HUDSON
Waking up the following morning, I felt even worse than when Serena closed the door on me. Literally and figuratively.
If this were one of her rom-coms, the script would tell me exactly how to get to our happily ever after. But there was no set of instructions for how to fix the destruction I’d allowed to happen to our relationship.
I hadn’t slept. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the pain on Serena’s beautiful face when I asked her if she really thought Maddie was behind the photos yesterday.
Even though the way she’d broken down what happened demonstrated the exact reasons she had every right to suspect my friend, I’d still basically defended Maddie by questioning Serena’s conclusion like that. The shame of it burned hotter than any stunt fire I’d ever faced on set. Serena had been quietly breaking each time I told her Maddie was just trying to help.
Now I couldn’t stop replaying all the things I’d dismissed before. Every single time Maddie had done something that Serena pointed out. Each time seemed small on its own. Likesomething not to worry about when Maddie was just trying to help while trying to adjust to LA.
But lying there in the dark, the pattern finally clicked into place. I realized those were the justifications I told myself—and Serena—to excuse Maddie’s mistakes because I felt sorry for her. It didn’t matter that she’d been devastated by her breakup. Or that I’d known her since we were kids.
My girlfriend tried to tell me she was uncomfortable, and I didn’t listen. Instead, I forced her into the same kinds of situations over and over, in the name of friendship. One that didn’t even mean anything to me compared to my relationship with the woman who was the center of my world.
I’d told myself that our love would get us through the short transition period with Maddie, but really I’d taken that love for granted. I backed the person who I’d thought needed my help more, not the woman who deserved my unconditional support.
And it was starting to look like my friend had played me the entire time. That if I’d just listened to Serena the first time she brought up her concerns, after being patient for more than a month, I could’ve avoided this entire mess. More importantly, I could have prevented the pain I caused her.
I couldn’t go back and fix the past, but I could take care of the present.
Getting up, I made coffee I didn’t drink and stared out at the ocean while I planned my next steps.
I couldn’t fix this with a text or a call. I had to start by cutting the problem out of my life completely.
I texted Sarah first.
Me
Can you come to the house this morning? I need you present for a conversation with Maddie.
Sarah had sat through meetings with me before so I’d have a witness should legal issues arise in the future. So she didn’t ask questions before replying almost immediately.
Sarah
On my way. Be there in twenty.
Then I texted Maddie.
Me
Come to the house. We need to talk.
Her reply was just as swift.
Maddie
Sure! I’ll be on my way in five.
The heart emoji on her text made me uncomfortable in ways I’d never considered before. Before, I would’ve just chalked it up to Maddie being Maddie, but now I couldn’t help but wonder if it was another red flag I’d missed.
When she walked in twenty minutes later, Sarah headed straight for the kitchen. “Since I’m hoping you want me here to witness Maddie facing the consequences of her actions, I’m going to make some tea. I figure I can sip on some while you spill the piping-hot kind.”
“Thanks for being so concerned. I’m touched,” I drawled with a rueful smile, amused by her sarcasm even though I didn’t want to be.
“What can I say?” She shrugged and tossed me a grin over her shoulder as she grabbed a mug from the cabinet. “I’m good like that.”
She didn’t ask any questions, just sat at the kitchen island with her tablet once her tea was ready. Maddie’s smile faltered when she walked in and saw her there.
