Page 8 of Titus (Big Hot Alphas 2)

“Maaaadison!”

I laugh as Bailey tackles me with a hug. It’s a week later, a sunny afternoon, and she’s finally here. It’s so good to see my best friend—and the rest of her family too. Her husband Dax and their twin girls are also here at the park; even their old dog has come along on the trip.

“God, you look great,” Bailey says, pulling back from our hug to look at me. “You’re, like, glowing.”

“Because I’m happy to see you!” I say, which isn’t a lie, but isn’t the entire truth, either. Ever since that night with Titus, I’ve been in a ridiculously good mood. And not just because of the countless orgasms he gave me. We also spent a lot of that night just hanging out, justtalking, and it really nourished my soul.

I’m still sticking to my guns—I really did mean it when I told Titus that one night was all I could give him. But that doesn’t mean I can’t continue to enjoy the enduring feelings from that night.

I look down at Bailey’s twins and smile. The two girls grin back up at me. They’re both dressed in jeans and bright pink shirts, but even in identical outfits and matching smiles I can tell them apart.

“Hi, Linnea,” I say. “Hi, Cara.”

The girls groan.

“You were supposed to be tricked!” Cara says.

“Sorry, girls,” I say, laughing. I look up at Bailey’s husband. “Hey, Dax. Good to see you.”

“You, too,” he says, smiling at me before turning to Bailey. “Hey, I’m going to take the dog on a walk and let you two catch up.”

“Thanks, babe,” says Bailey.

“Girls?” Dax says to their twins. “Want to come along?”

They reply in unison. “No! We want to hang out with Auntie Madison!”

Dax shoots a questioning look at Bailey and myself.

“They can hang out with us,” I say.

“Yeah, we’ll take them over to the playground,” says Bailey, then rises up on her tiptoes to give her husband a kiss.

“All right,” Dax says. “See you girls later.”

As we walk across the park, the twins take off in a sprint ahead of us toward the playground. Bailey and I walk at a more casual pace.

“It’s so good to see you, Bail,” I say, bumping my shoulder into hers.

“So good to seeyou,” she says, nudging me back. “How’s the café?”

“It’s good.”

“Joe still there?”

“Of course,” I say with a grin.

I’m still telling her about how work’s been when we reach the playground. The girls are going down the biggest slide. Linnea is at the top, about to slide down.

“Auntie Madison!” she calls out. “Come over here!”

Bailey quirks an eyebrow at me. “You’re being summoned.”

“I’ll try to be quick,” I say.

When I go over to the girls, they inform me they need me to watch them each go down the slide and then declare a winner. Amused, I tell them to go ahead. Linnea slides down first, singing as she does; Cara goes next, twirling her arms in the air as she descends.

“Oh, gosh, girls,” I say, sucking air in between my teeth. “Sorry, but that wasclearlya tie.”

---