Page 36 of Keeping Score

I knew better than to argue with Liam on his decision. Once his mind was set on something, that was all there was to it. Maggie was the same way.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. Liam hadn’t made up his mind yet. Not officially. Maybe he was right—maybe he was just tired. If I gave him space, he’d realize he was being ridiculous and stick it out—for me, if not for himself.

I left him in his room to sulk, taking my phone out of my pocket to dial Maggie the second I got in the hallway.

Even if one Brynn was abandoning me, I knew with certainty that the other never would.

She answered on the second ring.

Late Night Calls

Brody

Five Years Ago

“Imiss you,” I said, whispering into the phone.

We were in Seattle for an away game, and I hadn’t seen Maggie since our date the night before. I was pretty sure I was going through withdrawals.

Liam was sleeping in the bed beside me, so I made sure to keep my voice low, because I sure as hell wasn’t going to let him wake up to me murmuring softly over the phone to his sister.

“You saw me last night.” I heard the eye roll, even through the phone.

I was getting good at reading her. I could practically see her face now, imagine her expressions from just the sound of her voice.

“But that was yesterday,” I said. “I need to see you at least once a day for proper functioning.”

“Poor baby,” she cooed sarcastically. “I think you’ll survive.”

But I heard her smile, and I knew what that meant.

She missed me too.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t even be entertaining this conversation.

I noticed that about her. If she wasn’t interested in someone, it was as if they weren’t even there. She wouldn’t grant them a fraction of her attention, even when they begged.

And oh, how they begged.

Not verbally, usually. But with their eyes, their flirtatious grins, their pleas for attention.

I couldn’t blame them. Maggie was the most beautiful girl in any room. The most beautiful girl in Boston, as far as I was concerned. And I’d been one of those helpless guys once, just desperate for her to look my way even for a moment.

I didn’t know if it was only me being friends with Liam that gave me the upper hand, but I didn’t even care—even if that was cheating.

She picked me.

I was the guy, out of all of them, who she was having midnight phone calls with.

And I was the one making her smile on the other end of the line, even if she’d rather die than admit it.

“When I come home, we’re going to a Red Sox game before the season ends.”

“How did you know I like the Red Sox?” she asked suspiciously.

“Because you’re a girl who grew up in Boston?” I offered bashfully.

“Or?” she said, calling me out on my bullshit.