Page 106 of Mad Love

“Yes,” the three of us answered in unison. Tyler and Chase were still bickering as Bex and I left them and wandered down the hall to the den.

With a large flat-screen TV and two massive sectional sofas, the room was where we’d all frequently ended up at night, hanging out and watching movies while Ryan and I were both recovering from our injuries.

I walked down the short flight of steps into the sunken-in room and turned to face Bex, who was staring hesitantly at the flat-screen. “I don’t think I want to watch whatever this is like it’s a movie. I mean, if it’s a highlight of Madelaine’s greatest hits against me…” A nervous laugh escaped her.

“For what it’s worth? I really don’t think that’s what this is,” I told her.

“Neither do I,” she admitted. “And that actually scares me more.” She walked around the backs of the couches and grabbed her laptop from a side table, then came back and sat down.

“Ready?” I asked, slipping onto the spot beside her.

“No.” But Bex turned on the screen and inserted the flash drive. A second later, a series of folders popped up.

Bex’s eyes narrowed as we silently read the file names, but the most important seemed like a video file marked with her nickname again. When she double-clicked the file, a video of Madelaine started the same way mine had.

Madelaine was in the same clothes and room as in the message she’d left me, which made me think she’d filmed the videos back to back. She wiped her palms on her pants as she sat across from the camera with a stiff face.

“Uh, hey, Beeps,” she started with a husky laugh. “Shit, no. You like Bex now, right? Bex. Got it. I swear I’ll try not to be an asshole on this, but we both know bitch mode is my default setting.”

Bex rolled her eyes in agreement.

“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how I’d apologize to you, and I swear if I get a chance to do it in person, I’m going to.” She smiled weakly. “You were the best friend I ever had. Hell, you were my only friend. At least in the ways that mattered.”

I laced my fingers with Bex’s and leaned my head on her shoulder as Madelaine continued.

“That’s why I had to let you go,” Madelaine whispered. “Gary knew how much you mattered to me, and… I wasn’t going to let him hurt you, too. But you—dammit, Beeps, every time I tried to push you away for your own good, you just held on tighter.”

Madelaine bit her thumbnail and shook her head. “Why couldn’t you just— No. This isn’t on you, it’s on me. But that’s why I did the things I did. I had to make sure it was obvious I didn’t care about you. I had to prove to him that you were nothing, when really, you were everything. You were my best friend, B, and I’m sorry for the way I repaid that.”

I glanced at Bex, not surprised to find her crying. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched Madelaine’s confession. “That stupid bitch,” Bex hissed, sniffling as she looked at me. “I would’ve stuck by her no matter what, Maddie.”

“I’m an idiot, I know,” Madelaine muttered on screen, confirming what Bex had said. “Look, if you’re seeing this then I hope that means you met Madison. You were with me when I found out about her, and it’s only right if you’re there with her after I’m gone.”

We shot each other watery smiles, squeezing our hands together.

Madelaine leaned forward. “I know I don’t have any right to ask, but… look out for her, would you? The way you tried to do for me? She’s going to need someone real and true, and you’re the best person I’ve ever met, Beeps.” She drew in a slow breath. “Which makes what else I have to tell you suck even more.”

Bex sat up straighter, and worry curled in my gut.

Madelaine grimaced at the screen. “I figured it out, I think. I didn’t even mean to, it just kinda happened, and I don’t have all the facts, but I included what I could on this drive.” She swallowed hard. “B, your dad isn’t the guy you think he is. And he’s the reason Court stopped being your friend when you were little. I think he’s also responsible for those night terrors you used to have.”

I swung my head and looked at my best friend. “Night terrors?”

Bex wet her lips. “After my treatments. I used to have these crazy nightmares. Everyone told me it was because of the chemo and shit. I had these weird ass dreams. I haven’t had one in a long time, but when Lainey and I were still close, I had them pretty often.”

“All the stuff I found is on here. I didn’t add your dad’s name to the others because, well, he’s your dad. What you do with the info is up to you,” Madelaine said, pressing her lips together. “But here’s what I think happened between you and Court…”

CHAPTER 38

MADDIE

“Court!” Bex’s shout echoed off the walls and ceiling of the house as she stormed through it, red-faced and out for blood.

I chased after her. “Bex, maybe you should calm—”

She whirled and stabbed a finger toward my face. “Don’t tell me to calm down, Maddie!”

I held up my hands, surrendering, as she spun away from me and continued the hunt. A pit opened in my stomach, threatening to upend the contents, and I trailed Bex into the kitchen.

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