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“It is.” Cheryl fiddled with her hair and pointed toward the backyard. “I should get back.”
“We’ll be out soon,” Maddie said.
When she left, Sophie said, “I’m glad they are happy.”
Maddie turned and leaned back against the counter. “And what are we going to do about you?”
“There’s nothing to do.” Sophie straightened her top.
“Have you talked to Ryder?” Maddie’s voice was full of speculation.
“No.” The response was immediate, but to her horror she felt her cheeks heat.
Gracie pointed at her. “You have.”
She shook her head. “I swear, I haven’t.”
“She’s a big, fat liar,” Gracie said to Maddie.
“I’m not, I have not talked to him.”
Maddie’s eyes narrowed. “It’s something.”
Again she shrugged, as though it was no big deal. “We might have exchanged a few texts, but we haven’t spoken and nothing has changed.”
Gracie grinned. “By the look on your face, I’m guessing they weren’t ordinary texts.”
“It was just checking in.”
Gracie waved a hand. “You are a horrible liar.”
Maddie bit her bottom lip and her gaze slid to the back door. “That makes me feel a little better.”
Sophie’s heart banged against her ribs. “What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.” She sighed. “I swear when I told you he wasn’t going to be here it was the truth. But I guess his plans changed and he decided to come.”
Sophie’s throat went dry. “Ryder’s here?”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
Sophie’s stomach took a leap off a cliff. “Does he know I’m coming?”
Maddie’s gaze slid away. “I, um, kind of said you weren’t going to be here.”
Sophie closed her eyes and prayed for strength. “How could you do this to me?”
“You texted him, that’s half the battle,” Gracie added helpfully. “Think of it this way, you get it over with and you guys can figure out how to be neighbors.”
They didn’t understand, and she wasn’t about to explain. So she shook her head, “Let’s get this over with.”
* * *
When she walked outside, wearing tight capri jeans and a pinkish scoop-neck top, her hair loose, Ryder wasn’t surprised to see her, even though Maddie had said she wasn’t coming. The truth was, all his instincts promised she’d be there, and he’d needed to see her.
Needed to look at her.
Hear her voice.
