Maude forced a small smile. “Let’s not be dramatic.”
“I won’t be any trouble, I swear. You won’t even know I’m there.”
“Let’s not pretend like that’s even possible. Listen, there’s something else you should know,” she said. “I’ve reconnected with Ollie.”
Robbie paused. “Ollie? Ollie from high school? As in the guy you dated back when I still thought the Ninja Turtles were real?”
Maude let out a breathy laugh. “Yes, that Ollie. And we’re seeing each other again.” Her voice warmed despite herself. “It’s early, but it’s good. Really good. And I’m not letting anything—oranyone—derail it.”
Robbie was quiet a beat too long, and Maude felt herself tense. Finally, he said, “Maudie, I would never?—”
She cut in gently but decisively. “Robbie, I love you, and I want to help you. But if there’s any drama, or if you try to push him away because you’re feeling insecure or protective of me, you’ll be taking a long walk off a short pier. Got it?”
There was a brief silence, then Robbie exhaled like he was surrendering. “I got it. I promise. I’ll be on my best behavior. No sabotage. No jokes.”
Maude closed her eyes, relief coursing through her. “Thank you. That means a lot.”
“Hey,” Robbie said, voice lighter now. “I want you happy. Even if your taste in men is aggressively old school.”
Maude rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. “When do you think you’ll get here?”
“Tuesday night sometime, if that’s okay?”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you then.” She wasn’t sure it would be fine, but he was family. Her only sibling. What else was she supposed to do?
When they hung up, Maude stared at her reflection in the darkened laptop screen. Her tidy, carefully built new life was about to be tested by Hurricane Robbie.
She looked at Pixel, swimming happily in his tank. “If I end up regretting this, you are not allowed to say I told you so.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Paige was folding laundry and thinking about what she was going to post on TikTok next. Maybe another Thought For The Day. That had done well and gotten a lot of comments. She still hadn’t truly introduced Graham to her followers, mostly because she remained unsure about sharing him.
Giving them a glimpse of him was one thing. Telling them she and Graham were seeing each other exclusively was very different.
She had no problem sharing the men who meant nothing. But Graham was unlike those men. Graham was important and after their last conversation, her relationship with him felt like something she needed to protect.
Was there a way to bring him in that would also protect them as a couple? She knew her audience would love him. How could they not?
Her phone vibrated on the bed next to the stack of workout clothes. Graham’s name flashed across the screen.
Her heart did an entirely inconvenient little flutter. She tried to sound casual when she answered but wasn’t sure she’d accomplished it. He just had that effect on her. “Hi, there.”
“Hello, Paige.” His voice, smooth and warm as a cup of tea, wrapped around her name like he was smiling. “I was wondering if you’d like to come over for dinner this evening. Nothing fancy. It’s just something I cook far too infrequently because it’s no fun eating alone.”
Paige sat on the bed, pressing her palm over the sudden thump in her chest. “Dinner sounds wonderful.”
“And perhaps a film afterward?” he added. “We could make a night of it. I promise to respect your popcorn preferences so long as it’s buttered.”
She laughed. “As long as you don’t mind me hogging the remote.”
“Only if you agree not to fast-forward through the action sequences,” he teased.
“Deal,” she said without hesitation.
There was a warm beat of silence, the kind that made Paige’s toes curl in the best way. Like they were both enjoying the moment.
“Six o’clock all right?” he asked.
