At two in the morning, the sound of the front door slamming jolted Maddie awake. Rico had returned home, but he wasn’t alone. Jane Harper stood beside him, her arm looped through his.
“You must be Maddie, Rico’s sister, right?” Jane said, her voice sweet yet cutting. “Hi, I’m Jane Harper, Rico’s girlfriend.”
Before Maddie could reply, Jane continued, her tone apologetic.
“I’m so sorry for the intrusion. We tried to check into a hotel, but the paparazzi were everywhere. Rico thought it’d be safer to come here. I hope you don’t mind?”
Maddie forced a stiff smile, feeling small and insignificant in her oversized pajamas. “No, it’s fine. Welcome…”
This was the first time Maddie had seen Jane up close. On screen, Jane was beautiful, but in person, she was breathtaking. Her flawless skin and striking features were accentuated by the small teardrop mole under her right eye, giving her an air of unattainable elegance.
In contrast, Maddie felt like a forgotten shadow—a plain, ordinary girl standing next to a movie star.
***
“Hey, Maddie, could you make some sobering tea for Jane?” Rico asked, his tone light but expectant.
Maddie hesitated. “I… I didn’t make any tonight.”