Just get through dinner, and then you can lose your shit.
I see Madison open her mouth to reply when Walker asks her about her yoga practice.
“How’s your little yoga thing going? Good right? I bet you didn’t know that I recommended you to the GM. Best brother ever!” Walker crows, clearly proud of himself.
I wince.
“My what?” She asks, with a dangerous edge to her voice. Sometimes Walker is the epitome of the dumb jock stereotype. I know he’s a smart guy, so it always takes me by surprise because I can’t figure out if he does it on purpose.
“Your yoga thing. That YouTube thing or whatever.” It’s like watching an accident unfold in front of us. You can’t stop watching, even though you know it’s going to end badly. Kenji shakes his head and looks at me. I shrug my shoulders. Walker’s digging his own grave, and sadly, it’s not the first time.
“Can I speak to you in the other room?” Madison’s tone is icy cold as she stands and points toward the study down the hall. Blond hair whipping behind her, she marches down the hall before turning to glare at him when he doesn’t follow immediately.
“What? Right now? I’m not done eating.” Jesus Walker read the room.
“Now, Walker!” Her voice cracks like a whip, and the look on his face when he finally gets that he’s fucked up is comical.He looks at me for help, but I’ve got nothing. He brought this on himself. Kenji and I have agreed that we won’t interfere when those two go at it. If we took sides, our friendship would have been over long ago.
We’re used to Madison and Walker’s bickering, but tonight seems more intense than usual. As hard as I try, my emotions are still all over the place, and I can’t seem to settle. Excusing myself, I head for the bathroom. I just need a few minutes alone to get myself together.
The bathroom is right next to the study, and I can’t help but hear Madison and Walker’s raised voices as I shut the door. I try to ignore them, but once I hear my name, all bets are off. Well, shit, now I’m listening. Madison sounds pissed, and that’s never a good sign.
“Liam? You think I should date Liam? Are you crazy?”
Um, okay, WTF?
“You guys would be good together, Mads.”
Excellent point, Walker. Yes, we would.
“Of course you would think that.”
That does not sound positive.
“And what does that mean?” Walker asks, his tone rife with snark.
“Where do I even start?” She fires back.
Now, I really want to hear what she has to say. Maybe. Well, maybe not, but it’s too late now. I’m in this.
“To begin with, he’s a man-child, and no woman wants that. The two of you are a hot ass mess, and there’s no way I want to raise a man.”
Damn. That burned. I rub my chest as I fight the urge to burst in there and defend myself.
“That’s ridiculous. We aren’t children, Mads. We’re both almost thirty.”
“You don’t act like it. You two wouldn’t know how to be adults if someone gave you a manual. Did you know that Liam’s mom handles everything in his life? Everything, Walker. He doesn’t even do his own damn laundry. She does it for him. I doubt he even knows how. She still cooks his meals for god’s sake. How is that adulating? I bet she pays his bills, too.”
I wince. It sounds so bad when she says it like that. After today’s conversation at my parents’ house, it hits harder than I’d like.
Walker tries to say something, but Mads doesn’t give him a chance.
“Why the hell would I want to date someone who has no life skills? I want a partner, not a project.”
My throat tightens. Ouch. My ego is taking a beating. Why am I staying to listen? I’m apparently a masochist, or maybe just an idiot. I’m not sure at this point.
“Oh, please, why does that matter when he makes the kind of money we make?” Walker’s response is caustic. I wince. Again. I know he’s going to regret this so much once he calms down.
“Oh, so you think I’m all about the money. You think I’m that shallow?”
