of the table. “Good-bye, Daddy,” I said as calm as I could manage. I leaned down and kissed him on his cheek. I turned my attention to my mother, who was fit to be tied. I plastered on that polite smile I’d perfected over the years and looked my mother straight in her eye. “Go to hell, Mother,” I said then turned on my heel and headed for the door, leaving the three of them gaping behind me.

I hit the hotel lobby, but I didn’t stop. I kept going, ignoring Liam’s calls for me to wait. I stepped into the street, handing the valet my ticket. I’m sure I looked as crazy as I felt in that moment, because the guy looked a little scared as he took off to retrieve my car.

Liam caught up to me, breathing a little heavy. “That was amazing,” he said. “I can’t believe you told her off like that.” I didn’t respond; I just kept my eyes straight ahead, still stewing. The nerve of that woman.

When my car pulled up, I yanked the passenger door opened and dropped into the seat, folding my arms across my chest without so much as a word to Liam. I was in no condition to drive.

Liam took the hint and went around to the driver’s side. I said nothing the entire ride home. Liam kept glancing nervously at me, not quite sure what to make of my mood.

When we got back to my apartment, I marched straight to my room and slammed the door. I could not believe that woman. She’s always been controlling, but that was too much, even for her. I dug my phone out of my bag and saw I had two missed calls from her and one from my father. I deleted all of the messages and dropped the phone on the bed.

I headed to the bathroom, stripped out of my clothes, and turned on the shower. I was so heated that I turned the hot water all the way off and stepped in, letting the cold spray wash over me.

When I’d calmed down somewhat, I turned off the water and stood there naked, cold, and wet, breathing heavily. I was beyond done with her. Fuck it! I’m a grown woman. I was done listening to her voice inside my head. I was done worrying about trying to please her. It was impossible anyway. I was free of Michael, and now I was free of my mother. I suddenly felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I was free.

I dried off quickly, not bothering to get dressed. I just wrapped a robe around my naked body and headed back into my bedroom.

If she wanted rebellion, I would show her rebellion. It was time I did something for me. Something wild, something my mother would hate. Consequences be damned, I picked up my phone and dialed someone I knew could help me loosen up. I’d spent my life worrying about the consequences, and where did it get me?

It rang twice before he finally picked up.

“Hey there, beautiful.”

“Pick me up Tuesday at seven,” I said.

“Umm, okay. Everything all right?” Sean asked.

“Fine, just don’t be late.”

“You got it. See you then.”

I hung up and dropped back on the bed. Live at home until she could find me a suitable husband? She’d thought Michael was a suitable husband, and he was nothing but a selfish bastard. Seems to me that what I needed was a little unsuitable.

***

By Tuesday morning, I was in a panic. What was I doing agreeing to go out with Sean? He’s Liam’s age. What could we possibly have in common?

When I called him I was still reeling from my mother’s demand for me to come home. I wasn’t thinking clearly, but backing out now seemed kind of cruel. I mean, dinner wouldn’t kill me, right? Sean was sweet, he was funny, and that smile had the power to bring me to my knees. I could do this. It was no big deal, just a date. A harmless, no strings attached dinner with a gorgeous man who was little more than half my age.

Oh my god, who was I kidding? I couldn’t go out with him. It’s been almost twenty years since I’ve been out on a date. What do I do? What do I say? What do I wear?

I had talked myself into and out of going at least fifty times by the time Margot sauntered into my office for lunch. As per usual, she took one look at me and knew something was wrong.

“Now what?” she asked. Margot dropped her bag on the table in front of me, a hand on her hip and a no nonsense look on her face.

“I said yes, and now I am freaking out!”

“You said yes to what?” she asked.

“To Sean. I said yes to a date with Sean.”

She took a deep breath then turned quickly and sauntered her way to the door. “Jeremy, get in here,” she called and glanced back at me as I slumped over the table. “She’s gonna need both of us for this one.”

I told them everything, starting with my mother’s insanity and ending with the phone call to Sean. By the time I finished, I was exhausted. They both just sat across from me, wide eyed. After taking in the whole story, they both sat up and shouted, “It’s about damn time,” in unison. They turned and looked at each other with a smirk then faced me again.

“You have to go,” Margot said like it was obvious.

“I know,” I sighed. “It’s just…I haven’t been out with anyone other than Michael since college, and I’m pretty sure my skills with a crimper will not help me prepare for this date.”