Page 54 of 6 Clues Your Nemesis Loves You

chapter nineteen

“Did I miss our date?” I ask once I’m out of my truck. I’ve never seen Maggie this livid. Her usual haughty annoyance at my jokes is more of an amused irritation than a bonfire of fury. “Was your sister’s party tonight?”

“Where the hell have you been?”

“Rock-climbing?”

Her glare hits Medusa levels. “Rock-climbing.”

“Yes?” I hedge again. I’m so taken aback by her vicious sarcasm I’m starting to wonder if I actually went to Hood Rock. I mean, I’m pretty sure I went climbing. My muscles are sore. I’m wearing the outdoor clothes I keep stashed in my truck, but she’s so incensed, I can only imagine I actually blacked out after meeting my father, went on some kind of killing rampage, and I will end up in jail. Maybe I drove back and ran my father over after all.

I glance at my truck. No blood on the tires.

“Did you drop your phone while rock-climbing?” she asks.

I replay the climb I think I took and shake my head. “My phone’s in the truck.”

“And is there a reason you didn’t call me when you said you would after meeting with your father? Is there a reason you didn’t answer when I called fifty times? Is there a reason you dropped off the face of the earth and worried me silly?”

Oh.

Oh.

“Fuck, Mags. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t think.”

“No, you didn’t think. God, I’ve been so worried. I called everyone. No one knew where you were. Desmond’s freaking out now too, so thanks for that. Excuse me while I text him and tell him you’re not in jail or dead somewhere.” She gives me another lethal look, then turns while she jabs at her phone, presumably texting Des.

I should feel awful about worrying her. Ashamed I only thought of myself while processing that awful reunion. But I’m too stuck on the intensity of her reaction, the way her shoulders are shaking with barely contained fury. There’s only one reason she’s this upset, and that road sign points exactly where I want it to—toward Maggie’s heart.

I approach her back and gently place my hands on her upper arms. She startles. Only for a beat. “I’m sorry I didn’t call. I was upset and needed a breather. Then I got a text from Des about Mom finishing Dad’s book and couldn’t handle more family stuff, so I turned off my phone. It was thoughtless. I was thoughtless. I hate seeing you this upset, but I’m so happy you’re here.”

She curves forward and wavers on her feet. “I kept imagining the worst—you doing something reckless or being so upset you got in an accident.”

I press my chin to the side of her head. “The only reckless thing I did was not call you. I’m so sorry.”

She nods and sniffles. Discarded leaves blow around our feet. My old porch swing creaks in the wind. Maggie’s got on tall boots over her jeans and is wearing a warm jacket, but she shivers.

“Mags?” I whisper in her ear.

“Yeah?” Her voice is breathy—careful and quiet.

“Do you want to cash in your ticket for your free friend hug?”

She lets out a watery laugh and rubs her face. “I would love to cash in my ticket.”

I turn her around and grip her shoulders. “There are rules.”

She rolls her eyes. “Of course there are.”

I make my face as somber as possible. “This is a full-contact hug, but no funny business. As mentioned on the ticket, the hug lasts until it gets weird. Keep your hands where I can see ’em.”

“If my arms go around your waist, you won’t see my hands.”

She’s always one step ahead of me. “Rule amendment—you can put your hands around my waist, and one ass grab is allowed.”

“You’re a pest.”

“Just play by the rules, Magpie.”