Page 105 of Vacation Friends

Maddie shrugged as she considered how to respond. “It was a long time coming.”

Adrienne nodded stiffly. “I see.”

Maddie’s thoughts wandered to what Brody had told her about his relationship with Adrienne. She wasn’t sure if she should bring up the subject or not. But since everything was already on the line . . . could things get any more awkward?

She swallowed hard before saying, “I ran into Brody at the beach. He told me the two of you aren’t dating.”

Adrienne’s eyes widened. “What? He told you that?”

“He did.”

She let out a long breath. “We have a complicated history. But we love each other. And he certainly led me to believe we were back together when he kissed me.”

“He kissed you?” The words slipped out before Maddie could stop them.

“Yeah, you could say that. More than once.” Adrienne looked into the distance and quickly shook her head. “I don’t know why he told you that . . . unless he likes you or something. When he told you, did he know you and Josh had broken up?”

Maddie’s throat squeezed. She shouldn’t have brought this up. She was only causing more drama. But it was too late to take her words back.

She nodded instead. “He did.”

Adrienne’s nostrils flared. “I see the way he looks at you. Ever since that first morning at the beach, I’ve suspected he’s attracted to you. But I never thought he’d be the type to cheat.”

“He didn’t cheat,” Maddie quickly told her. “He didn’t do anything, and there’s nothing between us. I’m sorry I brought this up. I was just confused.”

Adrienne let out a long breath before shaking her head. She rubbed her lips together as if contemplating her next words.

Finally, she said, “The truth is, his sister died in a domestic violence incident a year or so ago. Her death changed him. I gave him some time to get himself together before we reunited. But something about Brody has been different ever since then, almost like he has two personalities or something.”

Maddie’s throat tightened. She didn’t like the sound of that.

Out of everyone she’d met here, Brody had seemed the most trustworthy. But maybe she’d been wrong. Maybe she’d been wrong about so much. Maybe her gut instincts couldn’t be trusted after all.

This whole trip had been one big fat mistake.

She composed herself as she realized Adrienne was still in front of her, still waiting for a response. “I hope you and Brody can work things out.”

Then, before she felt the need to say anything else, Maddie waved goodbye and hurried down the hall.

Maddie walked briskly back to her room, praying she didn’t run into anyone.

She couldn’t handle any more hard conversations today. She’d already had enough.

She especially didn’t want to run into Josh.

She’d had enough of that man to last for a lifetime.

Reaching her room, she unlocked the door before slipping inside.

Her mission to walk back without running into anyone had been successful.

But her sense of victory only lasted a minute.

Something felt strange in the room, but she wasn’t sure what. She couldn’t put her finger on it right away. Maddie only knew her lungs tightened.

She reached behind her and gripped the door handle again, ready to flee.

Or was she just being paranoid?

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