Losing Control : His Madness, His Cure Chapter 143

“Morning!” she chirps, heading straight for me. She hugs me, plants a kiss on my cheek like I’m her favorite relative, then spins off toward Addy with the same energy. Addy stiffens, refuses to react, rag still clutched in her hand like a weapon.

“Good morning, sweetest blossom of my heart,” Layla croons, batting her lashes.

Addy stares at her flatly.

“My radiant sunshine?” Layla tries again, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.

Addy groans, shoves her back with all the drama of a soap opera star, and flicks her hair over her shoulder as she stalks off. “Save it, Judas.”

I can’t help laughing. “What’s with you?” I ask Layla, giving her an exaggerated once-over. “Did you win the lottery or just find a lipstick shade you like?”

She grins like she has secrets, and before she can answer, Addy yanks open the lunchbox. The smell fills the shop, and she digs in without a word.

Layla, undeterred, bounces over. “Ooh, what’d Jax make us today?” Her eyes are practically shining.

Addy chews and ignores her.

Layla sighs theatrically, leans in conspiratorially. “Well, as it so happens, Adam bought you something too. And I know for a fact you’re gonna love it.”

Addy doesn’t even glance up. “What is this?...your stupid boyfriends trying to bribe me because they stole you two from me?”

“Don’t call him stupid,” Layla says at the same time I say “Hey, watch it!”

Addy rolls her eyes so hard I’m surprised they don’t stick. “I don’t care what it is. I don’t want it.” She shoves another bite of sandwich into her mouth. “It’s fine, I’ll just find new best friends. Ones who don’t immediately go boy crazy and let dick turn their brains into mash.”

Layla gasps, clutches her chest. “Rude.”

“Don’t be dramatic,” I tell Addy, and the second it leaves my mouth I know I shouldn’t have bothered.

Her chin tilts, her eyes glint, and she hisses, “You lost the right to tell me anything.” Then, just as quickly, she exhales, almost soft, almost pitying, like she feels sorry for me. “And for the record? Contrary to what you two think, I did actually find you really sexy. But you’re progressively becoming less attractive the longer you’re in a relationship. It’s tragic, really.”

I’m still processing that particular insult when I catch Layla digging through her purse with single-minded purpose. Her whole face lights like she’s about to drop a nuclear bomb of proof that she’s right and Addy’s wrong. She pulls out a slip of paper, practically shoves it under Addy’s nose.

Addy startles, swats at her hand like it’s a fly, but then....freezes. Her eyes lock on the paper. Then on Layla. Then back again. Her mouth falls open, the half-eaten lunchbox now abandoned like it never existed. “Wait,” she whispers, voice breaking, “is this... real?”

Layla nods.

I squint, because what the hell am I missing here? Before I can ask, Addy’s eyes gloss over and she just...lets out this sharp, guttural scream that ricochets off the walls.

“Jesus,” I mutter, already moving toward them.

Layla, calm as can be, fishes two more out of her purse like she’s pulling receipts. She hands them to me. I flip them over in my hands, blinking. Arcadia Bloom tickets, Paris.

“VIP,” Addy breathes, already on her feet, then crashing dramatically down to her knees like she’s in the presence of God himself. There's actual tears streaking her cheeks, but she’s laughing at the same time, this strangled sound that’s pure disbelief.

Layla crouches a little, smug and radiant. “We’ll go in Adam's Private jet,” she says. “He’s getting us a place too, so we can comfortably stay a few days.”

My brows lift. She tilts her head at Addy, grin wide. “So? Is Adam forgiven?”

Addy scoffs, swiping furiously at her face even as her smile splits wide. “Forgiven for what? What’s wrong with a guy wanting quality time with his girlfriend? I was just being a bitch for no reason!” She whirls on me next, pointing like she’s issuing a decree. “And I love Jax. You two—” her voice cracks, she’s so fucking gone “...you’re like the sexiest fucking couple I’ve ever laid eyes on. If you ever need a surrogate or anything, I'm your girl!”

I shake my head, still staring down at the two tickets in my hands. Three weeks away.... fucking Paris.

Layla smirks knowingly. “One’s for Jax. If he’ll even want to go.”

And for a moment, it’s not just Addy overwhelmed.

I squint down at the gleaming Arcadia Bloom logo. “How much do you think all this will set him back?” I ask, brow arched. “Feels a little excessive.”

Addy shoots me a glare like I just spat in the holy water. “Excessive? Please. I'm sure he drops more on a pair of cufflinks. This wouldn't even register on his statement.”

I head for my chair. Dropping into it, I pull out my phone and snap a picture of the tickets, the bold Paris practically mocking me. I shoot it off to Jax with a quick text... “*Did you know about this? Apparently Adam's financing our French vacation.”*

A bubble pops up almost immediately, “*Didn't know. ”*

*“You wanna go?”* I type back.

His reply is instant, “*Do you?”*

I stare at the screen for half a beat before my thumbs move. “*Yeah, I do.”*

“*Then so do I.”*

The words land in my chest heavy and warm, like an anchor and a fire all at once. It’s not just that he said yes, it’s that he mirrors me, meets me where I am, like my wanting is enough to tip the scales for him. It makes me feel chosen in the simplest, quietest way.

The smile sneaks onto my face before I can stop it. I lock my phone and set it on the table.

Layla’s already sighing, dreamy but with that hint of dread. “Now we just have to figure out how to break it to Zig that all three of his employees are vanishing for a few days in three weeks.”

Addy drags in a sharp breath, clutching her chest like she’s bracing for impact. “Oh yeah. That’s not gonna be fun. But we're not letting this slide by. Drinks at mine this weekend! And yes, you can bring your boyfriends.”