Page 30 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

“Yeah, yeah. I mean, I heard you were back, but…” He shrugs and rubs his jaw. “Just been crazy busy.”

A jab of aggravation strikes. It’s a subpar excuse for not reaching out, not that I’ve been any better. I didn’t exactly go out of my way to find him when I moved home. Too many bygones and years under that rickety bridge. “I’m on a bar run, but I’m sure I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, sure.”

We nod our goodbyes, neither of us making a concrete effort to meet up later. I have more pressing concerns than pretending Mizhir and I might reconnect.

By the time I return with the beverages, Maggie seems more relaxed. She’s chatting with Delilah and E and their friends Avett and Naomi. Harrison is standing to the side, talking with some other Ivy League-looking guy.

I shove his slurpy at him, then present Maggie with her first tequila shot like a servant bowing to royalty. “Your liquid amnesia, ma’am.”

She rolls her eyes. “It’ll take more than a shot to forget today.”

“That’s why there are two.” I hold up the second.

She slams back the first, barely pausing before she snags the second. Two shots down, she hands me the glasses, and our fingers brush. Except they don’t just brush. There’s definite lingering. She flexes her fingers, dragging her nail lightly along my skin. My nerve endings decide they’re live wires. She licks her lips while eyeing mine, but she misses a droplet of tequila. It takes all my willpower not to lean in and lick the alcohol clinging to her top lip.

Swallowing a groan, I deposit the glasses on a high-top table and focus on the conversation.

“I need to buy a red shirt.” Delilah holds up her stained hands. “Something to accessorize with my skin.”

Maggie huffs. “You and the rest of the town.”

“I have skunk shampoo that’s pretty strong,” Avett offers. He was best friends with E before we disappeared into WITSEC. He’s a vet now and a solid guy, with a trim beard and a bright smile, except the mischief on his face matches E’s too well. “It might get out the stains, but I’d have to spray everyone with skunk first. Make sure using it is legit.”

E high-fives him. “Killer plan.”

“Or,” I say brightly, “we could pretend we’re dying from some rare skin disease. Get the media involved. Think of how much attention it would bring Windfall.”

Maggie raises an unimpressed eyebrow. “Because everyone would be evacuating the town and the businesses would tank and I’d officially lose my job?”

As usual, she makes an excellent point. “Maybe we won’t do that. On a more serious note, the farmers’ booths were super busy.”

“I bought beet-dyed yarn for my knitting group,” Delilah says. “I’m planning to knit dog sweaters.”

“I bought beets to pickle.” Naomi nudges Avett. “We’ll make that goat cheese salad you like.”

Harrison butts into our circle and slips his arm around Maggie. “See? No reason to stress over the festival, Gummy Bear. Everyone had fun.”

Her face pinches like she wants to throat-punch him, then a curtain seems to fall—actress Maggie offering him an amiable smile. “I’ll stress if I want to, sweetheart.”

Yep. Maggie’s not into her boyfriend. It doesn’t take a genius to read the signs, and she’ll be getting an earful from me.

The song blasting from the speakers changes. I recognize Lee Brice’s “Love Like Crazy” from my cowboy-boot-wearing phase. A rocking song that has the crowd cheering.

I plant my hand on Avett’s shoulder. “Might I steal your wife for a dance?”

Naomi lights up. “Yes, please.”

“You’d be doing me a favor,” Avett says, stepping aside. “Dance floors and I don’t get along.”

“I promise to return her before your car turns into a pumpkin.” I lead the way to the dance floor, not before I give Delilah intense eyes, silently telling her Operation Corner Maggie has commenced.

She winks at me, then grabs Harrison and Maggie by their arms, not-so-subtly shoving them toward the dance floor. “You two need to unwind! Shake a leg! Dance the day off!”

Her over-the-top enthusiasm is pitiful, but her antics force Maggie and Harrison to the dance floor. We all get into the groove. Naomi and I dance a few feet away from them. Unsurprisingly, Harrison’s more of an arm-waver than a dancer, while Maggie’s hips hit every beat, riling me up without even trying. Naomi and I have fun in our little bubble of two, dancing and jumping to the music. By the middle of the song, I spot Delilah beside the DJ, whispering into his ear. My accomplice doing her duty.

I grab Naomi’s hand and twirl her, maneuvering us toward the sexy redhead who puts every dancer out here to shame.