FIVE
Once Michael’s flawless photographs had gone live on her website, the listings practically leaped off the screen.
Interest exploded immediately. Multiple agents contacted Hayley to schedule private tours, all hoping to get exclusive access for their clients ahead of the official open house the following weekend.
Her first showing of the morning in Tribeca had gone incredibly well—she expected to see an offer in her inbox by the end of the day—and Hayley found herself with time to kill before her second appointment that afternoon.
She stepped out of the apartment building and onto the sidewalk, her orange Birkin in hand, and breathed in the warm summer air.
The smell of cinnamon wafted toward her from a nearby churro cart, eliciting a rare smile.
It was a sweet aroma from her childhood—of weekends in the park and walks home from school with her father.
They would stop at every vendor they passed and then rank each treat before going home.
They’d shared a churro from this very cart just the other day when he visited to see the finished condos in all their glory.
Hayley also had a habit of seeking out the same specific bench in Brooklyn Bridge Park whenever she had downtime in the area. It was the only spot she could count on to recenter herself, time after time, when the pressures of the world started to get the best of her.
That day, however, Hayley felt light as she meandered around Dumbo. She wasn’t at all worried about the housing market. She knew she’d sell the condos quickly. If anything, she needed to prepare herself for negotiations.
As a female realtor, Hayley hated that she was often judged by her demeanor and ability to please rather than by her intelligence.
Early on, she had to learn how to be firm without being rude, how to get what she wanted without being labeled a “bitch.” In the male-dominated space of real estate, that line was razor-thin.
If she pushed too hard on a price, she was “aggressive.” If she didn’t push hard enough, she was “inexperienced.” Every negotiation demanded that she read a room perfectly, smile at all the right times, and know when to hold her ground.
It was an exhausting tightrope at times, and she had to walk it every single day.
Hayley’s pace slowed as she strolled along the East River, lost in her thoughts.
Humid air wrapped around her, carrying the fragrant, earthy scent of the flower gardens that lined the path.
Bursts of vibrant pinks and royal purples bloomed.
Her steps fell into rhythm with the songs of hidden birds chirping from the green canopy swaying overhead.
As she neared her favorite bench, she found it was already occupied by another woman. A long blonde ponytail swayed in the light breeze coming off the water. Hayley couldn’t see her face from behind, but the way the woman held herself felt eerily familiar.
She veered off the path, trying to get a better look while admiring the way the rays caught the woman’s profile, highlighting the sharp line of her jaw and the ease in her posture. But as Hayley drew closer, her curiosity was quickly replaced with exasperation.
Madison.
Of course, it was.
Hayley braced for the familiar vein in her neck to throb, for her body temperature to rise, but neither happened.
She hesitated, taking a quick glance around the park to confirm they were alone before deciding to approach. If Hayley wanted a perfect, low-stakes chance to prove to herself that she could be cordial with Maddie, she couldn’t think of a better opportunity.
For Gemma, she thought, taking a deep breath to steel herself.
Within seconds, she found herself regretting the decision.
Up close, Maddie’s soft pink, skin-tight workout set was even more compelling.
Golden sunlight skimmed along the sculpted lines of Maddie’s statuesque frame in a way that sent an unexpected flicker through Hayley’s chest, a feeling she couldn’t quite name.
Hayley was having trouble focusing on their small talk, distracted by a single bead of sweat tracing a path down Maddie’s chest. She was grateful for her Dior sunglasses and hoped they were dark enough to hide her wandering gaze.
Then, Maddie’s phone vibrated between them.
The air around them crackled with the energy of a brewing storm, and Hayley knew she needed to get out of there.
It wasn’t until she was positive that she had lost Maddie in the crowd that Hayley finally slowed her pace, slumping against the brick wall of a busy storefront to catch her breath.
I must be coming down with something, Hayley rationalized, making a mental note to stock up on Vitamin C.
She felt fine all day, more than fine even. But then Maddie’s screen had lit up, and Hayley’s eyes caught the text before she could stop herself. Last night was hot. Round 2 tonight? The messages that followed were images, but Hayley couldn’t see details in the notification preview.
Instantly, her stomach turned, flooding her with nausea. Hayley hadn’t been sick in years, but she could think of no other explanation.
Something was definitely wrong with her, she decided.
Hayley pushed away from the wall and brushed the dust off her clothes.
She shrugged on her crisp suit jacket and reapplied a fresh coat of red lipstick.
Then she strode back toward the black-and-white tiled lobby of her father’s new building, refocusing on her mission at hand.
A FEW DAYS LATER, HAYLEY STOOD in the middle of her kitchen, mentally preparing herself for her afternoon appointment. She had promised Gemma she would meet up with her to shop for maid-of-honor outfits, which meant Maddie would be there with Caitlin as well.
Her stomach started to feel uneasy again. It was strange considering the flu had only ever lasted a day or two before. She had gone to sleep feeling so much better and thought it had passed. She tucked a can of ginger ale into her bag, just in case.
It was the end of June, and New York’s heat had reached an all-time high.
Hayley may have skipped the office that day, but not the effort.
She took her time getting dressed that morning, pairing a white ribbed tank with relaxed striped Tom Ford pants.
She slid on her dark square sunglasses and stepped into open-toed heels, determined to put on a good show of civility.
When Hayley arrived at the address Gemma had sent, she flipped her sunglasses up into her perfectly straight hair and pushed the door open, a soft chime greeting her.
At the sound, Gemma turned toward the door and dramatically looked Hayley up and down. “Damn, my best friend is hot,” she announced by way of greeting.
Hayley shot Gemma her best Who, me? smile before kissing her once on the cheek.
“I’ve just been out and about, running errands, working.” She offered a nonchalant wave, her Birkin dangling from her arm.
“Sure, you were. I know this outfit.” Gemma leaned closer to whisper, “Who are we baiting?”
Before Hayley could protest, Maddie stepped out of the nearest fitting room in a long champagne-colored gown.
Hayley watched, transfixed, as Maddie twirled for Caitlin, a wide smile blooming across her face.
The dress’s open back and plunging neckline had specifically snagged Hayley’s attention, and when the spin finally stopped, Maddie’s eyes locked onto her own.
Hayley stood perfectly still as Maddie took her in, her gaze dipping lower as she slowly dragged her teeth along her bottom lip.
Gemma cleared her throat, startling Hayley. She looked back toward her friend, whose expression was pinched in clear, tight-lipped disapproval.
“Hey Caitlin.” Hayley recovered quickly, keeping her distance as she greeted the two women. “Madison.”
“Hey,” Maddie managed, her throat working as she swallowed hard.
“O-kay,” Gemma interjected, drawing out both syllables. “Hay, we want you both to be comfortable, and we really don’t care about the color. But we do want you two to match.”
“Maddie already has a few dresses to try on,” Caitlin added, “so why don’t you go pick some out for yourself, and then you both can try them on together, yeah?”
Hayley agreed and drifted toward the nearest display, flipping through options.
Gemma tugged on her arm, pulling her deeper into the store and out of earshot from the others. “Anything you care to share?”
Hayley glanced around. “Oh, that question was for me?”
“Seriously,” Gemma hissed, “are you sleeping with her? Or trying to? We literally just talked about this, Hay.”
Hayley pivoted and began sorting through the rack beside her. “How much champagne have you had? I clearly have some catching up to do.”
Gemma stifled a laugh, turning it into a sharp scoff. “Hayley Maddox, I know you. Listen to me. You cannot sleep with Maddie.”
“Do you think I could wear a suit?” Hayley asked, pushing aside a few hangers as she moved on to the next section.
“Yes, obviously, but don’t change the subject.
” Gemma followed close behind, fighting to keep her voice to a whisper.
“We have over three months of wedding prep left, and I need you two to still be speaking by the end of it. Maddie’s looking for her soulmate, Hay, and we both know you break out in hives at the mere mention of a relationship.
So, for everyone’s sake, please do not make her your next conquest. We already know how that ends. ”
Hayley didn’t appreciate the lack of confidence in her best friend’s voice, but she understood where Gemma was coming from. She was right, after all. Hayley had absolutely no intention of ever becoming anybody’s soulmate, especially not Maddie’s.
Sure, maybe she’d imagined peeling off those pink biker shorts and sports bra to see what was underneath, but Hayley wasn’t feral. She could control herself, couldn’t she?