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Madison Castelli's green eyes regarded Jake Sica with a certain guarded amusement as he entertained his brother's dinner guests with a hilarious story about a recent photo safari he'd been on in Africa. Jake had a kind of deadpan delivery that really caught her attention and attracted her to him, although she had no intention of getting involved again. Not after her last disastrous relationship -- absolutely no way.
Madison was quite beautiful, with her black hair, olive skin and lithe body, but she played her good looks down, preferring to be known for brains rather than beauty.
I'm twenty-nine, a successful writer for Manhattan Style magazine and happily single, Madison thought, continuing to check Jake out across the dinner table. So why am I even thinking about this guy? Especially as I only just met him. Plus he doesn't seem at all interested in me -- so what's my problem?
She glanced over at her best friend, Natalie, who'd brought her to the dinner. Natalie and Jimmy Sica, Jake's brother and the host of this party, worked at the same TV station. Jimmy, with his classic good looks and scintillating smile, was the news anchor, while Natalie took care of the entertainment report. Both were enjoying their one night off -- especially Natalie, who seemed to be making out okay with Luther, a huge ex-football player and old college buddy of Jimmy's.
"You're a hoot," Natalie said to Jake, shooting Madison a sideways "why don't you do something about him?" look.
Madison did not respond; she wasn't about to encourage Natalie's not so subtle matchmaking, even though she did find Jake extremely attractive.
"I love this!" exclaimed Bunny, Jimmy's pretty wife, clapping her hands together like an excited little girl. "We used to entertain all the time in Detroit. What fun we had!"
"We sure did," agreed Jimmy, flashing his perfect smile.
"How about we play charades later?" Bunny suggested, still full of girlish enthusiasm.
"How about not?" Jake responded, with a wry grin.
"I'm with you," Madison agreed. She couldn't stand parlor games -- probably because she didn't consider herself very good at them.
"Me, too," said Luther, pushing his chair away from the table and stretching. "Man, I do not get off on all that goofin' around. Makes me feel like some kind of big old fool."
Bunny pulled a face. "It's my party," she said petulantly. "I can do what I want."
"Honey!" Jimmy said, slightly embarrassed. "Whyn't we take a vote?"
"Don't want to," Bunny said, pursing her pink lips, her pretty features contorting into a scowl.
"Sweetheart --" Jimmy started to say.
"Don't nag me all the time!" Bunny shrieked, cutting him off, her baby blue eyes flashing sudden major danger signals.
"Oh, good," Natalie murmured, attempting to lighten things up. "A family fight."
Bunny suddenly jumped up from the table. "I hate you all!" she screeched, before running from the room.
There was a stunned silence.
Jimmy's smile wavered. "She's only kidding," he said, getting up and hurriedly scooting after her.
"Holy shit!" Natalie exclaimed as soon as Jimmy was out of earshot. "What was that all about?"
Both Luther and Jake appeared unaffected by Bunny's outburst.
"Nothing," Jake said, with a wide, unconcerned grin. "That was simply Bunny being Bunny -- no big deal."
"Yeah," Luther agreed, reaching for a bottle of red wine and refilling everyone's glass. "Nothin' changes."
"Does she usually scream at her guests like that?" Madison asked, surprised at their calm reaction.
"She only throws a fit to get Jimmy's attention," Jake explained. "It's her way."
"Good for her," Madison said crisply, pushing her chair away from the table. "Only I don't have to stay around to watch."
"No, no," Luther said, chuckling. "You don't get it. This shit's bin goin' on since college. They'll be back in a minute all cozy an' down each other's throats. It's their thing."
"Well, it's not mine," Madison said, standing up. "Besides, I've got work to do." She stared pointedly at Natalie, waiting for her to get up, too.
Natalie didn't budge.
"I guess I'd better call a cab," Madison said irritably, swearing to herself that tomorrow she'd hire her own car -- no more being trapped.
"Oh," Natalie said innocently, as if it had only just occurred to her. "You're in my car, aren't you?"
"Yes, Natalie, I am," Madison said, stifling the urge to strangle her.
Natalie was not about to give up on Luther. "Maybe Jake's going your way," she suggested.
Now all eyes were on Jake. Madison was furious, especially as Jake was not exactly leaping up to offer her a lift.
"A cab'll be fine," she said stiffly.
"I'll call one," Jake said. "I would drive you, but...uh...I'm kind of expecting someone."
Oh great, Madison thought. He's got a late date, and Natalie's begging him to drive me home. How embarrassing is this?
"Who?" Luther asked, all interested.
"No one you know," Jake replied, picking up his glass and taking a gulp of wine.
Natalie finally rallied. "I suppose I should be going too," she said, batting her long eyelashes at Luther, waiting for him to stop her.
He got the message. "No, baby," he crooned, giving her a long, slow-burn look. "It's way too early for you to leave."
"Gotta get my beauty sleep," she said, doing the eyelash thing again.
"Honey," Luther said, right on cue. "You're so fine you don't need beauty sleep."
Oh, God, Madison thought, do I really have to listen to this?
And then the phone rang, and all hell broke loose.
Copyright © 1998 by Chances, Inc.
