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“Alright. I’ll take a double cheeseburger with onion rings. Do they do to-go whiskey?” I tease.
“Wish they did,” she says, and I’m wondering if it is because she needs alcohol to be around me. Wouldn’t be the first time. “Dad keeps a small bottle in the bottom drawer of the office.”
“Really?” I chuckle. “That’s badass. Always liked your dad, but now I think I might love him.”
“Maybe we’ll crack it open while we eat.” She calls the pub and places our order. Fifteen minutes pass before she leaves to go pick it up.
Moments later, my phone rings, and I’m ecstatic when I see it’s a FaceTime call from Maddie. Liam must’ve forgotten to text me, but I completely understand. I can’t imagine how fucking excited he is that his baby boy is here.
I answer with a smile. The room is dark, and she looks exhausted but also full of energy.
“Hi,” she whispers. “There’s someone new here.”
I’m so fucking happy for them that I nearly combust.
“Really? Let me see!” She turns the camera around so I can see him sleeping peacefully on her chest. He’s so lucky because he’s going to have the best parents in the world. “He’s beautiful, Mads.”
Maddie moves the camera and points it back to herself. “Thank you. I wish you were still here.” She pushes out her bottom lip and pouts.
I laugh and realize I was so caught up in the conversation I didn’t hear the door swing open.
“Hey, Ty–” Gemma says from behind me and stops. “Oh, sorry, didn’t realize you were on the phone.”
I turn to face her. “It’s fine. I’ll be off in a minute.”
She nods and walks to the break room carrying our bags of food. Once she’s out of sight, I look back at the screen where Maddie’s eyebrows are lifted. She’s waiting for an explanation. “Excuse me, who is that?”
I roll my eyes at her. “It’s not what you think. Her dad is my new boss.”
Her voice is nearly a whisper. “Gemma?”
I nod once.
“Oh. Em. Gee!” I turn down the volume because she’s on speaker. “The plot thickens.”
Brushing my fingers through my hair, I groan. “There’s no plot. We’re…friends.”
She snorts and nods because she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. Hell, I’m not either, but I’m not going into that story right now. “Yeah, I remember when Liam said that for years, too. Good luck with that.” She gives me her infamous smirk.
I tilt my head at her, hoping Gemma can’t hear this conversation. “For someone who just gave birth, you’re awfully energized.”
“Don’t change the subject,” she teases. “When are you gonna ask her out?”
“Jesus.” I blow out a breath, wishing she’d stop. “I gotta go, Mads.”
“You liar! You’re just trying to get rid of me.”
I throw her a boyish grin. “I’d never.”
“I want details, you hear me? Text me all the juiciness.” She points her finger at me.
Scrunching my nose, I shake my head. She’s just as bad as Everleigh. “I think you’ve confused me with one of your gossipy girlfriends again.”
With narrowed eyes, she tries to persuade me, but it’s not going to work. “Liam and I won’t be able to have sex for six weeks. I need your dating life to hold me over.”
“Maddie, I didn’t enjoy hearing you guys in the next room for three weeks, so I most definitely don’t enjoy hearing you talk about it.” It’s as bad as finding my sister’s clit massager.
“Geez, you’re so dramatic.”
In the break room, I can hear the plastic bags rustling and the fridge closing.
“If you want a girl to gossip with, I’ll give you my sister’s number,” I mock, but regret it the moment I say it.
“Really?” She perks up. “Good. She’ll tell me all the details of your love life.”
“Shit. I really shot myself in the foot by saying that. Never mind. My sister doesn’t have a phone.”
“I gave birth today, but I wasn’t born today. So nice try,” she retorts
Seconds later, I hear Liam and nearly jump. “Quit hassling the man.”
“What are you doing here? Where’s Tyler?” Maddie panics as Liam comes into view and presses a kiss to her forehead.
“Relax. My dad is sleeping over. I didn’t want you two to be alone.”
The way they look at each other is something I desperately wish I had. “Aww,” I sing-song. “You two are disgustingly adorable.”
“Dude.” Liam moves closer. “How are things down in the South?”
We talk often, but he likes to ask these basic questions when Maddie is around, just so the conversation doesn’t move to Victoria.
“Fuckin’ hot, that’s what. Especially in the garage.” I groan, still wearing my sweaty clothes from today. I can’t wait to go home and take a damn shower.
“Hey, no bad language around the baby!” The moment the words leave Maddie’s mouth, she chuckles.
“How are the new jobs going?” Liam asks. I told him last week about getting hired at the gym.
