We head upstairs and into Elena and Joseph’s room. Ridge shakes his head, exhaling while running his finger down her face. She’s sleeping peacefully, wrapped up in a muslin wrap. Her small little face pops out the top and her hair is brushed backward.
“She’s going to have lots of hair,” I say to Ridge, my heart clenching in my chest. God, I love her so much it cripples me. I don’t know how I feel about loving something so much and having her live in this cruel world.
“She looks so much like you, Tip.”
We leave after another five minutes, then we are back in the pool house and the music is playing. Madison puts on “Bad Bitch” by Bebe Rexha and I end up dancing on the coffee table, sipping on my drink. I twist my body around to the beat while bringing my eyes straight to Madison’s phone that she’s got on me from the kitchen. I’ve always loved dancing, and I’m not half bad. It’s one of the first things that got Nate’s attention.
I will not think of him…
Ridge comes up behind me, pulling stupid shit into the phone. Madison laughs as the song changes.
She lowers her phone and sinks the rest of her drink. I think we’re up to six each. “Right! Let’s head out.”
“Where are we going first?” I ask, picking up my clutch.
“We have to pick Tate up from Brantley’s.” Madison rolls her eyes. “I hope that’s okay?”
“Of course!” I say, brushing her off while ignoring the way my stomach flips from knowing I’m about to see Nate. God, what if they’re all over each other?
Fuck it. Liquid courage has my back. We all shuffle out of the pool house, sloppily making our way to the front of the mansion where there’s a limo waiting for us, because of course there is.
Madison wiggles, sliding into the back seat.
“Wow, Tip,” Ridge jokes as he gets in behind her. “This is a step up from the Skyline’s back in the day…”
I laugh, shoving him as he dives into the back seat. I scoot next to Madison when my phone vibrates in my clutch. It’s a Snapchat from Tate.
My face falls.
“What is it?” Madison asks, leaning over to look at my phone. “Oh.”
Ridge is watching us, taking the bottle of champagne from the ice cooler and popping it open.
“Open it,” Madison rushes.
“What if it’s her and Nate?”
“I thought you didn’t care?” Her eyebrow is raised, but it’s not in a malicious way.
I open it and a video starts playing. “Welcome to Detroit” by Trick Trick and Eminem is playing loudly in the background, and then she drops the phone to a coffee table where white powder is lined up beside a one-hundred-dollar bill. The phone then drops down, where a hand is wrapped around her tanned thigh. A hand I know is Nate’s because of the skull tattooed over it and the letters “E L I T E” inked into each finger.
“Motherfucker.” I exit, not watching the whole video because I can’t fucking stand it. I hate Nate so much I could spew. Snatching the champagne off Ridge, I take a huge drink. I’m going to need it for what I’m about to walk into.
“If Bishop is playing in the snow tonight then I really need to stay away from him. He’ll start groping me and then well, I’ll end up in bed with him,” Madison adds, talking about cocaine.
I exhale, looking out the window. “I hate that I give a shit.”
Madison’s hand comes to my leg. “I love that you do. He does too, you know…”
I choke on my wine. “You are kidding.”
She gives me a sad smile but looks away without continuing. We’re pulling down Brantley’s driveway when Ridge says, “Ah, Tip, I need to tell you something.”
My eyes go to his. He licks his lip. “I’m getting married.”
I freeze. “What?”
He smiles so wide that I almost feel guilty for snapping in shock. “To who!”
“Her name is Ashley. You don’t know her, she’s from Australia. We can talk about this later since…” he gestures over his shoulder and my eyes go to the large stone mansion. It resembles The Addam’s Family home. It’s all dark stone with Victorian style window panes. There are trails of vines growing up some of the cracks, and the four stone pillars at the entranceway have flowers wrapped around them too. The actual gardens and grounds are always kept tidy, so I know that the style of the home is just that. The style, not by neglect.
We all start climbing out and Madison leans forward to the driver. “We will try not to be long. Slong? Wait, I’m drunk.” While she’s doing that, I grab Ridge by the arm, my initial shock over.
“Does she make you happy?”
His eyes twinkle, and he nods. “Yeah, Tip. I wouldn’t be marrying her if she didn’t.”
I sigh. “Well alright then, I supposed I will be your best man. Does she know we used to…”
He chuckles, pulling me under his arm as we make our way up the stairs. My heart begins hammering in my chest when I hear the loud music shaking the house, spilling out the windows. People laughing and bottles crashing comes from the backyard and I momentarily have to talk myself into what it is I’m about to see. “Love that you knew I was going to ask you, and no, she doesn’t.”
I give him a small squeeze with my arm. “Secret is safe.”
Madison shoves the door open, glaring around the place like she’s the queen of fucking everything. There are crowds scattered around everywhere, but it’s funny to watch as every single girl (and guy) eyes us. They know who Madison is, and no one would dare approach her.
I laugh,
