AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When had Maggie ever led Audrey to believe she was interested in anyone but Dean? She didn’t hide her emotions from Audrey. She hadn’t even hid her crush on Audrey’s brother. Even the few times she’d been out with a man, not that she could qualify them as relationships, Maggie had only gone because Audrey had convinced her it was a good idea. Actually, this was probably new territory for Audrey. She was used to making the decisions for them both, and now Maggie had gone off script and done something just for herself.
“Never mind. Look, Dean is—” Audrey swallowed whatever she’d been about to say. “He’s a wonderful brother, and he loves you so much, but he’s not going to give you what you’re looking for.”
Maggie reared back, feeling Audrey’s words like a slap to the face.
“Dean won’t hurt me. I know him. I trust him more than any other man I’ve ever met.”
“Sweetie.” Audrey reached for her hand. “I know you do. And I know he’d never mean to hurt you, but the whole point of this exercise is to find chemistry with someone. Not just go on dates.”
“We could have chemistry,” Maggie said. How on earth did Audrey think she could just say they didn’t? “Just because we’re starting as friends doesn’t mean it can’t mean something. Unless there’s something you’re not telling me.” Audrey searched Maggie’s eyes, and it took everything Maggie had not to drop the contact. “Look, he said he’d help me. You need to trust both of us to make our own decisions,” Maggie said, her voice steady.
“I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Maggie fought back the slap of annoyance. It bothered her that Audrey assumed she’d be the one left with a broken heart. She was a catch, dammit. Audrey frowned and shrugged her slim shoulders. She tossed her blonde hair back. Audrey chewed on her bottom lip, smearing her leftover lipstick.
“Okay then. I hope this is everything you want and need it to be, Maggie. I do. I just want you to be happy.”
“I love you,” Maggie said to her best friend, “but I need you to let me do this my way.”
“If you need out, or he isn’t what you expect, then we’ll regroup.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. Just don’t make me choose between my best friend and my brother.”
If Maggie had her way, then Audrey wouldn’t have to choose. They could end up sisters. She took her pinky finger and crossed it over her heart, just as they’d always done as kids.
“I promise.” Maggie said, and Audrey crossed her pinky over her heart, too. Then she threw back the last of her coffee and grabbed the croissants from the oven. She placed them both on dainty white plates and slid one to Maggie.
“Oh, I almost forgot. There’s something here for you!” Audrey said.
“For me?”
Ever since she’d moved out, Audrey had become a real gift giver. She’d give Maggie cookies, a special pen, Tylenol when Maggie was sick. Audrey had always been someone who shared her feelings and affection with words, but the gifts were fun and Maggie always felt a little pop of warmth in her chest when Audrey gifted her something. Especially because the gifts were always exactly what she needed and showed just how often Audrey thought of her. Maggie missed having a roommate, but she couldn’t lie. Having her own place was also very freeing.
Audrey opened a cabinet and pulled out a tiny rubber duck. It had a painted blue hat sitting over a mop of brown curls, a high-necked blue and white dress—Maggie thought it was a dress—covering the duck’s body, and under one wing was a brown book with the title “Pond & Prejudice.” Maggie squeezed it in her hand and a wheezy honk sound came from the duck’s belly.
“It’s a—”
“Jane Austen Rubber Duck,” Maggie said with a laugh. “Audrey, this is amazing. Where did you even find this?” She brought the duck up close to admire the tiny gold ring painted onto the duck’s wing.
“Oh, you know, around. It’s no secret that P&P is your favorite Austen novel, and that you watch the 1995 version on repeat when you're stressed.”
“Thank you,” Maggie said and clutched the little toy close and her friend waved her off.
“Okay, tell me about date number one,” Audrey said and bit into the pastry. Footsteps pounded down the stairs, and Mac’s dark head appeared in the doorway to the kitchen. He nodded at the women and headed straight to the coffee pot. He was wearing a long-sleeve gray t-shirt, a sure sign he’d be heading out to his forge after caffeinating. Audrey turned her attention back to Maggie. “When is it, and where are you going?”
“We agreed on Saturday,” Maggie said and took a bite of her croissant, letting the sweet chocolate spread across her tongue. “But no idea where we’re going yet.”
“What’s happening Saturday?” Mac asked, his hands wrapped around a mug the size of a soup bowl, full to the brim with steaming black coffee. Maggie froze, unsure of what to say. Mac’s dark eyes bored into hers over the rim of his cup before they dipped down to the yellow duck in her hands. He lowered the mug, his lips twitching like he might say something and Maggie felt a tension squeeze against her throat, like she might cry, but without the tears. Strange.
Audrey took a slow bite of her breakfast, chewed, and swallowed. Her eyes stayed glued to Maggie the entire time.
“Maggie has a date,” Audrey said.
Mac’s hands froze around his coffee cup, and his throat bobbed as he swallowed. His gaze moved from Audrey back to Maggie.
“You work fast,” Mac said, and Maggie blushed.
