Page 12 of Fake Spring Fling

Mom’s neon pink nails dig into my forearm as she pulls me forward. “Why wait? I knew that your father was the one for me from the first time he bought me a Cherry Coke and said the red matched my new scrunchie.”

“Let me guess – he was sporting a mullet and parachute pants, and you had crimped hair in a side ponytail. Did your jelly shoes match your fanny pack?”

She releases my arm to give me a light smack on the shoulder. “Don’t be lippy.”

“Remind me – do the leg warmers go over or under the acid wash jeans?”

Dad snorts loudly, then shakes his head. “I’d watch it, Wyatt. People have been teasing her all weekend about how feathered her hair is going to be at the wedding.”

Heather turns around and glares. “Don’t you start, too.”

His hands go up in surrender. “Oh, I wouldn’t dare, sweetheart.”

She pretends to be in a huff as she flounces away to talk to my sisters, but I notice her eyes are twinkling.

Dad gives me a look. “Wyatt, if you don’t know by now the legwarmers gooverthe jeans, then you haven’t been paying attention.” He chugs the rest of his coffee, then scoots over one chair closer to me. “Also, never tell Heather I said this because I’ll never hear the end of it, but… I kind of agree with her. The way Madison looks at you… If you could put that in a bottle you’d be a billionaire inside of a month.”

It feels like my heart is cracking open, spilling over and flooding my chest. I want Dad to be right. I want Madison to be the one. I’m nervous since it’s so fast, obviously, but I want to believe, to quoteThe X-Files.

Wait, that’s 90’s. Sorry, Heather.

“I do think she’s amazing, Dad. But I’m don’t want to scare her by trying to make things official too soon. Can you ask Mom to tone it down, and give us…okay, if not a year, six months at the very least?”

He blinks twice, then rolls his eyes. “Have youmetyour mother?”

“Just try. Please. A bit of time and space.”

“I’ll do my best. Now, are you still joining us this afternoon for the official engagement party stuff?”

“No, we’re going hiking.”

Dad snorts. “May I join you?”

“No.”

He chuckles with a shrug and wanders away. I glance out the door to the lobby. Lauren and Sarah are swarming Madison, laughing and giggling, probably telling her about whatever shenanigans went on last night after we disappeared.

No matter what the other ladies were up to, I hope that Madison felt that our night was perfect. It sure did to me. Like we were bonding. Growing comfortable with each other.

And even though it’s completely ridiculous…and too fast…and possibly insane…

I know that I’m falling for her, hard.

7

MADISON

I’d assumed I would be more nervous about this. The entire point of this crazy weekend getaway was so that I could reconnect with Cousin Adaline. Yet everything has shifted. It’s not that I’m suddenly less dedicated to my career. But Wyatt is taking up my entire focus.

It doesn’t feel fake at all when he turns his entire attention on me. And those kisses last night were real. Extremely real. The most real thing that has ever happened to me.

I drink another coffee and poke at my Eggs Benedict while listening to Lauren and Sarah go on at length about all the hot guys they danced with last night, and what hotels between here and Kingsville those guys work at. I half follow their conversation while wondering what’s going to happen when Wyatt and I sleep together for the second time. I know he’s decent enough that he would be fine with just snuggling again, but I can tell we both want more.

It’s like my body calls to his, if that makes sense. I didn’t realize how magnetic two people could be when they find each other sexy, but I guess I’ve just never let my guard down with anyone before. With Wyatt, there’s no guard whatsoever. I just trust him.

More importantly, my body trusts him. Last night being cuddled so tightly in his arms made me feel sexy and wanted and desired, and completely in tune with him. Just thinking about being with him again makes my heart start to race, and?—

“Madison?”

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