Page 25 of Gilded Princess

“Hey, where’d you go?” His voice is low, the deep timbre warming me up from the inside.

I meet his gaze. “Hmm? Oh, nowhere. Just thinking that I should get going, so I don’t get stuck in the rain.”

I look out the window next to me and see the dark thunderclouds eclipsing the sun, promising a good downpour soon. Because that’s what we need—more humidity in this oven.

He nods and takes a drink of his coffee before setting it back on the table. “I want to see you again, Madison.”

Without being overconfident, I’ve been asked out countless times before, and I turn down most of them. Hell, if he would’ve asked me a month ago, I might’ve said no.

But here and now?

I flick my gaze over him, letting my smile play at the corners of my mouth. “I’d like that, Leo.”

A wide smile spreads across his face, his dimples winking at me. “Perfect. Tonight then.”

A laugh bubbles up. I swear I have a mini Blaire and a mini Lainey on either shoulder, each telling me something different. Mini Blaire wants to make him work for it harder, and mini Lainey encourages me to just say yes and have fun. I settle for something in between the two.

“I can’t tonight. But I’m free tomorrow.”

He nods a few times, his eyes sparkling. “I’ll pick you up at seven and take you to one of my favorite restaurants.”

I bite the side of my lip in hesitation. The stories from Mary’s favorite true crime documentaries flash in front of my face. “Which restaurant? I’ll meet you there.”

He doesn’t skip a beat, and his smile stays firmly on his face. “Louisa’s.”

“I know where that is.” I nod a few times and release the hold I had on my lip.

“Perfect. Here, let me give you my number just in case you need it.” He slides his hand across the table, palm up, and wiggles his fingers.

I unlock my phone, open a new text message, and place it in his hand. He hands my phone back when he’s finished, letting his fingers linger on my hand longer than necessary. I try to ignore the way that simple gesture sends sparks up my arm.

Pushing back from the table, I stand up and gather my things. He does the same and we leave the coffee shop next to one another, our arms barely brushing.

He pauses at the crosswalk. “Until tomorrow, Madison.”

My chest feels light, excitement buzzing in my veins. He links our pinkies for a brief moment before turning and walking down the block backward.

“Tomorrow.”

I watch him with a secret smile on my face until the crosswalk sign flashes, and I cross the street with a wiggle of my fingers in his direction.

I hum to myself the whole way home with a noticeable pep in my step.

Chapter Ten

MADDIE

I run my palms down my hair, taking my time to apply the smoothing oil to keep my barrel waves intact and flyaway-free. My blue eyes look almost frosty lined in black, with a subtle wing extending past my eyelashes. I kept the rest of my makeup light and natural, but I can’t resist a good eyeliner wing.

Florence + The Machine plays quietly from the portable speaker on my dresser across my room. I exhale a breath in a weak attempt to calm the stirring butterflies. I don’t know why I’m so nervous to meet Leo, but I can’t help the Monarchs that keep circling every time I think about it.

I thought if I gave myself plenty of time to get ready it would help, and I guess it has a little. I took a long shower with one of my favorite shower bombs—mint and lemon—and moisturized absolutely everything with my mom’s favorite cream. She calls it youth in a bottle, and I’m sure it’s crazy expensive. Most everything Mom loves is.

But I guess I started too early, because now I still have forty-five minutes before I have to leave, and I’m pretty much ready. I only need to slip on my favorite pair of wedge sandals, and then I’m ready to go.

I kind of thought I’d see Mary by now. I heard her creep out of our apartment early this morning. She left a note in the kitchen saying she was studying in the library all day and wouldn’t be home until late tonight.

Apparently, she has some new study group. And while that’s not usually cause for concern—Mary’s the smart one after all—I know for a fact she’s not taking any classes. The summer session doesn’t start for another few weeks.

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