Page 218 of Mad As Hell

“Talk to him,” I whispered, nudging her with my shoulder.

She picked her head up. “No, Mads. That ship has come and gone and sunk. Like the Titanic.”

“You know what I’ve realized?”

Her brows lifted, waiting for me to elaborate.

“Everything could change tomorrow. Our lives are in such chaos that there’s no telling when the bottom will fall out. Do you really want to take the chance on something happening and never telling him how you feel?” I searched her eyes with mine. “You’ve both made mistakes, Bex. Him more than you,” I added when she looked ready to argue.

She flashed me an impish smile. “Most of the time, when I look at him, all I see is what I lost. But then there are these moments when I see what we could’ve had. That’s what hurts the most.”

“So tell him that,” I encouraged softly.

She shook her head. “No. Imagining a potential future with him is easier than having that door closed for good. I mean, it sucks, but at least this way I can always think about what if, you know?”

“Bex.” My heart ached for her.

She smiled thinly. “I’m kinda tired, Mads. I think I’m going to go to bed. Unless you need me to stay?”

All I could do was shake my head and wonder if I’d pushed her too far.

She got up and Court’s gaze darted to her. “You leaving?”

Bex nodded. “Yeah. It’s been a long day.”

Court stepped away from Linc. “I’ll walk you to your room.”

“No,” she said quietly, ducking her head. “I’m good.”

He looked like he wanted to argue, but he simply watched her leave.

Ash closed his laptop. “I should go, too. My battery is almost dead, and I didn’t bring my charger.”

Linc sighed. “We should all go.” He looked at me, as if confirming I would be okay when they left. God, I loved my friends.

“I’m good,” I replied with a smile that took some effort. “Actually… Are we okay? I know you didn’t want this—”

Linc crossed the room and put his hands on my shoulders. “No, I didn’t,” he admitted, “but we’re family, Maddie. We don’t always have to agree on everything, and I know you’re thinking about Corinne first. But us disagreeing about business doesn’t change the fact that I love you, okay?”

“Christ,” Ryan muttered from the doorway to the bedroom. “I leave my wife alone for five fucking minutes and you’re already pawing at her and declaring your undying love for her?”

Linc glanced over my shoulder. “Never said it was undying.” He winked at me before kissing my cheek.

Ryan growled. “Enough, asshole.”

Linc shot him an innocent look that was full of shit. “She’s practically my sister.”

“And my fist is about to be practically in your face,” Ryan snarled, coming up behind me and wrapping his arms around my waist to pull me backward into his body.

I smirked at Linc, unable to resist riling up my husband. “Call me later when the ball and chain goes to bed, okay?”

Linc barked out a laugh that Ash and Court joined. Ryan didn’t seem so amused as he ground his rapidly hardening dick into my ass.

“Pretty sure you won’t be available to talk,” he warned me, nipping at my earlobe as he whispered. “I have plans for this mouth.”

A shiver of anticipation rolled down my spine.

“And we’re leaving,” Ash deadpanned, shaking his head but not bothering to hide a smile. “We’ll talk more in the morning. Don’t forget we have—”

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