Sherry nibbled on her lower lip. “I’d rather take him myself, at least for the first few days.”

Madison regarded her thoughtfully. “Okay. This is how we’ll do it. You and I will take Jake to school starting next week. From there, we drive directly to work. And we finish in time to pick him up again.”

“Yippee!” Jake shouted. “You’re both going to take me. That’s so cool.”

Cool was about the last word Sherry would have used to describe Madison’s suggestion, because it meant Madison would spend more time with Jake even if it was just while sitting in a car together.

Madison ignored Jake’s outburst and said, “But I need you to help out tomorrow.”

“That’s fine, but I need a few hours to go to the mall to get Jake some new clothes for school before next week.”

“Good. Remind me later to give you some money for the mall. You should also get yourself something.”

Sherry was too stunned to answer. She hadn’t expected Madison to be this generous.

Rita Mae cleared her throat. “Paying for new clothes is one thing, but you’ll give Sherry a little pocket money for her effort at your coffee bar, right?”

Sherry could have kissed her. It felt wonderful to have someone fight for her even though she would have helped Madison out with her coffee bar without compensation.

Madison rolled her eyes. “Fine. I’ll ask what Danielle pays her staff. Sherry will get the same.”

Sherry didn’t like being talked about as if she weren’t sitting right here, but her happiness at getting even more money to save for the time after this arrangement prevailed.

Madison stood slowly as if she had worked twenty-four hours in a row. “I need a shower.” After a few steps, she halted. “By the way, how’s Jake? After the surgery, I mean.”

“I’m great.”

Madison ignored him and looked at Sherry.

Had someone cloned her at the coffee bar? Since when did Madison care about Jake’s well-being? “Fine. He’s doing fine.”

Madison nodded and walked into her bedroom.

Madison sat down on the opposite end of the couch from Sherry. Why wasn’t Sherry in bed even though everybody else was?

“What?” Sherry asked quietly.

“I’m just sitting here. That’s all.”

Sherry focused on the floor-to-ceiling window, presumably to watch the lights chasing away the darkness.

Madison moved closer. “Why are you not in bed?”

“I didn’t know I was expected.”

Jesus, what’s up with her? “You can do whatever you want.”

Just when Madison had decided to get up, Sherry asked, “Can I?” Sherry moved closer to her until their bare legs were touching.

The contact sent a tingle through her body.

“You forced me into playing your girlfriend. Do you think I like kissing you?”

Madison gaped at her.