Two to Tangle (A Tangle Valley Romance #2) - Melissa Brayden Page 0,57

was best handled by Gabriella. She closed her eyes, lamenting the end of the make-out session and feeling awful about the awkward walk-in both for Gabriella and Madison, who she reminded herself was the ex, making this doubly awkward.

She let her head drop onto the couch as her body continued to scream with desire. She was learning one thing for sure. Life at Tangle Valley was never boring.

* * *

Gabriella was horrified, embarrassed, and concerned as she chased after her friend, her own clothing still askew. Madison had made it past the porch and to the pathway lit with the yellow twinkly lights when Gabriella caught up to her. “Maddie. Wait.”

Madison placed her palms against her eyes and gave her head a shake. “I’m an idiot for walking in on you. So sorry. It was rude of me. Will never happen again.”

“No,” Gabriella said, coming to her. “One hundred percent my fault. I like our walk-in policy. I don’t want it to change, because that’s who we are. I just should have locked the door, and I would have if I’d known that I’d—that we’d—that there’d be something to—”

“You know what? Let’s not.” Madison said it with a bite that hadn’t been present in her voice moments before. She was clearly still processing.

“What’s going on?” Gabriella blinked. “Hey, are you angry with me?”

“Not angry. No. This whole thing is just a really dumb move is all,” Madison said, seeming to embrace her newfound agitation. “We’ve been through this, Gabs. That woman is all over the map, and careless, and you know it, and yet, you allow her to…” She shook her head.

“What?” Gabriella said, now feeling defensive. “I’m trying to figure it out. I don’t claim to have all the answers or always make the right decisions, but I’m doing the best that I can.” She exhaled slowly. “I’m just looking for a little support from my friends.”

Madison scoffed, shook her head, and looked back up at the cottage with disdain. “Yeah. I don’t think you have mine anymore. Not for this.” She tossed her chin toward the door. “Guess you better get back in there.”

“Are you serious right now?” Gabriella was floored. It didn’t fit or make sense. She called to Madison’s back as she walked the path back toward the front portion of the property. “Madison.”

“Not right now,” Maddie said, holding up a hand without looking back.

Gabriella sighed, confused and shocked by the events of the last five minutes. Her head swam with warring emotions, and the two wildly different scenarios vied for her focus. In the absence of an opportunity to have a beneficial conversation with Madison, she gave her head a shake to clear it, took a fortifying breath, and remembered where she’d been earlier. In Ryan’s arms. Their lips pressed together. She’d liked it there very much, and what was more? She’d had such a nice time before they even laid a hand on each other.

When she arrived back in the cottage, she found Ryan waiting patiently, right where she’d left her. She gestured behind her to the door. “Gotta remember that doors have locks for a reason. We’re pretty informal around here. I’m really sorry about that.”

“No, I’m sorry.” Ryan touched her chest. “She’s your friend, and that was probably a lot for the both of you. Probably more so given past history.”

“Yeah, maybe so.”

Ryan chewed the inside of her lip, which was a new move. Maybe it was what she did when she was stressed. “Should I go? You can tell me to go kick rocks, and I will.”

The fact that she offered and was willing went a long way. Gabriella tucked her leg beneath her and sank into the couch next to Ryan. She stared at the ceiling wordlessly, trying to let everything settle. “No. I don’t want you to go, but I also don’t think you should stay over.”

“Yeah, I get it. The mood’s shot.”

Gabriella smiled at Ryan. “Look at us. Like two children disappointed that the school canceled our field trip.”

“You’re good at analogies.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

Ryan sat up, away from the back of the couch. “No. Who tells people that?”

Gabriella followed her up, laughing. “Well, you, for one.”

Ryan laughed and leaned back. “Good point.” A pause. “She doesn’t like me. Madison. Am I right about that? You can say so. I’m resilient.”

Gabriella scrunched an eye closed, not sure if she fully believed Ryan was. She carried vulnerability behind her eyes that gave her away. “More like she doesn’t like