“Yeah.” Madison looked down at the ground.
“So enjoy it while it lasts, but know that it will end. That’s the one thing I wish someone would have told me. Maybe then we would still be friends.”
Becky had given Madison tons to ponder. Madison pulled another pin out of her pin cushion.
“What else do you like to do for fun?”
Madison finished up, and they talked shows they had watched and things they wanted to do after the competition was over. It had been nice, and she believed she could call Becky a friend at the end of it.
For some of the projects they had worked on for the fashion house, the models had been super hard to work with.
Some of them had lived up to the high maintenance stereotype, so it was refreshing for the final project to get a model who didn’t think she had to be demanding as a requirement.
Madison got into the flow and time slipped away from her and she and her sewing machine became one. She was startled by her alarm. She had skipped lunch and was close to missing dinner. She had a meet up with Sabrina and Zoe before work for dinner and to catch up with them.
Sabrina still hadn’t apologized for spreading the rumors and had been standoffish and didn’t come near Madison. She left the room if Madison came in. Zoe had been busy with something or someone. She wasn’t sure if it was the friend she had mentioned earlier. Madison didn’t want to press her. She got wanting to keep some things private and to herself. She was the same way with what was going on between her and Dante. It wasn’t going to last forever, so why mention it.
But even if she wanted to share what was happening, she and Dante had agreed not to share. Maybe it was something like that with Zoe and whoever her friend was. Madison was quick to get dressed, happy she had packed her bag before she had started sewing.
Sabrina was going to pick her up. She hoped the tension between them had lessened, and she suspected Sabrina wanted to say she was sorry when they were alone. She knew Sabrina might still be upset she got the headliner position. Sabrina must have been over it since she had offered to pick Madison up.
Madison had just set her dance duffle next to her overnight bag when her doorbell rang. She opened it up to see Enzo. He had also avoided her, and she was wary after their last interaction to see him.
Even though he had her address, he had never come to her place before.
“Enzo? What’s up? I’m getting ready to leave.”
He looked over her shoulder and though she knew Dante wasn’t there, she pulled the door tighter to her body.
“I just wanted to talk to you without a whole bunch of people around to overhear.”
“Oh ok.” Madison was confused. He had made himself quite clear what he believed she had been doing and how that made him feel.
“I know you slept with Dante, but I’m willing to forgive you.”
Madison’s head moved back as if she had been slapped. “I’m sorry?”
“We, Lucca, Gabe, and I, came in after you had left.”
“Ok.” Madison had no idea where he was going with this conversation, but she was ready for it to be over. “I’m not sure what the point of this conversation is.”
“I should have told you earlier, but I’m interested in you. I didn’t expect you to sleep with Dante right after you met him.” He moved forward.
“Right.” Madison didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that she and Dante hadn’t only slept together once. Dante, true to his word, hadn’t told anyone and she wasn’t going to tell Enzo. “I’m sorry I didn’t know you were interested in me. I suspected, but I wasn’t sure.” Madison shifted side to side and touched her hair.
“That’s ok. It was my fault I did not make it clear. I just didn’t expect you to sleep with Dante.” He looked at her as if he expected her to apologize for that.
“Enzo, I—” Madison looked over his shoulder to see if anyone else was coming.
“It’s ok, you already said sorry. I’ll overlook the fact. I know Dante is done with you.” He put his hand on the door jamb.
That was news to her, and she just stood there.
“I don’t mean to be so blunt, but he would never be interested in a real relationship with you like I am.”
“Right.” Madison wanted to end this conversation, and she didn’t know whether to be happy Sabrina was late or not. She didn’t want her to overhear this conversation. She knew Sabrina liked Enzo, and she didn’t want her to know she had slept with Dante either.
“So like I said. I will overlook your mistake of sleeping with Dante the first time you laid eyes on him and take you back.”
