Safely locked in the little stall, she splashed some cold water on her overheated face, realizing as she did that this was one of several times she’d done exactly this in the last week—hidden in the bathroom to cool off. She was being ridiculous and wasn’t angry per se, but she also didn’t like the direct interference from Erin and Stuart, or the passive version from Jai and Darcy. Everyone had been watching her and Maddie like they knew exactly what was happening between them. And Maddie’s behavior hadn’t helped. She too seemed to think that whatever was going on between them was obvious and sure. And while Ryann had, in fact, come back early for her, she didn’t like the assumption, especially as they hadn’t had a chance to talk about anything yet.

She took a deep breath and frowned at her reflection. She was overreacting. Her friends were excited, that’s all. Maddie was another thing, but she shouldn’t be upset by her, either. After all, she seemed happy to have her back, and that’s all that really mattered.

When she came out of the bathroom, Maddie was waiting in the hallway, presumably to use the toilet, and Ryann gave her a quick smile before starting back to the restaurant. Maddie stopped her, grabbing her hand, and when Ryann turned her way, Maddie stepped closer and pulled her into a searing kiss. Ryann relaxed into it before recognizing what was happening. It wasn’t that she minded—no, in fact, she wanted to go on kissing Maddie for the rest of the night. But they were in a public place. Anyone could show up at any moment. She pushed back and away, both of them breathing heavily.

“I wanted to do that the second I saw you,” Maddie finally said, gasping.

“It didn’t seem that way to me. You were upset when you saw me.”

“I was upset. I’d convinced myself I’d never see you again—or maybe only at the wedding. I told myself it didn’t matter, that you were right—that it would never work out between us. Then I saw you and knew I’d been fooling myself. I was angry at myself, not you.”

“Why?”

Maddie stepped closer again, tilting Ryann’s chin up with the tips of her fingers. “Because you said you’d be back as soon as you could, and here you are. I should have trusted you.”

Ryann raised her eyebrows. “You should have.”

Maddie kissed the tip of her nose, her eyebrows, her chin, and then, lightly, her lips. Ryann’s eyes fluttered open, and Maddie’s smile was open, warm, and happy. She seemed perfectly content, comfortable and pleased.

“We should get back to the others,” Ryann said, reluctant.

Maddie laughed. “It’s already going to be very obvious what we were doing back here.”