Chapter 9 #2
Madison got into the flow and time slipped away from her and she and her sewing machine became one. She was startled by her alarm. She had skipped lunch and was close to missing dinner. She had a meet up with Sabrina and Zoe before work for dinner and to catch up with them.
Sabrina still hadn’t apologized for spreading the rumors and had been standoffish and didn’t come near Madison.
She left the room if Madison came in. Zoe had been busy with something or someone.
She wasn’t sure if it was the friend she had mentioned earlier.
Madison didn’t want to press her. She got wanting to keep some things private and to herself.
She was the same way with what was going on between her and Dante.
It wasn’t going to last forever, so why mention it.
But even if she wanted to share what was happening, she and Dante had agreed not to share. Maybe it was something like that with Zoe and whoever her friend was. Madison was quick to get dressed, happy she had packed her bag before she had started sewing.
Sabrina was going to pick her up. She hoped the tension between them had lessened, and she suspected Sabrina wanted to say she was sorry when they were alone.
She knew Sabrina might still be upset she got the headliner position.
Sabrina must have been over it since she had offered to pick Madison up.
Madison had just set her dance duffle next to her overnight bag when her doorbell rang. She opened it up to see Enzo. He had also avoided her, and she was wary after their last interaction to see him.
Even though he had her address, he had never come to her place before.
“Enzo? What’s up? I’m getting ready to leave.”
He looked over her shoulder and though she knew Dante wasn’t there, she pulled the door tighter to her body.
“I just wanted to talk to you without a whole bunch of people around to overhear.”
“Oh ok.” Madison was confused. He had made himself quite clear what he believed she had been doing and how that made him feel.
“I know you slept with Dante, but I’m willing to forgive you.”
Madison’s head moved back as if she had been slapped. “I’m sorry?”
“We, Lucca, Gabe, and I, came in after you had left.”
“Ok.” Madison had no idea where he was going with this conversation, but she was ready for it to be over. “I’m not sure what the point of this conversation is.”
“I should have told you earlier, but I’m interested in you. I didn’t expect you to sleep with Dante right after you met him.” He moved forward.
“Right.” Madison didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that she and Dante hadn’t only slept together once.
Dante, true to his word, hadn’t told anyone and she wasn’t going to tell Enzo.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know you were interested in me.
I suspected, but I wasn’t sure.” Madison shifted side to side and touched her hair.
“That’s ok. It was my fault I did not make it clear. I just didn’t expect you to sleep with Dante.” He looked at her as if he expected her to apologize for that.
“Enzo, I—” Madison looked over his shoulder to see if anyone else was coming.
“It’s ok, you already said sorry. I’ll overlook the fact. I know Dante is done with you.” He put his hand on the door jamb.
That was news to her, and she just stood there.
“I don’t mean to be so blunt, but he would never be interested in a real relationship with you like I am.”
“Right.” Madison wanted to end this conversation, and she didn’t know whether to be happy Sabrina was late or not. She didn’t want her to overhear this conversation. She knew Sabrina liked Enzo, and she didn’t want her to know she had slept with Dante either.
“So like I said. I will overlook your mistake of sleeping with Dante the first time you laid eyes on him and take you back.”
Madison screamed inside her head, what the fuck?
“Enzo. I think you might be confused, but I wasn’t apologizing for what happened between Dante and me.
I’m not interested in dating you even if, as you were so gracious to put it, you were willing to ‘take me back.’ You never had me, and I’m not looking for a relationship with you besides what we have at the club. ”
“Dante will never date you.” He got in her face.
“And that’s fine. I’m not looking for that.” Even though now in her heart she was. Which was strange as before Dante it wasn’t something she had considered. “I think this conversation is over, and I would appreciate it if you don’t bring it up again.”
She gripped the door handle. “Like I said I’m getting ready to leave.
I guess I’ll see you around the club, and please don’t come to my place again.
” She moved back and closed the door in his face.
There was nothing else for her to say, and she didn’t want to hear anything else that came out of his mouth.
Enzo stopped the door from being closed and pushed his way inside her place.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Madison backed up into her place.
“Dante shares his girls after he is done with them, so it’s my turn.” He grabbed her and tried to kiss her.
Madison slapped him across the face, but that didn’t stop him, and he reached for her shirt, so she kneed him in the groin and shoved him out the door and locked it.
She hoped he took the hint and left, and she would prefer if he stayed away from her at the club as well. She hoped from now on he would keep his distance. Madison’s phone dinged. A text from Sabrina.
—Sorry I’m running late. Be there in five—
—No worries. See you then—
Madison sat down to process what Enzo had said.
Dante and the others used to share girls.
Maybe still did, if what Enzo said was to be believable.
And she didn’t think he was as trustworthy as she had first presumed.
She didn’t care if Dante was done with her.
She ignored the stab in her heart. She wouldn’t be passed around.
Madison’s doorbell rang twenty minutes later.
“Sorry, I got caught up in my design.”
“No problem.” Madison ran her hands up and down her arms. She was cold and shaky. “I, uh, understand. How is it going?”
“Good. Are you ok?”
“Uh, yeah, I’m fine.” Madison shook herself and tried to block out what happened with Enzo. It wasn’t something she wanted to share with Sabrina.
“Are you ready to go?”
“Uh, yeah. Let me grab my stuff and lock up.”
Madison caught Sabrina looking at her sketches.
“Is that your design for fashion week?”
“Nope. Just some ideas I had.”
“They look nice.”
“Thanks. I’m ready.”
Sabrina walked out in front of her and she grabbed her bags.
“Whoa, you have a lot of stuff.”
Madison looked down. “I don’t think so, it’s my usual stuff. I just have an extra bag of clothes.”
“Oh, to drop off for Henry. How is he?”
She didn’t know why she assumed the clothes were for Henry, and she wasn’t going to tell her what they were for. “He’s good. Doing much better.” She locked the door behind her and followed Sabrina to her car.
“Thanks for being able to pick me up. We haven’t had much time to talk.”
“Yeah, that’s been my fault. I was still upset that you got the headliner position. It was mine, everyone knew that, and then you came and took it.”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. It just happened.” She climbed into the car. She hoped the whole ride wouldn’t be this topic. And where was Sabrina’s apology for the rumor she spread?
“It’s just I needed the money, and I doubt I’m going to win fashion week. I mean let’s be honest. I’m in last place.
“You never know. Besides, other fashion houses will be there, so it’s not like you can’t get in with another fashion house.”
“Yeah, I guess that could be a possibility.” Sabrina parked outside the restaurant. “There is something I need to say to you, and something I need to ask you.” She turned around and looked at Madison.
“That sounds serious. Yeah, sure.” Madison turned her body towards Sabrina and expected her to apologize.
“I know we have known each other since we were kids, but I have to know something.”
“Ok, sure. Ask?” Madison had no idea what Sabrina was going to ask.
“Did you sleep with Dante to get the headliner position?”
“What? No.” Which wasn’t a lie. She had slept with Dante after he had agreed to put her on the schedule. True she didn’t know it was going to be as a headliner. Did he do that because she gave him her virginity?
“I didn’t think so, but I had to ask.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I don’t know. It was the only thing that kind of made sense as to why you just happened to sub for me and then you all of a sudden you were exclusive there.”
“That was the first night I met Dante.”
“But there is also the fact that you don’t have to follow club rules.”
“Dante had nothing to do with that. That was a deal between Enzo and me.”
“You know why he made that deal right?”
“Yes.” Madison shivered at the memory.
“Do you like him?”
“No.” And her feelings wouldn’t change now that she knew how he was deep down. “I know you’ve had a crush on him, and I would never date someone I know you like. I’m not that kind of person.”
“I know.” Sabrina gave a chuckle. “Goody-two-shoes, perfect Madison would never be that kind of person.”
“Hey, wait. I never said I was perfect, nor do I think I’m a goody two shoes. I have my own problems, just like anyone else. I’m not perfect, and I don’t pretend to be. What does this have to do with the headliner position?”
“I guess I’m tired of coming in second or more behind you.” Sabrina slapped her hand down on the wheel.
“Wow. Ok. I didn’t know that’s how I made you feel. I never meant to make you think you were second to me or that I was better than you.”
“I guess deep down I know that, and that is what makes it worse. You’re not a bad person. You’re my friend.”
“I am your friend, and I would never do something intentional to harm you. Like you did to me with the rumor that said I was a ho and had a STI.”
“I know, I was just upset. We better get in. Zoe could think we aren’t coming.”
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