"This..."
I trail off, not sure how I'm supposed to respond. If I were still just Gavin's friend, I would reassure him.
But I'm Madison's friend, too.
And I know that this sort of news is going to hurt her.
"It's happening pretty fast," I say.
"Kylie wants a family," Gavin says. "And I'm not getting any younger."
"She thinks you're both keeping secrets from her," I blurt out. "How long have you known?"
Gavin's jaw tenses. "A week."
"Fucking hell, Sterling," I mutter, blowing out a breath. "She's...yeah, I don't know what she's going to do."
"She'll accept it eventually," Gavin says—more to reassure himself than me, I think. "She always does."
"But she shouldn't just have to accept all the decisions you and Kylie make," I reply. "You should think about how you're going to tell her."
"It's out of my hands," Gavin says.
At that moment, I see Kylie coming back from the bathroom in a hurry, and Madison is notably absent. Kylie's eyes are wide, and she's clearly been crying. Gavin stands up and takes her by the hands, and Kylie starts talking before he can even ask if she's okay.
"She's so angry," Kylie chokes out. "She left...and she said not to follow her…"
"I'm going after her," Gavin says, but I'm already on my feet and grabbing him by the shoulder.
"Let me," I tell him. "You stay with your wife."
"Are you sure?" he asks.
I nod. "I'm her friend. And I think what she needs is a friendly face right now."
Gavin nods, and I can see the relief in his eyes as he steps back and lets me take charge. Then I grab my coat and leave the White Oak, not sure when I'll be back.
I hope Madison will talk to me, at least.
Because the two people she cares about have hurt her more than anything...and I wouldn't be surprised if she never trusts anyone again.
Chapter six
Madison
KylieandIwalkto the bathroom together like we're just two normal girls on a normal double date.
Even though this isn't a double date.
And we are far from normal.
We say hello to Sophia and Bryn on the way to the bathroom, and then we're there alone, Kylie using the bathroom and then coming back out to touch up her makeup. She looks gorgeous—as always—with her dark hair swept back into a chignon at the nape her neck and her makeup perfect. I feel like a mess in comparison, but that's always been Kylie, even if she doesn't admit it. She's poised, beautiful, and put together.
And I'm the messy best friend.
"So...you have something to tell me, right?" I ask as I pull out my own lipstick. "We both know going to the bathroom together is girl code for 'I have secrets.' So spill."
Her lips purse as she looks over at me, her big blue eyes wide. She's so pretty that it's no wonder my dad wanted to marry her.