Page 23 of Crazy Imperfect Hearts

I nod. “You’ll never guess what he—”

“He asked you out.”

“No.” I shake my head vehemently. “But he did ask for a do-over.”

“Awhat?”she asks incredulously.

“He spewed some bullshit about it being his only one-nighter and he was too drunk to remember it so he thought we should do it again.”

Maddie’s jaw almost hits the mattress. “That’s ridiculous.”

“It’s a load of crap is what it is.”

“You put him in his place, I’m sure. I would have loved to hear you go off on him, the idiot.”

I shrug a shoulder innocently. “Well…”

She puts Teddy back in the bassinet and squares off with me. “Are you telling me you agreed to it?”

I shrug again.

“But you just said it was bullshit.”

“It is. I think he’s still pissed about Lissa and just wants to be with someone…anyone… to make himself feel better.”

“You shouldn’t do this.”

“Maddie, it’sonetime. Well, onemoretime. That’s it.”

“As long as you’re sure.”

“I am. I know who he is. I know what he does. Plus, he’s a smoker. You know how that disgusts me.”

She laughs. “I do know. Tag used to smoke.”

I cover my mouth. “I almost forgot.”

As if talking about him summoned him, Tag and Gigi come back in the room. He looks at Maddie. “Did she do it?”

Maddie nods with a smile.

Tag takes out his wallet and hands her a twenty.

I look between them. “What am I missing?”

“He didn’t think I could get you to hold Teddy,” Maddie explains.

I roll my eyes and say to Gigi, “Your parents are toddlers.”

“Toddlers aren’t always making kissy faces and squeezing each other’s backsides,” she says, nose turned up. “Yuck.”

Maddie, Tag, and I fall into fits of laughter.

“You won’t think it’s so yucky in a few years,” I say.

Tag stops laughing. “Don’t remind me.”

Teddy wakes and cries. I’m amazed a teeny-tiny infant can emit such a piercing sound.

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