No noise came from the bathroom. Why was Madison taking so long to come back?

As if reading Sherry’s last thought, Madison opened the door and walked around the bed to her side while avoiding Sherry’s gaze.

Was she blushing? And was there water dripping from her chin?

Madison slipped under the sheets and leaned toward the light switch. “Good night.”

“Good night, Madison and thanks.”

“No problem.” Madison switched off the light and lay down.

There seemed to be a sudden distance between them, and it didn’t feel good at all. “Madison?”

“Mm-hmm?”

“Why…? I mean I’m really thankful for it, but…”

Madison rolled around to face her, but her face was hidden in the darkness.

Sherry didn’t know where to start?

“What do you want to know?” Surprisingly, Madison didn’t sound annoyed but…worried?

“Ah, nothing.”

“Did I make you uncomfortable?”

“What? No.” Quite the opposite! “No. I trust you. You wouldn’t do anything on purpose to make me uncomfortable.” Not anymore, her mind supplied. She trusted Madison.

“What is it, then?”

Sherry gathered all her courage and asked, “Why did you give me the massage?”

Madison took a while to say, “I thought you could use one. That’s all. And I told you already that I’m sure you’d do the same for me.” She sighed, frustration in her voice. “I made you uncomfortable, didn’t I?”

“No, I was just wondering.” Under the sheets, she took Madison’s hand. “Thank you, really. I guess I’ll have to get used to it.”

Madison’s warm hand held hers gently. “Get used to what?”

“That with us. Not that we’re… What I mean is—”

“I know what you mean. We’re getting along much better now.”

“Yeah, much better.” Sherry was aware that neither of them let go of the other one’s hand. It feels so damn good to hold her hand. She moved a little bit closer, so that her hand could rest in Madison’s more comfortably. It relaxed her. Smiling, she closed her eyes. “Good night, Madison.”

Madison didn’t move an inch. “Good night.”

In less than a minute, she drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Sherry had never understood the expression that someone furrowed their brow. Until now.

Madison was sitting on the other end of the couch Indian-style studying the paperwork from Fielding Inc. From time to time she wrote something down in her notebook, then underlined another thing while grumbling unintelligibly.