~ 5 Days Later

𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The quiet of the morning shattered as my phone buzzed relentlessly, pulling me out of a restless sleep. I reached for it, the glow of the screen almost blinding.

Notifications piled up—Instagram, texts, news alerts. My stomach sank as I opened Instagram to find the source of the chaos.

Madelyn Cline's new post.

It wasn't just one picture; it was a carousel.

My chest tightened as I swiped through the images. She looked incredible, of course. Madelyn always did. But it wasn't the photos of her that gutted me—it was the comments.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭

♡ 1.88 M likes | 91.6k comments
Tagged: tommyhilfiger, madisonbaileybabe, carlaciagrant
madelyncline: Season 4 glowwww ✨

ynevans: I think you're glowing for other reasons 🤭
—> user1: SOFT LAUNCH?!
—> user2: Did Y/n just confirm something?!
—> user3: YO ARE THEY DATING?!
—> user4: CHECK MADELYN'S STORY!!! IS EVERYONE OKAY?!
    —> user5: CAN CONFIRM I AM NOT OKAY AND CANNOT BREATHE

    —> user6: THE SHIP IS HAPPENING, OH MY GOSH
—> madisonbaileybabe: definitely glowing because of me and C😚
—> carlaciagrant: jealous because she's glowing bcus of me and Madi? 😋

That single line sent the fans into a frenzy.

I didn't hesitate, switching to Madelyn's story. The first slide hit me like a slap to the face. It was a photo of Y/n, dressed in that black suit from the premiere, looking effortlessly hot.

The caption read: Would you just look at her?! 🤭

I clenched my jaw as I swiped to the next story. It was a grainy selfie of Madelyn and Y/n in In-N-Out hats, fries in their mouths, with the caption, "We INHALED this after the afterparty."

And then came the repost—a photo Y/n had clearly taken of Madelyn smiling with fans. The caption Y/n had written? "Glowing brighter than the sunset 🙈." Madelyn had added a heart emoji.

The final nail in the coffin was Madison Bailey's story. A blurry candid of Y/n carrying Madelyn bridal-style. Madison's caption:

"When @madelyncline's feet hurt and she gets carried like a princess."

My breath came in short, sharp bursts as I stared at the screen, the images blurring. This wasn't just harmless fun. This was deliberate.

I snapped screenshots of every post and story, my hands trembling. I opened the group chat with Florence and Lizzie and pasted them all in one by one.

ScarJo ⧗:
Just as I was prepared to talk to her, this is thrown in my face

FloPugh ⧗:
Whoa. That's... a lot. Are you okay?

It didn't take long for Florence to reply.

My fingers flew across the screen, my anger spilling out.

ScarJo ⧗:
Am I okay?
No, Flo, I'm not okay. I was ready to finally talk to her, to figure this out, and now I wake up to this? She's everywhere with Madelyn! The comments, the stories—look at them! This isn't just a coincidence.

Lizzie ᗢ:

Scar, take a breath. You're jumping to conclusions.

ScarJo ⧗:
Jumping to conclusions? Are you kidding me, Lizzie? They're practically soft-launching their relationship!

I could feel the heat rising in my chest, my hands shaking as I typed.

ScarJo ⧗:
She kissed me before she left. She told me she wanted to talk. And now this? How am I supposed to feel?!

There was a pause before Lizzie responded.

Lizzie ᗢ:
You're supposed to talk to her, like an adult. You don't know what's really going on.

ScarJo ⧗:
I don't need to talk to her to see what's going on! She's out there playing house with Madelyn while I'm here waiting like an idiot!

Florence chimed in, her tone softer but firm.

FloPugh ⧗:
Scar, we get that you're upset, but this isn't going to help. You need to have a real conversation with her when she gets back.

ScarJo ⧗:
Why? So she can lie to my face?

I didn't wait for their responses. Instead, I switched to Deuxmoi's Instagram page. My stomach churned as I saw their latest post.

"Spotted: Y/n Evans and Madelyn Cline looking cozy at the OBX Season 4 afterparty. Sources say they couldn't keep their hands off each other. 👀"

Attached were photos that made my heart sink even lower. The first was of them walking down a dimly lit staircase, Y/n's arm protectively around Madelyn's waist.

The next two were worse—one of them kissing on the dance floor, the other with Y/n's hand firmly on Madelyn's hip as they danced, their faces close, their bodies closer.

I felt like I couldn't breathe. The anger and jealousy boiled over, my chest tightening with each passing second. I screenshotted the post and sent it to the group chat.

ScarJo ⧗:
Here's to you both wanting me to share my fucking feelings when this is what I have to see.

Lizzie responded first.

Lizzie ᗢ:
Scarlett, this isn't healthy. You're spiraling.

ScarJo ⧗:
Of course, I'm spiraling! What do you expect me to do? Pretend I'm okay with this? With her all over Madelyn?

FloPugh ⧗:
This isn't about Madelyn, Scar. This is about you and Y/n. Focus on that.

I scoffed, tossing my phone onto the couch. They didn't get it. How could they? They weren't the ones caught in this mess of feelings, jealousy, and fear.

I buried my face in my hands, the weight of everything pressing down on me. Y/n was coming home soon. We were supposed to talk, to figure this out. But now, I didn't know if I could.

How could I open up to her when all I could think about was her with Madelyn? Her hand on Madelyn's waist, her lips on Madelyn's, her stupid fucking comment on that post.

For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was losing. And I hated it.

.  .  .

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The warm California sun bathed Chris and Alba's backyard in a golden glow. I leaned back on one of the cushioned patio chairs, sunglasses perched on my nose, and a glass of iced tea sweating in my hand.

It was good to be back, though part of me missed the whirlwind of Charleston. Another part of me was still trying to process everything.

Chris sat across from me, a smug grin plastered on his face. "So," he said, drawing the word out, "you're really just going to sit there and not tell me how amazing I am?"

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about now?"

Chris leaned forward, his grin widening. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that I, Christopher Evans, am the matchmaker of the century. You and Madelyn? That's all me, kid."

I rolled my eyes, unable to fight the smile tugging at my lips. "You're insufferable, you know that?"

"Insufferable but right," he shot back, raising his glass in a mock toast. "Come on, admit it. You two are perfect together, and who suggested you go to that premiere? This guy."

Alba walked out from the kitchen carrying a plate of cookies and placed them on the table between us. "What's he gloating about now?" she asked, sitting beside Chris and giving him a knowing look.

"He's taking credit for my entire life, apparently," I said dryly, reaching for a cookie.

Chris put a hand to his chest, feigning offense. "I'm just saying, without my wise counsel, Y/n might still be pining over someone else. I'm practically Cupid!"

"More like a meddling older brother," Alba teased, taking a cookie herself.

"Call it what you want," Chris said with a shrug. "But look at her—she's glowing. That's the power of love, baby."

I nearly choked on my cookie. "Okay, that's enough out of you. Aren't you supposed to be taking a call or something?"

As if on cue, Chris's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at it and sighed. "Work. Fine. But don't think this conversation is over," he said, pointing at me as he stood.

"I'm going to milk this for years, just so you know."

"Can't wait," I said, giving him a sarcastic thumbs-up.

Once Chris disappeared inside, Alba turned her attention to me, her expression softening. "So," she said, leaning back in her chair, "how are you really feeling?"

I hesitated, taking a sip of my iced tea. "About what?"

She gave me a look. "Don't play coy. About Madelyn. About... everything."

I sighed, setting my glass down. "It was amazing. The premiere, the afterparty... being with her. She's just... everything, you know? Fun, kind, gorgeous. Being around her feels so easy, like I don't have to second-guess anything."

Alba smiled warmly. "That's how it should feel. So, what's the problem?"

I glanced down at my hands, picking at the condensation on my glass. "It's not a problem with her. It's... Scarlett."

Alba didn't say anything at first, waiting for me to continue. I appreciated that about her—she never pushed, just gave me the space to sort through my thoughts.

"I'm supposed to meet up with her tonight," I admitted. "To talk. Finally."

Alba's eyebrows lifted slightly, but her tone remained calm. "And how do you feel about that?"

"Nervous," I said honestly. "Scarlett and I... it's complicated. It's always been complicated. But Madelyn... she's everything I know I deserve. Everything I want in a partner. And yet, there's still this part of me that's... stuck."

Alba leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. "Y/n, you don't have to justify how you feel. But you do need to be honest—with yourself and with Scarlett."

"I know," I said, running a hand through my hair. "But what if it doesn't go the way I want? What if she says all the right things, and I just... fall back into old patterns?"

Alba reached out, placing a reassuring hand on mine. "Then you remind yourself of what you just told me. About Madelyn. About what you deserve. Scarlett's a part of your story, but she doesn't have to be the whole story."

I looked up at her, my chest tightening. "What if I make the wrong choice?"

"You won't," she said firmly. "Because you'll follow your heart. And your heart already knows what it wants, Y/n. You just have to listen to it."

We sat in silence for a moment, the soft rustle of the breeze filling the space between us. Alba's words echoed in my mind, grounding me in a way I desperately needed.

"Thanks, Alba," I said quietly. "For always being the voice of reason."

She smiled, squeezing my hand. "That's what I'm here for. Just promise me one thing."

"What's that?"

"Don't let fear make your decision for you," she said. "You've got too much to offer to settle for anything less than what makes you happy."

I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'll do my best."

"That's all I ask," Alba said, leaning back in her chair. "Now, finish your tea. Chris will be back any minute, and you know he's going to start in on his Cupid nonsense again."

I laughed, feeling a little lighter than I had in days. No matter what happened tonight, I knew I wasn't facing it alone. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

Alba leaned back in her chair, the sunlight catching in her hair as she regarded me with a knowing smile.

"Before he does come back though," she started, her tone teasing, "how was it, you know?" She winked, leaning closer, clearly relishing the chance for some gossip.

I blinked at her, caught off guard. "What are you talking about?"

She raised an eyebrow, unbothered by my attempt to play dumb. "Don't even try it, Y/n. You and Madelyn. Come on, spill. Was it as magical as it seems?"

A flush crept up my neck, and I leaned back in my chair, trying to play it cool. "I don't kiss and tell."

Alba snorted, crossing her arms. "Please. I'm married to Chris. I know the Evans family loves to overshare. Don't leave me hanging!"

I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head. "Alright, fine. If you must know... it was amazing."

Her grin widened, and she leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. "How amazing?"

I hesitated for a beat, then sighed, a smile tugging at my lips. "Like... best sex of my life amazing."

Alba gasped, her hand flying to her chest in mock surprise. "Best of your life? Oh, now I really need details."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "Why did I agree to this conversation?"

"Because you love me, and I'm your sister-in-law, which means it's practically my duty to know everything," she said, her voice laced with humor. "Now, go on. Don't be shy."

I peeked at her between my fingers, her expectant expression making me laugh. "Fine. But keep your voice down. If Chris hears any of this, I'm never living it down."

Alba mimed zipping her lips, though her excitement was palpable. "Scout's honor."

I leaned closer, lowering my voice. "It wasn't just the sex. I mean, yeah, that was... mind-blowing. But it was everything else too. The way she looked at me, how gentle she was, but also how confident. It felt like she wanted to be there, like she wanted me."

Alba's grin softened into something more genuine, her eyes warm. "That's what it should feel like. Mutual. Passionate. No doubts."

I nodded, my mind drifting back to that night. "It was like we just... fit. Like all the noise in my head disappeared for a little while, and it was just us."

Alba reached out, squeezing my hand. "That's beautiful, Y/n. And it sounds like she really cares about you."

"She does," I said, my voice quieter now. "And I care about her too. A lot."

Alba's smile returned, teasing but kind. "Well, you're glowing, so whatever you're doing, keep it up."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous."

She sat back with a shrug.