A/N: Alright, most people voted for 2 chapters and then sprinkle throughout the week. I'm deciding to meet halfway, I'll give you three chapters today and sprinkle updates over the week! Happy Triple Update ♡

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The moment I flopped onto my hotel bed, I knew I was done. Every muscle in my body ached, my feet felt like they had run a marathon in heels, and my brain was fried from answering the same five questions in different ways for hours.

Press events were a game of survival. Photoshoots, interviews, panels, smiling so much my cheeks ached—by the end of it, I was running on three hours of sleep and a cold-pressed juice someone shoved into my hand between interviews.

I reached for my phone, already knowing exactly who I wanted to text.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Tell me why I just got back to my hotel, and I think I might have aged 10 years.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Because being a celebrity is soooo hard?

I rolled my eyes but smiled.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Listen, firefighter, I get that your job actually involves saving lives, but I just survived an eight-hour PR day on no sleep and one overpriced green juice.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Damn. A real hero. Lemme call the city and get you a medal.

I snorted, shaking my head.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
I can feel your sarcasm through the phone.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Good. That means I'm doing it right.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Anyway. You can literally see the exhaustion on my face.

I attached the picture I had taken in the mirror, my hair slightly messy, my expression somewhere between dazed and mildly irritated.

Y/n's reply came fast.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Damn.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
...Okay, I'm not gonna lie, I feel like I shouldn't find this attractive, but I do.

My stomach flipped.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Shouldn't??

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
You look like you just sighed dramatically in a movie before doing something reckless.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Wow, thank you. That's so specific.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
It's giving tragically hot main character energy.

I bit my lip, grinning.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Tragically hot?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Mmm. I mean, if the shoe fits.

I exhaled sharply, feeling a warmth spread through my chest.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
I feel like I should return the compliment, but you haven't sent me anything 🫣

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:

A minute later, a picture popped up.

Y/n was sprawled out on the floor, still in full firefighting gear, covered in soot, looking completely wrecked.

I stared at my phone for a full ten seconds, heat creeping up my neck.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
...Damn.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
What happened to you?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Long-ass call. Fire was bad. Whole crew's wiped.

My first instinct was to be concerned. But then I looked at the picture again.

Her gear was practically molded to her body. Her jawline was sharp, even under the smudges of soot, and her expression—tired, but confident—was ridiculously attractive.

I shifted in bed, suddenly way too warm.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Not gonna lie, this picture is doing things to me.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Oh?

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Yeah. I think I get it now.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Get what?

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
The whole girl in uniform thing.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Ohhh, so now you understand.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Yeah, and it's kinda dangerous.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Dangerous how?

I bit my lip, smirking.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Let's just say if I wasn't such a lady, I'd say some very inappropriate things right now.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Hate to break it to you, but you saying if I wasn't a lady is already doing something.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Stop.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Nah, I wanna know. What kind of inappropriate things?

I exhaled, shifting onto my side. Jesus.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
You love to push, don't you?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
I like to see how far I can go before you crack.

I groaned, rolling onto my back.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
You do realize I'm in bed right now, right?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Mmm. So?

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:

So you're making it very hard to think pure thoughts.

A pause. Then—

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
I never told you to think pure thoughts.

I definitely felt something in my stomach at that.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
You're gonna be the death of me.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Worse ways to go.

My mouth dropped open.

I clutched my blanket, heat spreading everywhere.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
LMAO.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
You can't just SAY things like that.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
And yet, I did.

I groaned, covering my face.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
If I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted to kiss me.

My heart pounded as I hit send.

Y/n took a second before replying.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
That's not the only thing I'm thinking of.

My soul left my body.

I gasped out loud, staring at my screen, fingers frozen over the keyboard.

I had two options. Ignore it. Or double down.

So, obviously, I doubled down.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Oh? What else are you thinking?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Wouldn't you like to know.

I whimpered. Okay. This was bad. This was very bad. I was literally gripping my phone, heat pooling in my stomach, while texting Y/n like we weren't supposed to be just friends.

I needed to calm down. I squeezed my eyes shut. Nope. Nope nope nope. I tossed my phone onto the pillow beside me and stared at the ceiling.

I was so screwed. And the worst part? I really didn't mind. My skin was warm. Too warm. The worst part? I wasn't even trying to stop this.

I stared at my phone, thumbs hovering over the screen, knowing I was toeing the line of something that definitely shouldn't be happening. But the thing about Y/n was that she made it so easy—to flirt, to tease, to get caught up in this energy that felt heavier than I was ready to admit.

And the fact that I was lying in bed, in a dimly lit hotel room, heat settling low in my stomach? Yeah. That was dangerous. I exhaled, forcing myself to type.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
So what exactly are you thinking about?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
You really wanna know?

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
I asked, didn't I?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
I just don't wanna be responsible for your delicate sensibilities.

I rolled my eyes, but my stomach flipped.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Oh, please. I can handle whatever you throw at me.

A pause.

Then—

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Alright. Don't say I didn't warn you.

I swallowed, heart hammering.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Oh my God, just say it.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
I was just thinking about how unfair it is that I'm here covered in sweat, soot, and exhaustion while you're lying in bed, looking like that.

I blinked. My entire body heated up.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
...Like what?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Like that. Hair messy, lips all pouty, eyes all sleepy.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Looking like someone should be taking care of you... doing things to you

A breath left me, sharp and shaky. Okay. This was not the kind of conversation I had expected when I texted her. I pressed my thighs together, suddenly feeling way too aware of my own body, the way my chest rose and fell a little too fast, the way my fingers curled around my phone like I needed to hold on to something.

I licked my lips, typing slower now.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
And who exactly do you think should be taking care of me? Doing things to me?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Wouldn't you like to know

My face burned. I exhaled, turning onto my side, tucking my phone under my cheek.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
It's not even midnight yet, and you're already talking reckless.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Depends on the time zone.

I glanced at the clock on my phone. It was nearly 12:30 AM in Charleston, but only 9:30 PM in LA.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Mmm, true. But at midnight? That's when all the sketchy, naughty conversations happen.

My stomach dropped. Oh, we were so doing this.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Oh? So what you're saying is... if we were in the same city right now, I'd be in danger since its midnight?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Mmm. That depends.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
On?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
On how easily you give in to temptation.

My mouth went dry.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Okay, see, now you're just trying to get me in trouble.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Me? Never.

I snorted, pressing my fingers to my lips to hide my stupid grin. I was way too into this. I shifted onto my stomach, kicking my feet behind me, eyes glued to my screen.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
What would you even do if we were in the same city?

A pause. Then—

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
You really wanna ask me that? Think its kinda obvi

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
I did just type it out and send it.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Okay. You asked for it.

I swallowed, gripping my phone tighter.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
If we were in the same city right now, I'd first tell you to stop biting your lip like that.

I gasped. I immediately pulled my lip from between my teeth, looking around like I had been caught. I hated that she already knew me so well.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
What the hell—are you spying on me?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Nope. Just know you.

I covered my face. God, this was bad. But I didn't stop.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
And if I didn't stop?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Then I'd have to do something about it.

I inhaled sharply. Nope. Nope, this was definitely veering into the danger zone. But I was so not stopping now.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
If I didn't know any better, I'd say you wanted to kiss me.

A beat. Then—

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Yeah... That's not the only thing I'm thinking of.

My entire body flushed. I gasped, gripping my blanket. I was dying. This was too much. And yet, my fingers kept moving.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
Oh? And what else are you thinking?

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Just thinking about how you might taste...

I whimpered. Okay. This was bad. This was very bad. I was literally gripping my phone, heat pooling in my stomach, the intensity growing between my legs. I needed to calm down.

I wanted her. I exhaled sharply, my body so hot I was nearly shaking. I needed to stop. I needed to end this conversation. Before I completely lost myself. I was already wet. I forced myself to type—

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
I'm going to pretend this conversation never happened.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Mmm. We'll see how long that lasts.

I groaned, tossing my phone to the side and pressing my face into the pillow. I needed a cold shower. I needed a prayer circle. I needed to be exorcised. Because Y/n Calloway? She was going to ruin me. And I was going to let her. I need to get back to South Carolina ASAP.

. . .

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

I had no business thinking about Madelyn right now.

None.

And yet, as I sat at the firehouse kitchen table, absentmindedly stirring my coffee, her voice—her damn texts—kept playing on a loop in my head.

"That's not the only thing I'm thinking of."

I groaned, dropping my head into my hands. This was bad. I had flirted before—flirting was easy, harmless. But this? This was a different level of reckless. Because the way she had responded to me? The way she let herself go there? That wasn't casual flirting. That was dangerous. That was a line crossed.

I pulled my phone from my pocket, staring at our last few messages.

Madelyn 🙂‍↕️♡:
I'm going to pretend this conversation never happened.

Y/n/n 🚒 ♡:
Mmm. We'll see how long that lasts.

That had been over an hour ago, and neither of us had texted since.

I knew why. Madelyn was probably lying in bed, trying to process what the hell just happened—just like I was. Shit.

"You look like you just had an existential crisis," Caleb's voice broke through my thoughts. "Please tell me it's not about work, 'cause I am not clocking in for emotional support duty."

I looked up to see him standing at the fridge, pulling out the last container of leftover pasta we had stashed from last night's shift.

I sighed. "It's not about work."

Caleb turned around, eyes narrowing like he already knew. "Oh. It's like that?" He smirked, plopping down across from me. "Lemme guess—Madelyn?"

I groaned again, rubbing my face. "Shut up." Caleb gasped, setting his food down. "Oh my God."

I ignored him, taking a long sip of my coffee. "Oh my God," he repeated, sitting up straighter. "You totally just got caught up in something, didn't you?"

"Caleb—"

"Wait, no, let me guess!" He tapped his fingers on the table, his grin growing. "You guys were texting. It got flirty. And then—boom! It got a little too flirty, and now you're spiraling because you like her but won't admit it."

I stared at him. "Do you ever shut the hell up?" Caleb leaned back in his chair, looking entirely too smug. "Not when I'm right."

I groaned, setting my mug down. "Okay, fine. Maybe we had a... moment." Caleb raised an eyebrow. "A moment?"

I exhaled sharply. "A moment. A very stupid, very reckless moment."

Caleb grinned. "Define reckless."

I hesitated. I really shouldn't tell him. But Caleb is my best friend. And I was losing my damn mind. I pulled out my phone, turned the screen toward him, and let him read.

His jaw dropped. His eyes flickered over the texts, his face going through every stage of disbelief before he let out the loudest, most obnoxious cackle I had ever heard.

"Oh. My. God." He leaned forward, grabbing my wrist. "You sexted Madelyn Cline."

"Shut up!" I whisper-yelled, snatching my phone back. He wheezed, clutching his chest. "No. Freaking. Way." I groaned, slumping against the chair. "I hate myself."

Caleb shook his head.