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“Is she okay?”
“She’s fan-fucking-tastic. Emphasis on the fucking.”
My jaw drops. “Maddy’s fooling around with Keane?”
Hannah smiles and puts her finger to her lips, letting me know a) yes, and b) it’s a secret. She winks and says, “After the club, they went back to the apartment.”
“Well, I’ll be damned.” It’s hard for me to think of Maddy as a sexual being at all, given the brotherly way I love that little cutie. But it’s especially weird for me to think she’s messing around with Keane, of all people. Yes, I noticed the pair exchanging googly eyes upon their arrival yesterday, and then, throughout our poker game last night. But I kept telling myself I was imagining things. Now that I’ve spent some quality time with Keane, I actually like the guy. He’s funny and clever and surprisingly sweet. But even so, I’m still shocked our shy, intelligent Maddy is giving a fuckboy stripper like Keane the time of day. “Does Maddy want to keep it a secret because she’s embarrassed to be messing around with someone like Keane?”
Hannah purses her lips. “I think she’s keeping it on the downlow because it’s nothing but a fun little fling, and she doesn’t want everyone asking her about it after Keane goes back to Seattle.”
“Yeah, that makes sense, given that Keane’s brother lives across the hallway.”
“Exactly. Maddy doesn’t want everyone knowing her business. Speaking of which, I told Maddy I’d stay here tonight to give her and Keane some privacy at the apartment. I assume that’s okay?”
I don’t need to reply. Hannah knows she has a standing invitation to stay here every night for the rest of her life. She knows I consider this place hers, every bit as much as mine, especially because it was Hannah who walked through the front door and instantly fell in love with the place.
“I just hope Keane doesn’t hurt Maddy’s sensitive little heart,” I say. “If you look in the dictionary under fuckboy, there’s a photo of Keane Morgan.”
To my surprise, considering how protective Hannah usually is of her little sister, she doesn’t look concerned. “That’s exactly why I’m not worried,” Hannah says. “Whatever Maddy’s doing with Keane, I’m sure she went in with eyes wide open. Plus, she knows he’s only visiting LA for a few days.”
“Unless he gets picked up by a talent agency and decides to move down here to chase his Hollywood dreams. He was damned good in that showcase tonight.”
“Yeah, but still, what are the odds of all that happening? I’m sure Maddy isn’t expecting an actual relationship with Keane. She’s just having fun. Getting her groove back.” Hannah smiles. “And I’m all for it. This is Maddy’s first fling since Justin died. Hopefully, this means she’s feeling ready to open her heart again when school starts next week.”
“Hopefully, to someone who’s actual boyfriend material.”
Hannah nods. “Wouldn’t it be amazing if Maddy fell in love with someone in film school?”
“Yeah, that’d be great.” I’m rooting for Maddy to find happiness in whatever form, not only because I love Maddy like a sister, but also because I know in my bones the sooner Maddy is having a blast in her new life, the sooner Hannah will feel like the time is right to move in here with me.
“Don’t let Maddy know I told you about her messing around with Keane, okay?” Hannah says. “And, please, don’t tell anyone else.”
I laugh. “Who would I tell? Reed doesn’t give a shit and half the people here don’t even know I’m the owner of this house.”
“Dax, Colin, and Fish are here, remember? Don’t get drunk and blab to any of them.”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Maddy specifically asked me not to say a word to anyone, not even to you, but I didn’t want to lie to you when you asked where she was.”
“I won’t tell the boys of 22 Goats or anyone else. And thank you for not lying to me.”
We share a smile.
“Are you Henn?” someone says. I turn my head and instantly recognize the source of the voice. He’s the lead singer of Danger Doctor Jones, one of Reed’s most popular bands.
“Yeah, hey. We met backstage once.” I shake his hand. “I’m a big fan.”
“Thanks. Reed’s over there, in need of a new partner. I told him I’d let you know on my way to the kitchen.”
I look across the room where Reed has been playing team Patron pong with his assistant, Owen, as his partner, and sure enough, he’s beckoning to me with a commanding look on his face.
“Go on, Henny,” Hannah says. “Nobody keeps Reed Rivers waiting.”
“Maybe I could be the first.”
She chuckles. “While you’re playing, I’ll check the food and booze in the kitchen and order more, if necessary.”
“You’re the best.” I peck Hannah’s cheek and then gallop off through the crowd toward Reed. When I reach my destination, Reed’s former partner, Owen, is gone, and Reed declares it’s time for our “dynamic duo” to crush the team comprised of brothers Kendrick and Kai Cook, the drummer and bassist, respectively, of Fugitive Summer. That’s the band we flew to Chicago months ago to watch perform, and then proceeded to party with them, way too hard, after Reed signed them that night. To my surprise, both brothers instantly recognize me from our night of partying, and they greet me warmly.
