Page 61 of Sweet Home Louisiana

“And don’t worry about her too much,” Kennedy said.“She’s kind of pissy tonight for other reasons, too.”

Maddie frowned.“Like what?”

“She and Trevor had a big fight and he’s been staying at his place in New Orleans,” Kennedy said.

Oh.Maddie wasn’t a huge fan of Trevor’s, mostly because she was a fan of Leo’s and it was weird to her that Ellie and Leo weren’t together.Even though they were kind of together.They saw each other every single day, fought like, well, an old married couple, and clearly cared a lot about one another.Maddie was positive they were still in love and she resented the younger man being in the way.But that was coming from a girl who’d missed their divorce and didn’t know Trevor at all.She’d met him once.

“What did they fight about?”

Kennedy shot Josh a grin.He rolled his eyes.

“Trevor was trying to talk her into going to the Grand Canyon with him,” Josh said.“He’s never been.”

“And Ellie has,” Kennedy said.“Told him she was there in 1972 and she was certain it hadn’t changed much.”

“To which Trevor stupidly commented that he wasn’t even born in 1972,” Tori added.

Maddie shook her head.“That really was stupid.”

“Yeah, and then he tried to talk her into going so they could do one of those mule rides to the bottom,” Kennedy said.“Ellie informed him that she was surrounded by asses every day and she didn’t need to go clear to Arizona to ride one.”

Maddie’s eyebrows shot up.“But she didn’t mean that like…it sounded.”

Josh nodded.“She pointed right at Leo when she said it.”

“Oh, no,” Maddie groaned.“That’s terrible.”

“Well, anyway, Trevor’s been sleeping at his apartment for the past few days.”

“And he’s pissed about not going to the Grand Canyon?”Maddie asked.

“He’s still going.With some buddies,” Josh said.“Leaving next week.”

Maddie didn’t know if the fight would lead to a true breakup or not, but she felt bad that Ellie was upset and that she’d been a bitch to her on top of it.“I will definitely apologize tomorrow,” she said.“But I might ask one of you to gauge her mood for me first.”

“Good plan,” Kennedy agreed.

Maddie picked up the box and started for the door.She’d just passed the end of the bar when she heard Ellie call to her and she turned back.

Ellie was holding out a bottle of whiskey and two cans of ginger ale.“This is good for sore throats and coughs,” she said handing over the whiskey.“And this is good for upset stomachs.”She passed Maddie the ginger ale.“And they’re not bad mixed together if he’s extra whiny.”She shot a look at Leo.“He might have inherited that from his grandpa’s side.”

Maddie hugged the bottle and cans to her stomach.“So mix them for him if he’s just whiny?”

“Mix them foryouif he’s whiny,” Ellie said.

Maddie gave her a small smile.“Got it.Thanks.”Ellie loved them all.It was very obvious.Maddie had been out of line.Owen did that to her.“I’m just…” She blew out a breath.“Protective of him.”

“I know.”Ellie held her gaze for a moment.“Take good care of him.”

Maddie swallowed.Ellie didn’t mean just tonight.She didn’t mean soothing his sore throat—or whatever.She wanted Maddie to not break his heart.

She simply nodded and turned on her heel before she made any promises that she couldn’t keep.

9

Once outside on the front walk, Maddie took a deep breath of sultry June Louisiana air.It frizzed her hair and made her feel like she was constantly sweating, but she’d already gotten used to it and had to admit that feeling the air touching her bare skin, almost soaking into her, felt better…or at least more real…than the air-conditioned air of the art gallery.

Wow.She was getting used to everything, adapting, evenlikingthings here.Exactly as she’d feared.

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