Okay, my day just went from super sucky to amazing. Thank you!
I set the phone down, my sister’s joy easing more of my tension. At least one thing today went right…even if my relationship felt like it could implode at any minute.
2
HUDSON
Iloved my Malibu house. It was one of the first things I’d bought after I became an A-lister. The timing was incredibly lucky because homes in Malibu Colony rarely came up for sale. I was able to nab a landside single lot with incredible views using my pay-or-play fee for the sequel to the action franchise that launched me into stardom as a sizable down payment.
Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the endless Pacific, and the low, steady crash of waves never failed to soothe me. Dropping my keys on the console table, I rolled my shoulders until something popped, already calculating the drive to Serena’s place in the Hollywood Hills. That trip could easily stretch into two hours with evening traffic, and I needed to swing by Craig’s to pick up dinner.
I’d barely kicked off my shoes when the security panel chimed as someone entered the code for the door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, and company was the last thing I wanted at the moment, but very few people had that kind of access to my home.
“Hey, Hudson! I hope you’re starving.”
Maddie hadn’t knocked or called ahead. I opened my mouth to remind her it might be nice to shoot a quick text first, but then I saw the canvas tote overflowing with groceries, and I just couldn’t do it. She looked so eager to do something nice that calling her out felt like an overreaction.
“What’s all this?” I asked instead, following her into the kitchen.
“Pork tenderloin sandwiches. Your mom’s recipe.” She set the bag down and started unloading. “I figured you could use a real meal after whatever rabbit food they fed you on set today.”
My stomach gave a traitorous growl. Mom’s sandwiches were pure Indiana comfort—the kind of greasy goodness you couldn’t find anywhere in LA. I hadn’t tasted them in years, and just the idea of biting into one made my mouth water like I was sixteen again.
“You didn’t have to go to all this trouble, Maddie.”
She waved me off with that easy laugh I’d known since kindergarten. “It’s the least I can do after messing up Avery’s cake order. I still feel terrible about that.”
I rubbed the back of my neck. Serena had sounded drained when we talked earlier, but it really had just been an honest mix-up. Maddie was trying. That counted for a lot, especially after everything her ex had put her through.
“Serena flew out to Connecticut this morning. The cake’s on its way back as we speak.”
Maddie’s shoulders relaxed a fraction. “I’m glad she could fix my mistake. I just wish I’d gotten it right the first time.”
While the pork seared and the kitchen filled with the aroma that took me straight back to my childhood home, she prattled on about the summer bonfires, sneaking into the county fair after closing, and how my mom used to whip up these exact sandwiches most Friday nights.
“Remember Kelsey, the girl you dated junior year?” She flipped the tenderloin in the pan to cook it on the other side. “Man, she couldn’t stand me. Swore I was secretly in love with you, and our friendship was weird. Every time I showed up at your house, she’d get so irritated. You remember that?”
I chuckled, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge. “Yeah, we only lasted three months before she bailed.”
Maddie shook her head. “Some girls just don’t get it. They see a close friendship with another woman and immediately assume the worst.”
“I’m lucky Serena’s not like that.” It was refreshing to be with a woman who understood the absurdity of this life. Privacy was a rare commodity when you were in the limelight, which made dating even harder. “We’re not teenagers, so relationships don’t have drama like that anymore.”
Maddie gave a small hum and ducked her head, focusing on the pork.
I grimaced internally, realizing my words might have landed wrong, given how raw her breakup still was.
Luckily, she let the subject drop and focused on the pork tenderloin again. Almost two hours after she started cooking, she finally slid a plate in front of me.
I ate half the sandwich, savoring every bite, then pushed the rest away with genuine regret.
Maddie’s face fell. “You don’t like it?”
“It’s incredible. Tastes just like home.” I checked the time on my phone and winced. “But if I finish this now, I won’t have any room for the takeout I promised Serena and Avery. Plus, the drive from Malibu to the Hills can take forever with traffic, and I need to stop at Craig’s on the way.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders drooped for a second, but she recovered quickly, flashing that same resilient smile she’d had since highschool. “I didn’t realize you had plans with her tonight. I figured since your call time got pushed, we could just hang out.”
“I called Serena earlier,” I explained, already feeling the pull to get on the road. “I should probably head out soon.”
