MAGGIE
I watched Brady’s face as he stood there staring at me, then staring at West as if he hadn’t heard him correctly. I had to admit, I was just as surprised. West wanted to be my friend. Because I helped him. Like no one else could.
My chest felt warm, and there was a funny flutter in my stomach.
“You wouldn’t understand. No one does. Except for Maggie. She’s helped me a lot the past few days. Having her to talk to is what I need right now.”
The flutter turned into birds flapping around in my stomach. I had to remember West had said, “Just friends.” He hadn’t said, I’d like to kiss her again.
He was hurting, and he liked talking to me. That was all this was.
“She . . . uh . . . she doesn’t talk,” Brady said, glancing at me with an apologetic look on his face.
I waited. I didn’t want West to tell Brady that I talked to him. But then how else did he explain wanting to be my friend?
“She has her own way of communicating, and that’s enough,” West replied.
I wanted to sigh in relief. If my aunt Coralee knew I was talking to West, she’d be trying to get me to talk to her.
Brady pressed his lips together then nodded. “Okay. Yeah . . . if you want to be friends I’m okay with that. But just friends. Don’t—” He paused, and I felt West tense beside me.
“She’s safe with me. I respect her, and I also won’t let anyone else hurt her,” West said with firm determination in his voice.
The birds in my stomach started up again. He wanted to be friends. I could do that. I wanted that. I needed that too.
Brady appeared to believe him. “Good. Well, you want to come inside? Mom made chocolate cake.”
“Yeah.” West looked down at me. “You like chocolate cake?”
I hesitated then nodded. I didn’t want to interfere in Brady’s life, but West wanted me there, and I wanted to be there for him. This side of West wasn’t anything like I expected. He wasn’t cruel or hard. He wasn’t putting up a façade for anyone. This was the guy I wanted him to be when he kissed me that time at the field.
“Then let’s go get a slice of Coralee’s. It’s delicious.”
Brady looked confused, but he turned and headed inside. West nodded for me to follow Brady, and as I did, West fell into step beside me.
I could eat some cake with West then go up to my room and leave Brady alone with his friends. That way I made both boys happy while still protecting myself. No matter how much I wanted to be there to help West because I knew what it was like to do this alone, I wouldn’t let my guard down completely.
Brady walked inside and headed for the den. Aunt Coralee stepped into the hallway from the kitchen and smiled when she saw West. It was a sad smile but also one that said she was happy to see him. I knew she was worried about him.
“West, sweetheart, it’s so good to see you. I missed you this summer. You’re not around enough.” She went straight to him and hugged him, then pulled back and looked at me. “You’re back from your walk,” she said, sounding pleased. “Now you’ve burned some calories, you want to have a slice of chocolate cake with me in the kitchen?”
“She’s actually going to go have some cake in the den with us,” Brady informed his mother.
Aunt Coralee’s eyes went wide, then she smiled brightly. “Well, okay. That’s wonderful. I’ll bring some fresh milk and two more glasses in there.” She turned and hurried back to the kitchen.
“I think that just made her day,” Brady whispered, glancing back at me.
And this time I smiled. Because he was right. She was happy, and that made me smile.
West’s hand slid behind my back, and he led me into the den where the guys I was used to seeing around Brady were lounging on sofas and beanbags, while a couple were shooting hoops at a basketball hoop on the wall.
“Maggie!” Nash said the moment he turned around from taking a shot and saw me standing there. It was the first time he’d spoken to me since I’d sent him that text. I guess the shock of seeing me in here made him forget he was ignoring me.
West kept his hand on my back as he moved me into the room toward the table.
It was obvious Brady hadn’t told the other guys about West’s dad. None of them looked at him like they were worried about him or like they didn’t know what to do. I was relieved for him. He had just faced Brady and Aunt Coralee. He needed a break before he faced the rest of them.
“So, Maggie’s here . . . with West,” Nash said because no one else was saying anything.
Brady turned and looked at all of them. “Maggie and West are friends. Just friends. And I’m good with that.” There was an awkward silence, and West pulled out a chair for me to sit. Once I was seated he looked at his friends and teammates who were still watching the three of us like they weren’t sure what to think.
“She’s my friend. Deal with it,” he informed them, then sat down close to me. He leaned his head toward mine. “Sorry they’re acting like idiots. I don’t normally have girls who are friends. And you were completely off-limits because of Brady. So they’re trying to figure out what’s up.” I nodded. I understood that. Although right now all I really wanted was to run off to my room.
“Here’s more milk and cake,” Aunt Coralee announced. The guys went back to watching TV and talking. I didn’t turn around to see if Nash was still playing basketball or staring at us.
“She doesn’t eat enough. Make sure she finishes the whole thing,” she told West as if she knew we were friends now and the idea tickled her pink.
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, taking the plates from her hands and putting one in front of me.
When she left the room, West smiled down at me. “You need to relax. You look like I’m forcing you to sit here beside me. They’ll get over it soon enough. I swear.”
I tilted my head down to hide my mouth from everyone else. “I know,” I replied quietly. “I just hate being stared at.”
He chuckled and moved his fork to get a bite of cake. “Then you shouldn’t be so damn pretty.”
The birds in my stomach were back. How was I supposed to eat now?
