The words barely left her mouth when a knock came at the door.
“Maddie, breakfast is ready,” Rico’s voice called from the other side.
Her heart jolted. She had slept so deeply the night before that she hadn’t heard him return. Panicking, she quickly ended the call with Lucy and opened the door.
***
Rico stood outside, dressed casually in his pajamas. His dark hair was tousled and his expression was unreadable.
“You said you’re going home?” he asked, his tone sharp.
Maddie’s mind raced. “You misheard,” she said quickly. “It was Lucy who’s going home.”
Before Rico could press further, a soft voice floated in from the kitchen.
“Rico, has Maddie gotten up yet? Breakfast is ready!”
Jane appeared, balancing a plate in her hands, wearing Rico’s shirt from the night before. She beamed at Maddie as though the previous day’s chaos had never happened.
“Good morning, Maddie!”
Maddie bit back a bitter retort. “You two enjoy. I’m not hungry.” She turned to close the door, but Rico grabbed her arm.
“Don’t be rude,” he said, frowning. “Jane worked so hard to make breakfast despite her burned foot. She even woke up early to cook for you and you won’t eat?”
***
A laugh burst from Maddie’s lips—sharp, bitter and uncontrollable. The emotions she had buried for so long finally erupted, spilling out in a flood of anger and heartbreak.
“Rude? You’re calling me rude?” Her voice trembled, but it was steady enough to cut through the air. “Rico, it was Jane who bumped into me yesterday. But you didn’t even care to ask what happened. You blamed me—me! And now you’re talking about her burned foot? Did you know I had to get stitches? Did you know I needed a tetanus shot? Of course not. You didn’t even notice!”
Rico froze, his eyes dropping to her feet. For the first time, he noticed the thick gauze wrapped around her right foot. Maddie was barefoot, standing on the cold floor and tears fell silently, splashing against the ground.
“I didn’t know…” he murmured, his voice tinged with guilt. He moved as if to crouch down and examine her injury, but Jane quickly intervened.
“I’m so sorry!” Jane’s voice quivered with practiced regret. She stepped beside Rico, her face a picture of remorse. “I had no idea you were hurt. I didn’t mean to bump into you yesterday—I swear!”
Maddie’s jaw clenched as she watched Jane’s theatrics. The sweet, apologetic tone was for Rico’s benefit, not hers.
***