Chapter 79

Madison

I watched Alexander disappear into the suite. The phone continued buzzing in my hand as I walked down the hallway, putting some distance between me and the room. The Vegas afternoon sun streamed through the windows, making the gold-trimmed walls gleam.

“Hello?”

“Hey, is this Madison?” A familiar voice came through the line.

“Jackson? Yeah, it’s me.” I leaned against the wall, grateful for the cool surface against my heated skin.

“Thank god. I was wondering if this was still your number. It’s been forever.”

“Where did you disappear to? You basically dropped off the face of the earth.”

“Just got back from the UK yesterday, actually. Been there for work.”

“Three years without a single text or call?” I raised an eyebrow, even though he couldn’t see it. “What, they don’t have phones across the pond?”

He laughed. “Come on, Mads. You know how it is. Work was insane. Barely had time to breathe, let alone socialize.”