Page 116 of Keeping Score

“Uncle Brod—”

“And if Rocky Road had agreed, would you have still been taking a bite out of lemon sherbet after the hockey game the other night?”

“Why are you guys—”

“If Rocky Road had agreed, then I doubt my sister would’ve ever tried to bring any other flavor here.” He said, irritated.

I was vaguely aware of Lily huffing and running out of her bedroom, but I was too impassioned to take any real notice.

“Well, your sister wouldn’t have brought her here if she didn’t think you wanted her!”

“I didn’t!” Brody countered.

“You did—” I argued.

And then the door opened, and there stood Cassie with a look of utter disappointment on her face while Lily hid behind her legs.

Brody and I dropped the dolls guiltily.

“Brody and Maggie, you need to let Lily play with you.” Cassie spoke in a voice that had been perfected over years of disciplining unruly children in a classroom. “If you can’t share with your niece, then the dolls will be all done.”

Then Brody looked to me, whispering conspiratorially as he said, “If she’s the teacher, I really hope Liam’s not the principal, because I have a feeling we’re getting sent to his office next.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Brody

As much fun as it was arguing with Maggie, I had a feeling that nothing conducive to rebuilding our relationship would come out of snarky banter exchanged while the rest of the Brynn family pretended not to notice the tension we were filling their house with.

And I said as much to her, suggesting that we try talking back at our place, but the only thing that came out of it was her smacking me on the arm and saying, “Since when do you use the word conducive?”

Since you forced me into this position, that’s when, Margaret.

The entire morning had consisted of Maggie trying to avoid me but being unable to help herself and throwing out sassy comments, all while my phone blew up with messages from my old high school group chat that had been largely dormant for years.

“Who’s that?” Maggie asked over my shoulder as I stared down at the phone.

“My friends,” I said, largely aware of her proximity to me. “They want me to hang out again before they leave.”

“Well, you should go,” she said. “Obviously.”

Should I? It was hard to leave when things weren’t fixed yet and Maggie was still feeling crappy about everything. When I was still feeling crappy about everything.

“I don’t see how it’s any of your business,” I said, playing her game, eyes locked on her as she moved to sit beside me. “Seeing as you’re hellbent on ignoring me.”

“I’m not ignoring you.” She said, arms crossing on the kitchen island as she feigned innocence. “I’m telling you it’ll be good for you to see your friends.”

“But you’re only saying that because you’re doing your weird self-sabotage thing, and you think if I go, I’m going to spend time with Abbey.”

The very mention of her name had Maggie stiffening, lips curling slightly in irritation.

“Nope.” She said, scooting her stool an inch or two away. “You just haven’t seen them in a while and I—”

“You what, Mags?”

You’re scared you’re not going to be able to put up a fight for much longer before you let yourself feel sad?

“I’ll go if we can go back to being normal,” I said, when it became clear she had no response.