Page 165 of No Headlines Please

"It's a long story. And I'll tell you. I promise. But first, you need to know something." I gave her a wobbly smile. "I missed you, too."

Tessa was still blinking. "You did?"

"Yes." I glanced at Maddox, who was still holding the flower pot. See? He was nice, no matter what Tessa said. I looked back to my sister. "Look. I brought you a peace offering. It's um…a hydrangea."

Ryder said, "Damn."

I didn't get it. "What?"

Ryder shrugged. "I thought it was for me."

Tessa gave him a playful swat to the shoulder. "Oh, stop it. Why would she get you a hydrangea?"

He wrapped an arm around her waist. "Hey, he's the one holding it."

Tessa shook her head. "So?"

"So I figured it was from him."

Tessa rolled her eyes. "Very funny."

Ryder grinned. "Hey, I thought so."

He was still grinning when a loud pounding at the door made us all turn to look. Tessa winced. "Oh, crap." But then, she rushed to the door and yanked it open to reveal Maisie standing on the porch, looking slightly miffed.

My heart clenched at the sight of her. She looked exactly like I remembered, with her long chestnut hair, faded flannel shirt, and bright hazel eyes that stared at the four of us, like she'd just caught us robbing the house.

Standing behind her was a tall, broad-shouldered man with tousled dark hair, light stubble, and rolled-up sleeves that revealed part of a black tattoo winding around his forearm.

Griff?

It had to be.

Before I could even ask, Maisie looked to Tessa and said, "Thanks a million for telling me."

Tessa sighed. "I was just about to call you, honest." She gave me a quick glance. "And besides, she's only been here for ten minutes."

Maisie still looked annoyed. "Yeah, well, maybe you should've called me nine minutes ago."

Tessa gave her an exasperated look. "And maybe I would have, if I'd known she was coming."

"But she's my best friend."

"Yeah? Well, she's my sister."

As I listened, my heart went just a little gooey. But it seemed wrong to let it continue. "Hey! I'm right here." I looked between them. "I mean…you are talking about me, right?"

Maisie laughed. "Who else would we be talking about?" And then, with a little squeal, she barreled toward me and nearly knocked me over with the tightest hug yet. "Oh, my God. It's really you."

I squeezed her right back. "Uh…yeah. Sorry I was gone so long." And I was. The longer we hugged, the more I regretted staying away.

Maisie pulled back to search my face. "But why were you gone? Whatever I did, I'm really sorry."

I stared. "Why does everyone think it was them?"

She blinked. "Wait…so it wasn't?"

Suddenly, I felt like an ass. "I just mean…it wasn't anyone's fault."