Page 166 of No Headlines Please

Tessa snorted. "She said she was 'protecting' us."

My gaze bounced between them. "I was, honest." But then I hesitated. "Or at least, I was trying to."

Maisie looked to Maddox, and her eyebrows furrowed. "And, uh, who are you?"

At that moment, I wanted to hug her all over again. See? I wasn't the only one who lived under a rock.

Now, it was Tessa's turn to look confused. "You seriously don't know?"

Maisie shook her head. "Why would I?" She turned to Griff. "Wait…do you know?"

Before Griff could reply, Tessa asked, "Seriously? How can you not know?" She was still staring at Maisie. "He's all over the news."

I jumped to Maisie's defense. "Yeah, but not everyone's in the loop like you are. But wait…" I looked back to Maisie. "How'd you know I was here?"

Tessa and Maisie shared a look. And then, in perfect unison, they said, "Franny."

I couldn't help but smile. "Franny Mulberry? She's still around?" I hesitated. "I mean…doesn't she normally head south for the winter?"

Tessa laughed. "Yeah, but it's not winter. It's fall."

Maddox turned to me with a smug look. "See? Told ya."

Maisie returned her attention to Maddox. Her eyes squinted as she said, "Wait. I know." She snapped her fingers. "You're that congressman...the one who used to play hockey."

Maddox frowned. "Hockey?"

Tessa sighed. "Oh, for God's sake. That's Maddox McGuiness."

Maisie brightened. "Oh." She turned to Griff with a smile. "That's the guy you play poker with, right?"

Griff grinned down at her. "Right."

Maisie smiled triumphantly. "See?" she said, turning back to Tessa. "I got it eventually."

Tessa stared. "But you totally didn't."

Ryder spoke up. "What I think is the guys need a beer." He flicked his head toward the kitchen. "Come on. I've got a six-pack in the fridge."

Griff said, "Only six?"

Maddox added, "Yeah, 'Dude.' What are you gonna drink?"

It made me think of the six-pack that Walt had been carrying on the very first day I'd met Maddox.

So much had happened since then.

I watched with warm amusement as Maddox silently handed Tessa the hydrangea and followed Ryder and Griff into the kitchen.

Tessa looked down at the flower pot and then, back to me. "Do I need to water this?"

I smiled. "Actually, I think you're supposed to plant it."

Tessa clutched it just a little tighter. "You know what? I know just the spot."

63

The Monster in the Room