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“Don’t you have another semester at school?” I ask.
“Yeah, but I only have one class I absolutely have to take. For the rest, I was going to take some easy electives. In fact…I could probably take an online class to satisfy requirements for graduation, and we’d be back in time for me to walk for spring commencement.”
“But it’s your last semester,” I say. “I know Brianna decided to skip it, but you and the rest of the Steel girls were looking forward to your last semester with your sororities and all that other shit I don’t understand.”
Rory punches me in the arm. “That stuff is important to college girls, Jess.”
“Then why are you willing to miss it?” I ask Maddie.
“It was just a thought.” She turns. “If you don’t want me there—”
I grab her arm so she turns back around to face me. “Maddie, it’s not that I don’t want you there. It’s just that I’m surprised you want to go, given that it’s your last hurrah at college. Plus…since when are you and Brianna so close?”
“We’ve always been friends.” Her gaze shifts. “I mean, out of the awesome foursome, I’m closest to Angie, the quietest of the four, but we’re all friends.”
I won’t mention the fact that I’ve seen my little sister crying on more than one occasion because she got left out of some awesome foursome activity. Those were times I had to stop myself from pummeling a Steel man out of spite.
I tip her chin up to meet my gaze. “Is this something you want to do, Maddie, or is it something Brianna Steel is talking you into?”
She bites on her lip, not talking.
“Frankly, I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Rory pipes in. “It’s a chance Maddie might not have otherwise. She’ll see the sights of Europe, and you and I will be there to keep an eye on her, which will make Mom and Dad happy.”
“Exactly,” Maddie says.
“I wouldn’t mind having you along,” I say. “But you’d better fix it with your college.”
“Oh, yeah, of course I would do that. I also won’t go if Mom and Dad don’t want me to. But I’m at least going with Callie, Donny, and Brianna for the first couple of weeks before school starts.”
I sigh, relenting. “Okay. Check it out with Mom and Dad and the university. But only if everything’s good with school. I’m not going to be responsible for you not getting your degree.”
“You’re the best, Jess.” Maddie gives me a quick hug and runs back out.
I turn to Rory. “Exactly what was that about?”
“Why does it have to be about anything?” Rory asks innocently.
“Because of the look on your face, Ror. You’re my sister, and while you used to have me wrapped around your little finger, those days are long over.”
“Oh, yeah, they were over when Maddie was born.” Rory gives me a playful grin. “Nowshe’sthe one who has you wrapped around her little finger, so I have no doubt that she’s going to be coming to Europe with us.”
“Only if Mom and Dad say it’s okay.”
“She’s twenty-two years old, Jess. She doesn’t need Mom and Dad’s permission.”
My sister’s right.
“Fine. We’ll make it work. But we’re going to have to get her a room. I suppose she could stay with me, but then the guys would have to go three to a room.”
“This is all a nonissue,” Brock says. “Brianna’s going to have a room, and Maddie will stay with her.”
I take a sharp turn and step toward Brock. “I’ll pay my sister’s way, Steel.”
Rory punches my arm again. “Just stop it, Jess. Brock is my fiancé. He’s going to be a member of our family, which means Brianna’s going to be a member of our family, so just get off your stupidI’m not taking any Steel moneyhigh horse and accept this gift for your little sister. She deserves it.”
Yeah, Rory has a way of making me feel like a dick.
“Fine.” I let out a sigh. “But I want to make sure Mom and Dad are okay with it. I also want to make sure the university is okay with it.”
