I nod as we pick up the menus. The front door of the restaurant opens with a tinkle of the bell, and I have no idea who walks in, as my back is to them, but Madeline’s eyes open as wide as saucers and she gasps. She sinks into her seat, obviously trying to hide. My eyebrows squish together as I wonder what’sgoing on, so I turn around and watch the two police officers who have entered the IHOP.
My stomach sinks, and I slowly turn back to Madeline and take a deep breath. “Madeline?” I question, and she ducks down rather dramatically, which bumps her fork off the table, making it crash to the floor and drawing rather obvious attention to us.
“Shit,” she calls out, turning away to face the back wall. Her chest rises and falls like she’s panicking. Which in turn makes me panic.
“Madeline, what the fuck?”
“Shh… don’t make him come over here,” she murmurs.
I turn to see the two cops already making their way over to us. If she weren’t acting so damn strange, they probably would have ignored us in the first place. One of them must be an ex or something.
“Ahh… Maddison. Fancy seeing you here,” one of the cops says.
“Maddison?” I query.
She turns back, facing me, her eyes filling with tears as she looks from me to the two cops. “Officer Devon, I swear I’m not working. I’m here on a date.”
My head spins as I try to figure out what the hell is happening right now.
“With a rock star? In your local area, Maddison? I don’t think so. Do you think we were born yesterday?”
I clear my throat. “Uhh… sorry. What’s happening?”
Madeline swallows hard as she looks at me.
“Well, Maddison here is going to come in for the third time this month. You’re getting quite a name for yourself, young lady. You need to stop this, Maddison. And you… well, I hope you have a good publicist because shit’s about to rain down on you hard when this news breaks.”
I shake my head, still not really understanding what’s going on. “Madeline?” I ask, looking at her, and both cops laugh.
“Madeline? That’s not the name she usually gives her clients. Not sure why she’s treating you differently, rocker. But nevertheless, you’re under arrest for the solicitation of a prostitute,” he says.
My eyes bulge out of my head, and I gawk at Madeline as she bursts into tears. “What the fuck?” I scream out as she brings her hands to her face and cries into them while the police stand tall next to us, blocking our exit.
“Now you can come quietly down to the station with us, or we can cuff you both and drag you out?” he asks.
“Look, there’s been a misunderstanding. I was taking Madeline to my friend’s wedding. I had no idea she was a…” I pause as my stomach churns thinking of what she’s been hiding from me, but I guess now it all makes sense. The little hints she was giving me along the way. A hostess, but never the name of the place she worked. How she’s good at moving her body. Little things like that all add up now.
I can’t believe the innocent-girl vibe she put on was an obvious act.
“Yeah, they all say that when they’ve been caught in the act, dude. So will you come quietly, or are you going to make a scene that will make people get their cells out and start recording?” he asks.
I glance around at the people in the restaurant, who are already starting to take notice.
“Officer Devon, please, I promise you, we’re on a date. You know I never defend my clients. Matt isnota client. Please don’t arrest him,” Madeline begs.
I shake my head, wondering what the hell fucking crazy world I’ve stepped into.
“Sorry, Maddison, you’re in your area. I have to take him in.”
Madeline closes her eyes, and the tears continue falling as I clear my throat.
“Okay, look… I don’t want to cause a scene here. I’ll come, but will this take long? I have to go to my friend’s wedding.”
The two policemen laugh. “We’ll take you to the station, but we can’t guarantee you’ll get to your wedding on time.”
“Oh, God, I’m so sorry, Matt,” Madeline blubbers.
“Shit! Okay, look… is there something I can do? Can I go to the wedding and then come into the station afterward?” I ask, and they both laugh.
