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“I had to do my due diligence when I got some downtime this afternoon,” she says with a happy smirk.
“Just tell me you didn’t?—”
“What, let Mom and Dad see? Of course I wouldn’t do something like that…”
I manage to part my hands. “Oh, thank goodness. I’d die of embarrassment.”
“Wait.” She holds a finger up. “I didn’t finish. Of course I wouldn’t do something like show Mom and Dad withoutalsoshowing Grandma and Grandpa… which I did. We all watched you two canoodle back here after the club meeting.”
I groan. “Roxieeee…” I reach out and swat her arm.
She laughs as she leans away from me to escape. “And I’ll tell you this, too. In this Sylvester and Nick battle, we’re all—every single one of us, especially Grandpa—we’re all Team Nick.”
“This isn’t any of your business!”
“Of course it is. You’re a Bradshaw. Come on—we want what’s best for you. And believe me, Maddison, that’s Nick.”
“You guys don’t know that. Besides, he can make his own decisions about his life. Tonight, for example, he decided to sip red wine and chat up Hana Chen.”
Her arm darts out for the drink. She sucks in another long gulp.
When she sets it down, I arch an eyebrow at her. “Can I get you popcorn to go with that, or something? What, is this entertainment to you?”
She chuckles. “I mean, popcornwouldbe nice. Or a box of Milk Duds. But really—what the heck is he doing sipping wine with Hana Chen, after kissing you?”
“Roxie, it’s like I’ve been telling you. This is complicated.”
“Go home and march right up to him and tell him how you feel.”
“No. Because I don’t know for sure how I feel. I only got back to town a couple weeks ago… after running away from an almost-marriage, may I remind you. Here’s what Iwilldo: I’ll let him live his life. I’ve screwed it up enough already.”
“He wants you, though, Maddie. Can’t you see that? He needs you.”
“You want to know what I think? I think he’s like all the rest of us. He doesn’t know what he wants.”
I slide off the counter. “Also? Now that I know that camera’s there, I feel weird sitting here talking. Who knows, Mom and Dad might snoop on us tomorrow when they come in to work.”
“I’m the only one who watches the footage, and it’s only when I think something juicy will be on there.”
“Again—so very glad I can amuse you.” I swipe up the diamond ring, nestle it in the box, and then hide it away in my purse. Then I cast a look over my shoulder, to check the angle of the camera.
It’s pointed for a view of the entire stretch of countertop, right down to the register at the end.
Great.
Now my engagement ring has been caught on film.
I take my little sister by the elbow and steer her toward the kitchen doors. I know the only computer in this place is in the little office, off to the side of the kitchen.
“Show me how to pull up that footage. I’m erasing last night’s late-night drama, and I’m also going to delete the past hour. I can’t risk letting everyone see another episode of the soap opera that is now my life, apparently.”
Chapter 23
Nick
It’s two o’clock in the morning. Over at Pansy’s, the bedroom light is still on.
Is Maddison awake?
