𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

My house was quieter than usual since Cosmo was with his dad for the week. The hum of the dishwasher and the distant sounds of the city outside the only company.

I stood at the kitchen counter, stirring my tea, my thoughts drifting. The Instagram post. Y/N's smiling face. The way her arm draped effortlessly around Madelyn. It played in a loop in my mind, uninvited.

I shook my head, trying to push it aside. I had no right to feel the way I did. She looked happy—genuinely happy. That's what mattered.

A soft voice broke through my reverie.

"Mommy?"

I turned to see Rose standing in the doorway, her favorite stuffed bunny tucked under her arm and her curls still wild from her nap. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and padded over to me.

"Hey, baby," I said, crouching to her level. "You sleep okay?"

She nodded, wrapping her arms around my neck in a sleepy hug. "What are we doing today?"

"Well," I started, brushing a stray curl from her face, "I thought we could have a mommy-daughter day. Just you and me. What do you think?"

Her eyes lit up, the sleepiness replaced by excitement. "Really? Just us?"

"Just us," I confirmed, smiling. "We can get ice cream, go to the park, whatever you want."

She clapped her hands together, her excitement infectious. "Ice cream first! With sprinkles and whipped cream?"

"Sprinkles and whipped cream, huh?" I teased, ruffling her curls. "Alright, but you better save room for dinner."

She grinned, bouncing on her toes. "I will! Pinky promise."

I stood, taking her hand. "Okay, go get dressed, I laid your clothes out, and we'll head out."

As she ran off, I leaned against the counter, my tea forgotten. My phone buzzed on the table, and I glanced at the screen. Another article about Y/N and Madelyn. I didn't open it, but the headline was enough to make my chest tighten.

"Y/N Evans and Madelyn Cline's Love Story Captivates Fans Worldwide."

Captivates fans. The phrasing made me scoff softly.

The ache didn't linger long. Rose came back, her shoes untied and her bunny still tucked under her arm. "I'm ready!" she announced, her face glowing with excitement.

"Let's go, then," I said, taking her hand before pausing to help her tie her shoes.

The small shop was bustling, filled with the sweet scent of waffle cones and chocolate. Rose pressed her face against the glass case, her breath fogging up the display as she pointed to the most colorful options.

"Can I get the blue one? And the pink one? And sprinkles?" she asked, her voice brimming with hope.

I laughed, placing a hand on her shoulder. "How about one flavor and sprinkles? You won't be able to finish more than that."

She thought for a moment, her little brow furrowed in concentration. "Pink with sprinkles," she decided finally, nodding to herself.

"Good choice," I said, placing the order with a chuckle.

As we sat at a table by the window, she dug into her cone with gusto, sprinkles spilling onto the table. Her laughter filled the small space, drawing smiles from the others.

"This is the best ice cream ever," she declared, her cheeks sticky with melted pink streaks.

I chuckled, handing her a napkin. "I'm glad you like it."

Rose looked up at me, her eyes bright. "You're the best, Mommy."

The simple statement hit me square in the chest, warming something I hadn't realized was cold. "You're the best too, Rose. My favorite girl."

She beamed, her grin wide and uncontainable. "Can we do this every week?"

"Every week?" I repeated, raising an eyebrow. "You think I'm made of ice cream money?"

She giggled, covering her mouth with her sticky hands. "Maybe!"

"Tell you what," I said, leaning forward conspiratorially. "If you promise to be good and help me clean up your toys, we'll see about making it a regular thing."

"Deal!" she exclaimed, holding out her tiny hand for a shake.

We finished our cones, and I couldn't help but marvel at how moments like these—simple, unassuming—were what I cherished most.

Walking back to our home, her small hand in mine, I let myself focus on her laughter and the way her curls bounced with every step. For now, this was enough. Whatever else weighed on me—whatever lingering feelings or what-ifs—I could deal with later.

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The golden light of the setting sun filtered through the tall windows of my LA apartment, casting a warm glow on the room.

Madelyn sat at the vanity in my bathroom, finishing her makeup with practiced ease. Her reflection in the mirror was nothing short of breathtaking, her golden gown catching the light and making her look ethereal.

I leaned against the wall, phone in hand, grinning as I hit record. "Alright, babe. Time to answer some fan questions."

Madelyn glanced at me in the mirror, raising an eyebrow as she blended her blush. "Now? While I'm doing this?"

"Yes, now," I teased, stepping closer and angling the camera to include both of us. "The fans have been begging for this. Don't deprive them."

She laughed softly, setting her brush down. "Fine. But if you post this and I look bad, it's on you."

I scoffed, mock-offended. "Impossible. You're incapable of looking bad."

Madelyn rolled her eyes playfully but didn't hide the small smile tugging at her lips. "Flattery won't save you if this turns out horrible, Evans."

I grinned, placing my phone against the mirror so we were both in frame. "Alright, first question: How did we meet?"

Madelyn's eyes flicked to the mirror, her cheeks already flushing. "Oh God, they're starting with that?" She asked as she avoided my gaze.

"Yep," I said, smirking. "Come on, tell them the truth."

She sighed dramatically, though her smile gave her away.

"We met because your brother, Chris, set us up on a blind date. And, for the record, I still don't know if I should thank him or yell at him for not warning me about your ridiculousness."

I gasped in mock outrage. "Ridiculous? Babe, I was a perfect gentlewoman."

"Mm-hmm," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she touched up her eyeliner. "You were trying so hard to be smooth and talking a big game only to barely beat me in skee-ball." she smirked.

"And you loved it," I said, grinning.

"I did," she admitted, her cheeks flushing again. "But don't let it go to your head."

"Too late," I replied, making her laugh.

"Next question," I said, glancing at the screen. "What's our favorite thing about each other?"

Madelyn stilled for a moment, holding her eyeliner in the air, then gestured to me. "You go first."

I tilted my head, pretending to think. "The first thing I thought of is not TikTok-friendly, so..." I trailed off, smirking as her face turned a deeper shade of pink.

Her eyes widened, and she turned and swatted at my arm. "Y/n! Edit that out!"

I laughed, doubling over slightly at her reaction. "No way, that's staying in. The people need to know how easily I can fluster you."

Madelyn rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath, "You're impossible."

Once her blush subsided, she cleared her throat, fixing me with a mock glare.

"Fine. My favorite thing about you... is how you always know how to make me laugh, even when I don't feel like it. You're my safe place and I always feel protected when I'm with you."

Her words were soft but sincere, and for a moment, the playful energy between us quieted. I reached out, brushing my thumb along her cheek. "And you're my safe place," I said quietly.

She smiled, leaning into my touch before pulling back slightly. "Your turn."

I smirked, leaning in closer. "Well, the TikTok-friendly answer is your laugh, I'll stick with that. But just know I'm truly thinking of the non-friendly answer." I winked at the camera.

"Y/n!" she said, swatting me again as I burst out laughing.

"Alright, alright," I said, holding my hands up. "I'll behave. Next question: Who made the first move?"

Madelyn smiled, turning to face me fully. "Why is this even a question, it was you" Madelyn laughed.

"You literally couldn't wait for the perfect moment to kiss me, she kissed me while we were soaking wet from being in the ocean and was trying to be all smooth," Madelyn said as she looked into the camera.

"Did it work?" I asked, leaning closer.

"Clearly," she said, her smile softening as her hand found mine. "It worked."

"Okay, last question," I said, glancing back at the phone. "Who's more romantic?"

"Me," Madelyn said immediately, her voice confident.

I blinked, pretending to be offended. "Excuse me? Who planned the entire beach setup to ask you to be my girlfriend?"

She tilted her head, grinning. "Babe, I really don't hate to break this to you but, one moment does not crown you the romantic of our relationship, but it was cute so you get extra points for that."

I chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "We'll let the fans decide." I smiled before quickly kissing Madelyn on the cheek as we waved at the camera and ended the recording.

Madelyn turned her attention back to the mirror, finishing the last touches of her makeup.

"You really love making me blush, don't you?" she asked, her tone teasing as she leaned back in her chair.

"It's my favorite pastime," I admitted, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "But I'll stop. For now."

Madelyn smirked, standing and smoothing her dress. "Okay, I'm ready!"

.  .  .

The black SUV pulled up to the red carpet, its sleek exterior reflecting the dazzling lights of the cameras outside. My palms were slightly clammy, an odd mix of nerves and excitement coursing through me.

This wasn't my first red carpet, but it was the first one where I wasn't walking it alone. Or at least, the first one I'm not walking with my brother and the occasional people assuming I was his girlfriend which is just gross and wrong on so many levels.

Madelyn sat beside me, looking every bit like the star she was.

Her dress looked amazing in the glow of the flashbulbs outside, the fabric hugging her in all the right places and making her look like she'd stepped straight out of a dream.

Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders, framing her face perfectly.

"Stop staring," she teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips as she caught me looking.

"Not my fault you look like a goddess," I shot back, reaching over to take her hand. My thumb brushed over her knuckles, grounding both of us.

Her cheeks flushed, and she glanced down at our hands. "You're really trying to make me blush before we even step out there, huh?"

"Always," I said, leaning closer to whisper in her ear. "But seriously, you look incredible, Madz. They're not ready for you."

Her fingers tightened around mine as the car rolled to a stop. The driver stepped out first, opening the door for us.

I climbed out first, adjusting my jacket before turning to offer my hand to Madelyn. She took it, her smile soft but confident as she stepped out.

The moment we appeared together, the flashes intensified, the chaotic hum of photographers calling out our names blending with the chatter of onlookers. Madelyn's hand slipped into mine, her grip firm but reassuring.

"Y/N! Madelyn! Over here!"

"Madelyn, you look stunning!"

"Y/N, any comments on tonight being your first official appearance together?"

We exchanged a quick glance, a small smile passing between us. I led her down the carpet, keeping her close as we stopped for photos.

Madelyn posed effortlessly, her experience showing as she angled herself perfectly for the cameras. I stood beside her, my hand resting lightly on her lower back.

Occasionally, she'd glance up at me, her eyes sparkling under the lights, and I couldn't help but grin.

At one point, the photographers called for a couple's shot. Madelyn turned slightly, and I stepped closer, wrapping my arms around her from behind.

She laughed as I pressed a series of kisses to her cheek, her hands resting over mine. The flashes went wild, the sound of cameras clicking blending with her soft giggles.

"Okay, okay, stop," she said, her voice light and teasing as she turned her head to face me. "You're going to ruin my makeup."

"Worth it," I murmured, leaning in to steal one more kiss.

The photographers loved it, shouting out comments about how cute we were. I caught Chris and Alba's faces from a distance—they both looked like proud siblings, Chris giving me a subtle thumbs-up while Alba grinned.

As we moved down the carpet, we stopped for a quick interview. The reporter's smile was warm, her microphone angled toward us.

"Y/N, Madelyn, this is a big night for both of you. How does it feel to make your first official appearance as a couple?"

Madelyn glanced at me, her confidence never wavering. "Honestly, it feels amazing. We've been keeping things private for a while, but it's nice to finally share a little bit of this part of our lives."

I nodded, my hand brushing against hers. "We've had so much support from friends and family. Tonight just feels... right."

The reporter smiled. "And, Y/N, we have to ask—what's your favorite thing about walking the red carpet with Madelyn tonight?"

I smirked, glancing at Madelyn. "The fact that everyone gets to see how amazing she looks but know she's coming home with me." I joked.

Madelyn's cheeks flushed, and she nudged me lightly with her elbow. "Babe!" she was adorable when she got all shy. "She's such a sap," Madelyn smiled and shook her head at the reporter.

"Only for you," I quipped, earning a laugh from the reporter.

Before moving on, the reporter asked Madelyn a final question. "Madelyn, how would you describe Y/N in one word?"

Madelyn tilted her head, pretending to think. Then, with a smile, she said, "Home."

My heart skipped a beat, and I leaned over to kiss her temple, ignoring the chorus of "awws" from those around us.

We finished the carpet hand-in-hand, stealing small glances at each other as we entered the event. The buzz of excitement still hung in the air, but the only thing I could focus on was the way Madelyn's hand felt in mine.