Chapter Twenty-One
MATT
I’m nervous. Today’s a huge day. Not only because one of my best friends, Danger, is marrying his girl, Lunar, but also because I’m seeing Madeline again, and to top it off, Alex is meeting Ronan.
Why she didn’t meet him prior to today, I’m not sure.
Taking your internet date on their first date to your friend’s wedding seems like a big deal to me, so she must care for him more than she’s letting on.
As I run my hands over my tie, making sure it’s straight, I look around my bedroom to ensure it’s clean one last time.
If all goes well after the wedding, I’m going to bring Madeline back here to spend some quality alone time getting to know each other.
I want the house to look nice and less like a bachelor pad.
I’m picking Madeline up, and we’re heading out for a quick lunch before we drive over to the ceremony.
I honestly never thought I’d see the day that Danger tied the knot, not after his ex, Ella, and the fiasco that ensued, but Lunar is perfect for him.
I’m glad they found each other, and I’m happy their day is finally here.
After everything they’ve been through, I wouldn’t miss this for the world!
Taking one last look around my room, I nod, satisfied, and walk downstairs, giving the ficus a flick as I pass. I pull out my cell and send her a quick message, letting her know I’m on my way.
During the short drive to Madeline’s place, I have the music on loud, pumping through my veins, giving me the courage to be the man I need to be today. Madeline and Alex meeting has me more nervous than anything, and to be honest, if they don’t get along, I’m not sure what I’m going to do.
I arrive at Madeline’s house and jolt back in shock.
For a hostess, this place is incredibly nice.
I know that’s judgmental of me, but honestly, I didn’t think a waitress could afford such a lavish two-story home as this.
It’s huge, almost as big as my place, and I take a deep breath, taking in the sight, wondering if I actually have the correct address.
I glance at the number on the post box, and sure enough, it seems correct.
Getting out of the car, I stroll to the front door and ring the doorbell.
The door swings open, and Madeline’s wearing a knee-length figure-hugging red dress that reminds me of the dress Julia Roberts wore in Pretty Woman, only a little shorter.
The sleeves fall off her shoulders, accentuating her beautiful curves.
She looks stunning. Jaw-droppingly beautiful.
A slow smile creeps up my face, and I shake my head slowly from side to side.
She frowns, running her hands up and down her dress. “Oh, no, you don’t like it?”
I reach out, grabbing her hand. “Just the opposite. You look incredible.”
She blushes, looking down in a shy, embarrassed manner, and I move my hand under her chin, making her look up at me as I stare into her beautiful green eyes.
“You’re incredible, Madeline.”
She sighs with a small smile, then reaches inside to grab her clutch, turns back, and closes the door behind her.
“Thank you. Shall we get some lunch?” she asks.
“Yeah, let’s. But we’d better make it something quick. We have to be at the gardens by one.”
She grabs my hand, and we move off to my car, her heels clicking on the concrete as we walk.
“Okay, where to for lunch?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’m easy. Somewhere that’s good for you.”
I passed an IHOP just down the road on my way here, that should be good enough to fill the need, so I pull out into traffic.
On the short drive, I notice Madeline looking down the road, shifting uncomfortably in her seat while staring at a particular building.
It’s unmarked, and I don’t really recognize it as anything, but she quickly looks away as we pass.
My forehead puckers in confusion, but I let it slide as I pull into the parking lot to IHOP a block down.
Her movements have changed, and she seems slightly agitated like she doesn’t want to be here.
“Are you okay?”
Madeline looks up at me and clearly fake smiles. “Yes, sure. Can we head inside, eat, and then go?”
I screw up my face watching her and nod as I park the car. “Ah… yeah, sure.”
Grabbing a hat, I pull it down, then exit the car as I have no security with me, as they’re all focused on the wedding today.
We walk inside and take a seat near the back.
Luckily, the restaurant isn’t too crowded, and I attempt to hide myself as much as possible from the other diners.
I’m sitting with my back to the rest of the room so no one can see me, while Madeline faces the restaurant, but she seems incredibly uncomfortable.
Then it hits me—maybe this is where she works?
As she looks around the restaurant like she’s searching for someone, I reach out and grab her hand. “Madeline, do you work here?” I ask, and she looks at me. Her posture softens as she visibly relaxes.
“No, sorry. I’m okay, I promise. I just want to have a great day with you and your friends. I’m a little nervous.”
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’s going 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 is not a 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.
Officer Devon reaches down, grabs my arm, pulls me up, and ushers me out of the IHOP. “Let’s go.”
“Look, what if I pay you to make this go away?” I ask and instantly regret the words.
Goddamn, that was stupid.
What the fuck was I thinking?
He shoves me through the door with the other cop and Madeline following behind me.
“Now you’re bribing an officer of the law as well as solicitation? You’re definitely not making that wedding now, bright spark,” he states, leading me to his cruiser and opening the back door.
I can’t believe how monumentally fucked up this all is. This is far, far, worse than Jaci! I thought Madeline—or Maddison, or whatever the fuck her name is—was freaking perfect.
No, of course not!
She’s a fucking hooker!
Fuck me!
I have literally the worst luck with women.
“Wrists out,” Officer Devon demands.
“What, why?”
“So I can cuff you.”
“But you said you wouldn’t if I came quietly.”
“Yes, and you did, but now you’re both getting into the back of the cruiser. I can’t have you getting all frisky together, can I?”
“You’re kidding, right?” I blurt out.
He raises a brow as if to say, ‘Does it look like I’m kidding?’ So I simply put out my wrists for him to place the cuffs on without a fight.
This is happening.
Whether I like it or not.
So I may as well accept my fate.
He then pushes me to slide into the back of the cop car.
Well, it’s official, I can now call myself a fully-fledged rock star. The sensible member of Recoil has finally been arrested. Shit’s going to hit the proverbial fan when this crap gets out.
I slide in to see Madeline already seated in the car, hands in her lap with the cuffs on like she’s done this multiple times before. Which according to Officer Devon, she has three times this fucking month. So pretty much once a week.
Fucking hell! Literally, I’m in fucking hell.
The door shuts next to me, and I glance at Madeline, who’s looking down at her lap.
Tears are streaming down her face, and I can’t help but feel angry.
I felt a connection with her, and it was all fake.
Did she know who I was all along, and was she using me to further her dancing career? Was this all a game to her?
“What’s your real name?” I ask, and she turns to face me as the car takes off toward the station.
“It’s Madeline. Maddison is the fake name I give to my clients. I was only ever real with you, Matt.”
I roll my eyes. “Did you know who I was from the start?”
She shakes her head. “No, of course not. I only realized who Recoil is last night when I googled you.”
I huff. “So you didn’t come after me for who I am to further your dancing career?”
Tears fall down her face a little faster.
“Matt, no. I swear. I was me with you. Maddison is a lie. Everything about her is only so I can pay the bills and, hopefully, have a career in dance. But Madeline, that’s who I am.
I swear everything about me, everything I’ve told you… that’s who I really am, Matt.”
“And you think keeping something this huge wasn’t going to be a big deal for me?” I ask, and Devon chuckles in the front seat to himself.
She swallows hard and chews on her bottom lip. I used to find it sexy when she did that. Now, all I see is the scared little girl behind this vixen.
“I thought if you got to know me, the real me… once I told you, it might not be such a big deal.”
I can’t stop the guttural laugh that erupts from my throat as it echoes through the car. Her eyes sparkle with tears, and her mouth turns down as she gives me a forlorn look.
“Did you guys work out this little act in case you got caught? ’Cause I’m almost believing you,” Officer Devon calls out from the front with a chuckle.
I throw myself back into the seat and turn away from Madeline, staring out the window for the rest of the car ride to the station.