Madison had just helped Rita Mae out. That was all. And maybe she really liked him. What’s not to like? Sherry rubbed the bridge of her nose. Why was this so complicated?

“You look tired.”

“I’m fine. Nothing a little sleep can’t fix. I’m going to get ready for bed.” When she headed to the bathroom, it felt as if Madison was watching her.

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

After long deliberation, Madison had convinced herself that she obviously had to be the adult in her friendship with Phil. But now, after sending him her fifth text message this week alone, she’d had enough. If Phil didn’t respond to this message either, he would be dead to her.

The bedroom door opened, and Sherry entered. Just like in the past nine days—since Madison had read Jake his bedtime story—she closed the door quietly and walked to the bed in silence. Slipping under the covers, she turned away from Madison. “Good night.”

Madison placed her cell phone on the nightstand. “Night.” She switched off the light and lay down too. But after a few moments, she couldn’t take it anymore. Sitting up, she switched on the light again.

No reaction from Sherry.

Madison couldn’t believe she was the one saying this, but she couldn’t help herself. “Sherry, talk to me.”

Hesitantly, Sherry faced her. “What about?”

“I’m not a moron, you now? I see how you’ve been ignoring me since you found me reading to Jake.”

Sherry rubbed her forehead. Did she have a headache? “Jake is…quite attached to you.”

Bingo! “I know.” She studied the drawing he had made for her last month, hanging over the bed. “To use your words, I’m also quite attached to him.”

Sherry looked at the drawing too. Had she been surprised that Madison had put it up there or about her admission now of having feelings for Jake?

“I was so naïve, you know?”

“Naïve? Why?”

“I thought we’d move in with you, play our roles, and go our separate ways. Just like that.” She snipped her fingers.

Madison was almost afraid to ask. “And what do you think now?”

Sherry sat up too. “You’ve become incredibly important to Jake in a very short period of time. And who knows how long our pretend relationship might last? You said it yourself: it might take years. It…” Her voice broke. “It will break his heart when we leave.”

She wanted to ask, and what about you? But instead she said, “I told you that I don’t want him to be hurt, and it’s as true now as it was the first time I said it.”

After a while, Sherry nodded.