Page 158 of Mad Love

Two days later, I’d just finished slipping a pearl stud into my earlobe when my phone rang. I reached for it and smiled when I saw Bex’s name on the display. “Hey,” I greeted as I paused getting ready to talk to her.

“Seriously, I’m the worst best friend,” she started. “Maddie, I should be there.”

“Bex, you didn’t even know my mom,” I said with a soft laugh. “And your mom just got out of the hospital, remember?”

She made a grumbling noise. “I’m well aware. She’s… Well, she was always really intense, but this accident seems to have done something else to her.”

“Meaning?” I frowned.

“I don’t know,” she rushed out, and I could hear the frustration in her tone. “But she kicked my dad out, and I’m pretty sure she’s hired a divorce attorney. She’s supposed to be resting, but she seems to be totally focused on something. I just don’t know what.”

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, wishing things were easier for her. “How’s your ankle?”

“Sore,” she muttered. “But I’m hoping I can ditch the walking boot in a couple days, since the swelling is going down.”

“See? You need to rest your foot, not be up here when I bury my mom.” My voice cracked a little at the end.

Bex sighed. “Babe, seriously. I can be there in a few hours.”

I cleared my throat as the shower turned off in the en suite. “No. Besides, we’re coming back after the funeral, so we’ll be at the courthouse first thing tomorrow.”

“You ready for that?” she asked.

No. I’d have to give a formal deposition about the night of the earthquake and all the shit my father had done. Ash had spent the last two days compiling video and digital proof to back up everything I had to confess to the police.

My stomach twisted in knots at the idea of reliving the worst moments of the last several months. But the thing that still bugged me was that Gary would get away with the crime I most desperately wanted him to pay for: murdering my twin sister.

“It’ll be fine,” I finally said. “Court and Linus will be with me the whole time, and I know they’ll make sure everything goes according to plan.”

“Are we still on for dinner?” she asked. Since we’d be back in Los Angeles, we’d all decided to meet up for dinner somewhere local to see her.

“Yeah,” I replied as Ryan stepped out of the bathroom. My gaze couldn’t help but linger on all the wet skin and muscles he was showing, a white towel wrapped low around his hips. He paused on the way to his dresser, arching a telling brow.

I huffed and turned away, averting my gaze before I could do something like hang up on my bestie and climb him like a jungle gym.

Besides, I’d already done that this morning.

Twice.

The fiery phoenix tattoo on his back rippled with each movement he made, tempting and taunting me to come closer and feel the warmth of the skin beneath the flames.

“Maddie?” Bex prompted.

I’d missed whatever she’d said. Crap. “Sorry. I got… distracted.”

Ryan chuckled, the low sound sending a bolt of heat straight to my core. Without turning, I flipped him off over my shoulder. Asshole knew exactly what he was doing.

“Right,” Bex drawled, not needing to be here to read between the lines. “Look, call me later if you aren’t busy, okay?”

I laughed. “Zero promises. Thanks for calling, B.”

“Anytime, Mads.” She hung up, and I tossed the phone aside and turned around. I was mildly disappointed when I saw Ryan already had on a pair of black pants and was working on buttoning up a white shirt that made his skin look golden.

“Bex?” He glanced at me and tucked in his shirt.

“Yeah. She was checking in.” I watched his hands get dangerously close to where—

I groaned and turned away.

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