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“Told ya to run, sugar,” I reminded her just before I lowered my mouth to hers.
“She’s mute, dickhead. Not deaf,” Nash snarled.
Tonight Brady hadn’t driven his truck up to the party; he’d left it parked with the other vehicles in the wooded area just off the dirt road. I knew it was because he wanted me to have somewhere to stay. He was trying to make this easier on me. He’d even brought me a bowl of pretzels and a soda a little while ago. He’d seemed concerned.
“I think that just made her day,” Brady whispered, glancing back at me. And this time I smiled. Because he was right. She was happy, and that made me smile.
“I just hate being stared at.” He chuckled and moved his fork to get a bite of cake. “Then you shouldn’t be so damn pretty.”
Maggie deserved the best. But I could be one hell of a friend.
“Please? If you don’t come in there, I’m coming out here, and I really fucking hate to eat in the heat.”
Once I was done eating, I hugged Aunt Coralee because she liked it when I did that, and then I headed upstairs to my room.
“I want to meet the man you adore. He’s got to be special.”
“I thought I raised you better,” my dad said, still wheezing through his words. “Girl who looks like this one ain’t for friendship. You’re supposed to snatch her up.”
Maggie laughed beside me, and Dad’s grin grew.
“You gonna win tonight?” he asked. This was always our thing. “You know it,” I replied just like I always did. “That’s my boy.”
Almost immediately a hand landed on my shoulder and squeezed hard. “Friends. Remember?” Brady’s voice wasn’t threatening, but it sure wasn’t friendly, either.
Brady shook his head, his frown still in place. “I’m trying to. But I see the way you look at her.” “Just because I want something, doesn’t mean I’m cruel enough to take it. I’d never do that to her. She is just my friend. She will always be just my friend.”
The panic written across his face was what only a real friend would feel.
I was in love with him. I could be whatever it was he needed me to be. Even if that would always be just a friend.
He was wrong. I didn’t need them. I had who I needed tucked close to my side. But I didn’t tell him that. I just nodded. He wouldn’t understand.
“Hello, Maggie. I’m glad they’ve let you come back. If Jude were awake, he’d be all smiles and happy to see you with West.”
Brady, Nash, Gunner, Asa, and Ryker were all lying around on different chairs or slumped over, asleep in their seats. They hadn’t left. Even though I’d asked them all to go home, these five hadn’t left. We had been a friends and teammates since we were kids, but more than that . . . we were a family.
Standing up, he pulled me in for a hug. “I’m sorry, man. So damn sorry.”
“You’ve never mentioned that night,” I said, wanting more from him. He turned his gaze back to me. “But I think about it all the time. Even though I shouldn’t. I think about it.”
“A girl’s first kiss should never be from an asshole who’s taking his anger at life out on her. Lips this sweet shouldn’t be treated the way I treated them. I can’t take it back, but I can replace it. With something better.” He dipped his head. “This is what your first kiss should have been like,” he whispered against my lips before his mouth covered mine.
“I like your dress,” he said, leaning down to whisper near my ear. “It matches your eyes.” I glanced up at him. “Your dad liked my eyes. He said they were pretty.” A sad smile touched his lips. “Yeah, he did. He’d like that dress, too.”
Each one also stopped and hugged Olivia, which only made her cry more.
“He’s out there, isn’t he?” Brady said, following my gaze to the window. I could lie, but I trusted Brady. He loved West too. So I nodded. He gave me a sad smile. “Be careful, Maggie.”
I called Momma and told her to go to sleep. Told her I’d be home soon, that I was at Brady’s. That was the truth. I was at Brady’s. I just wasn’t here for Brady. I think she probably knew that, but she didn’t ask.
I slipped my hands into her silky hair and untied her bun. She didn’t protest. We lay there quietly for a few minutes while I played with her hair and stared at the ceiling fan. My head was a mix of emotions. She’d entered my life when I’d needed her most. I’d never expected this. Or her. But now that I had her, I wasn’t sure how I’d made it this long without her.
“Just my jersey, Maggie. No one else’s. Ever. I don’t want anyone’s jersey touching you but mine. Keep this one. Wear it any damn time you want, but don’t ever put Brady’s on again.”
He grinned. “My girl. My fucking jersey.”
Family or not, she wasn’t wearing Brady’s fucking jersey. Or anyone else’s for that matter. Just mine.
“I can talk. I just choose who I talk to. So stop trying to upset me. It’s not working.” I stood there staring at Maggie as she spoke so clearly and matter-of-factly to Raleigh.
Maggie’s shoulders shook with silent laughter, and she laid her head on my shoulder as she watched them. And I watched her.
“One day I’m going to make love to you on a bed,” he whispered.
“She’s just like her momma. Special, kind, sweet. But strong, too. She’s survived a lot. And if this,” he said, pointing at the two of us, “is more than friendship now, then you be sure you’re ready to cherish her. You hurt her, and I’ll hurt you. Don’t care who you are.”
“I love you, little girl. I loved your momma. Losing her changed all our lives, but it especially changed yours. We want to help you heal. If you’ll let us.”
Brady stood up. “I’m just glad you came so I could finally get my attic bedroom,” he said, then winked at her.
“What would you like me to say?” I asked. The room went silent. Then Nash’s face broke into a grin. “Well, hell, Maggie. Even your voice is pretty.”
“I couldn’t give a shit if Riley’s back in town or not. But don’t get that close to my girl again.”
“I do trust you, and you’re so much more than my girlfriend. But I just need to protect you.”
This past month you’ve made breakthroughs no one thought you could. You’re talking, Maggie. That means you’re healing. Focus on you. I’ll take care of West.”
He wasn’t alone. I was.
“Fuck that! How the hell am I supposed to ignore her, Brady? Huh? I can’t ignore her. I’m in love with her.”
“If that’s so, then you need to find a way to back off. You’ll lose her if you don’t.”
If I was to prove to Maggie that I loved her, then girls like this one weren’t going to help. I shot Gunner an annoyed glare. He just laughed harder. Asshole.
“I’m one of his best friends. And even if Maggie wasn’t one of my friends too, I’d be doing this for him. Because West would lose his shit if he’d seen this. Attacking her ain’t getting him back, Ray.”
“He’s going to be furious when he finds out about this. When he comes to find you, know his anger isn’t at you. It’s because he thinks he’s caused this to happen to you. He wants to protect you. He’s not going to take this well.”
“There was a . . . problem at the lockers . . . but I handled it, and she’s fine,” Nash whispered.
What did he think I was doing? Letting them talk about Maggie? Seriously? Did my own friends not even realize I was in love with her?
“That night we . . . when we slept together. Maggie, I—” I needed her to look at me. Reaching over, I slid a finger under her chin and turned her face until her eyes met mine. “Maggie, I knew I loved you then. I didn’t tell you because my emotions were so raw that night. I didn’t make love to you because I needed comfort. I made love to you because I wanted to be as close to you as possible. Because, although I had lost my dad, I had been given you. Someone who made me feel whole inside. Who gave me a reason to smile every day. And I let myself go a little insane with my need to hold on to
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“I didn’t want you to wake up one day and not need me anymore. I wouldn’t have been able to survive that kind of heartbreak. I wanted more. I fell in love with you, and it terrified me.”
