I stood up straight and looked at the two of them with what I was certain was my best haughty expression. “I’m sure I do not know what you mean.” I just got it out before the two traitors made it behind the bookstore counter and pulled me into their arms in a tight embrace. I held back a bit before Emma’s fingers began to wiggle on my sides, exactly where I was ultra ticklish.
I twisted, trying to get away from her as my laughter bubbled up. “Damn you, Emma.” I gasped. “Knock it off.”
“Nope, not happening, Maggie May. You need to laugh more.” Emma giggled as she got right under my ribs.
Finally I pulled back, avoiding Ivy where she leaned against the counter, watching the scene. I put a few steps between myself and Emma and raised up my hand to keep her at a distance. “Stay. What gives?”
Emma’s hands immediately became animated as she waved them around and got serious. “You, Maggie. These tears. This isn’t the you I know. You take life by the balls and squeeze out what you want—”
“Eww,” Ivy muttered.
“Ivy, I’m making a point,” Emma said.
“Just saying.” Ivy grinned. “Balls…”
Emma’s eyes rolled enough that my students would stand up and applaud. “As I was saying, Maggie, you seem lost. I’m not sure if it’s the pregnancy, my bro—and if it’s him, say the word and I’ll kick his ass—or what, but you are not the fun-loving, kick-ass, take-no-prisoners Maggie that I know and love.” Her eyes got suspiciously moist, and she almost whispered, “You seem lost.”
And on that note, I did lose it. Tears. Rivers of them, flowing down my face. It was not a pretty cry. Not a dainty little sniff, but actual sobs.
Shit.
Emma and Ivy immediately wrapped around me again sans any notion of tickling as they could clearly see I had lost it. Emma began making hushing noises as she rubbed my back. Ivy just stood there, giving comfort in her solid presence.
Emma pulled my hair back, looking straight into my eyes, and whispered, “Mags, what is it?”
I looked around, taking in Ivy’s bookstore, the soothing afternoon light from the street. Ivy left our embrace and grabbed some candles from below the counter, lighting them, and then she moved to the door, locking it, and flipped the sign toclosed.
“Hey,” I protested, tears finally slowing. “We don’t close for an hour or so.”
Ivy grinned at me. “Babe, this is the benefit to owning the store. We close whenever I want. And right now I think it is more important that we get some music on and dance. You, my beautiful girl, need to release some demons.” She grabbed her phone. “Any requests?”
“Hold on, Ivy,” Emma said, glancing back to me. “I want a minute with this one before we dance, though that sounds good too.” Emma took both my hands in hers. “Spill, chickie. What’s with the waterworks?”
My brain tried to make sense of all the emotions I was overwhelmed with, but it felt like swiss cheese. “Guys, I don’t know. I think a lot of it is pregnancy related. Like you said, Emma, I’m not typically this emotional.”
Ivy looked up from her phone. “Okay, I’ll butt in. Clearly I don’t know you as well as Emma. Maybe that is actually an advantage here. I have had a baby, and pregnancy hormones are no joke, true. But at least for me, they just heightened what was already there. Did something happen today that upset you?”
“Not really? I mean, I had a former student come in. I got to talk to him as well as his boyfriend for a bit.” I thought about Taylor and John and smiled.
Emma tilted her head and considered me for a moment. “They didn’t say anything to upset you?”
“Of course not! Taylor was always a sweet kid, still is. He even shared a memory from being in middle school where I helped him.” I thought of John coming back in. “And his boyfriend actually came back in and told me how much of an impact I made on Taylor in a place like Highland.” My eyes immediately welled up. Shit.
Emma and Ivy glanced at each other, then back at me. Ivy began gently, “Umm, Maggie, are you aware that you look like you’re ready to cry again?”
I sucked in a huge stuttering breath, trying to regain control. “Yes,” I managed. “I have no idea why. What Taylor and John—that’s his boyfriend—told me was sweet. I don’t know what in the hell has happened to my eyes.”
Ivy grinned, “Well, not to play armchair psychologist on you, but let’s dive in, shall we?” Emma laughed, and I fought back a smile.
“Sure.”
“Okay, so two former students—” Ivy began.
“Nope, one former student, Taylor, with his boyfriend from college,” I corrected.
“Gotcha. Two guys came in and said nice things about you, went on their way, and you had a mini meltdown. Correct?” Ivy’s expression could only be described as mischievous. She had a dimple pop out on her right cheek. Her blondish brown hair tumbled over her shoulders in waves, and her ice-blue-green eyes regarded me.
I looked from her to Emma, who was watching me with concern and amusement warring across her face. I smiled at her through my watery eyes, then looked at Ivy again.
