Chapter Four #2
Caiden openly laughs while I do my best to keep my amusement bottled inside.
I catch Baxter’s shoulders shaking, no doubt silently laughing at the woman who’s clearly not having the best start to her day.
I’d feel sorry for her if it wasn’t the funniest thing to happen to all of us in far too long.
It’s not every day you wake up to a cussing woman only to find her stuck in the tub covered in lube and food before finding out she’s your landlord and a big-name photographer.
Doing as we’re told, Rayne and I make our way to the kitchen, helping ourselves before sitting around the kitchen island. Baxter is the last to join us, sliding a plate over to Caid before settling in with his own.
As soon as he’s seated, we all look over at her expectantly, her fork filled with food only an inch away from her mouth.
“Still waiting on your names. I know Rayne and Caiden. Given that I’m about to spill the fifth-biggest regret of my life to the strangers who witnessed the aftermath, it’s only fair I know all your names, right? ”
“You don’t know our names and yet you rented us the apartment?” I ask a little more seriously than I probably should have. “That’s a little dangerous, don’t you think?”
“Nope, because I had you all checked out thoroughly through my company. I just haven’t looked the papers over yet since I like to procrastinate from time to time,” she answers promptly before shoving a forkful of food into her mouth.
The move shouldn’t have any impact on me at all.
After all, she’s only eating food, but the way her full, pouty lips slide over the metal fork does something a little crazy to me.
“What?” Madison asks, an eyebrow arched high on her forehead while she stuffs more into her mouth like she doesn’t know what she’s doing to me.
Get a goddamn grip, Ry.
Clearing my throat, I shake my head and avoid the stupid grin on Caiden’s face before reaching my hand over the island toward her and introducing myself. “Ryan Young.”
She wipes her hand on her sweatpants and slides her dainty hand into mine, smooth skin sliding over my roughened palm.
With a stern shake of our hands most men I’ve met over the years wouldn’t provide, her lips curve and she replies, “Madison Fowler, but I go by Maddie or Mads. Twatface, asshole, or dickhead if my friends are around.”
Caiden laughs, and I can’t help breaking into a smile. “Good to know.”
Reluctantly, I release her hand, Caid quick to replace mine with his own, wearing a cheeky grin and a brightness that would rival the goddamn sun. “Caiden Miller, but you can call me whatever you want.”
The fucker winks over at her while he pulls her hand to his mouth, and the laugh Madison releases sucker punches my chest with all the power of the damn Hulk.
The reddening stain in her cheeks hits that much harder, but I can’t help but watch with rapt attention as she shoves Caiden’s face away just as he kisses her knuckles with a laugh.
“I think I just became lactose intolerant, because that was hella cheesy,” she jokes, holding her hand out to Rayne with a smile still in place. “I know we already met, but hell, I’m taking my first impression back and replacing it with one that doesn’t make me look like an escaped asylum patient.”
Rayne looks at her hand like it’s a snake ready to bite him before rolling his eyes at himself and taking her tiny hand in his large paw. His voice is raspy and deep when he says, “Wouldn’t consider you psychotic just yet, but it was one hell of a way to make someone remember you.”
Snorting, she shakes Rayne’s hand and politely offers, “Nice to meet you, regardless.”
With a nod, Rayne offers a small smile before releasing her hand and wrapping his arms over his chest, plate already empty. When the fuck did he eat all of his breakfast?
Shaking my head, I tuck into my own while keeping track of the conversation, watching Madison’s movements with rapt attention. Because that’s not weird or anything.
Holding her hand out to Baxter, who sits closer to her than Rayne or I, she grins. “And you, pancake maker?”
Bax wipes his mouth with his left hand while releasing the fork in his right, offering it to Madison and saying, “Baxter Marshall, ma’am.”
“Manners and pancakes. Nice,” she observes, shaking Baxter’s hand with confidence before letting go. Pointing at the pancakes, she admits, “These are crazy good, by the way. Thanks again.”
“You’re welcome,” Bax offers, a blush forming on his face. He’s never been one to accept a compliment very well, but it doesn’t make it any less funny to see the large tatted man blushing after a tiny woman compliments his cooking.
Madison flashes him another smile before stuffing her mouth just as she says, “Well, I guess I’m done stalling. Suppose I should explain myself.”
“We’re all ears, Blue,” Caiden snickers, dropping his fork on his empty plate while he gives Madison his undivided attention. We all follow suit, our plates now empty and our bellies full, looking at Madison expectantly.
With a dramatic sigh and a sad shake of her head, Madison leans away from the island and rests against the back of her seat, taking her plate with her.
She looks us all over, cheeks already heating as she says, “Fine. Fuck it. You’ve already seen me at my worst. I’ll preface this by saying it’s all my best friends’ fault and they’re assholes who deserve to be punished after the hell my vagina has been through. ”
We all answer with snickers and snorts, but we don’t interrupt otherwise. Instead, we sit back and listen to Madison as she explains in great detail what the hell happened to her this morning.