She leans back just enough to meet my eyes when she says, "Thank you for always being here when I need you."
I stroke her face with my thumb. "I’ll never let anything happen to you."
LILAC
I’m glad I’m upstairs.
Whatever conversation the guys are having downstairs with Elijah Moretti feels tense. Callum didn’t tell me he was a triplet, or that all three of them were coming here today. They were dressed the same in grey slacks, white button-down shirts with the sleeves elegantly rolled up to their elbows. They exude old money mafia vibes, and I knew I wasn’t the only one that had bad vibes because Madi almost instantly pulled me and Winter upstairs under the guise of needing help with her makeup.
Madison Caldwell may need a lot of things in this life, but help with doing her makeup isn’t one of them.
Now we’re in Madison and Hayden’s bedroom, where the vibes are pink, plush, and a stack of Hayden’s clothes piled up in a chair. Madi’s vanity is the centerpiece, light pink with silver hardware and a mirror rimmed with soft lights.
"This is so cute," I say, running my hand over the glossy surface, eyes catching on the little dishes full of rings and the blush-pink brushes arranged in size order.
Winter laughs and points at Madi. "Hayden found it on her Pinterest before they were dating.”
Madi flushes, swiping mascara onto her lashes. "He sure knows how to make a spectacle, doesn’t he?"
I grin, because an idea pops into my head. "Have you ever pinned something totally ridiculous just to see what he’d do?"
Winter collapses backward on the bed, her braid fanning out over one of Madi's light pillows. "Oh my god, this is my new favorite game. What can we pin?"
Madi groans, but she’s smiling. "You guys are going to get me in trouble."
I pick up her light pink phone. The case has tiny white daisies on the case, of course, and tap her Pinterest app open. "What should we add?"
Winter lifts a hand dramatically, eyes closed in the most Tristan-esque move I’ve ever seen. "Nothing that will make him jealous. We can’t handle him going on a murder spree because you pinned a shirtless guy."
I laugh, scrolling through boards. "He really would, too."
Madi shrugs, trying to play it cool. "I plead the fifth."
I glance over my shoulder at Winter. "St. Charles hockey merch?"
Winter bolts upright. "YES."
Madi sighs, already defeated. "You guys are evil. I’m going to have to stop him from waiting in the parking lot at their next away game."
We all laugh, because she’s not wrong. Hayden Lockwood wouldn’t pass a single question on a psychopathology test, but when it comes to Madison, he’s all in. Obsessively, protectively, maybe-a-little-terrifyingly in. But it’s kind of hard to argue with the way he treats her. Like she hung the stars just for him.
"All done. Does it look okay?" Madi asks, spinning in her chair.
She’s clearly satisfied with her hair and makeup. Her high ponytail tied with a soft pink bow, delicate jewelry sparkling against her skin.
"Beautiful," I say. "I can never get my hair in a ponytail that high."
"Have a seat. I’ll show you my trick," she offers, holding up a cropped pink sweater against herself like she’s debating wearing it over the white tank she has on.
I glance at Winter, who’s lounging at the edge of the bed with a fashion magazine. "Did you want to go next?"
She shakes her head without looking up. "Nope. You’re good. Tristan braids my hair every morning. And I love seeing the makeup looks you guys do, but every time I try it, my skin itches. I think I’m allergic or something."
"There’s a girl in my psych class who’s allergic to something common in makeup," I say, taking a seat at the vanity. "You might have something similar. Or maybe just really sensitive skin."
Madi pulls on the pink sweater and steps behind me. "High ponytail like mine?"
"Yes, please!"
