Page 84 of Ever With Me

Oh shit, Naomi saw that?

No wonder Maddie hadn’t texted him back.

She must have been dealing withthis.

“We don’t have a physical relationship,” Maddie blurted. “I was trying to get the security footage from last Sunday. Fred and Gina just happened to come by, and I told Brooks we should kiss as a cover since there was no logical explanation for us being there.”

Naomi’s eyes widened, and she set her hand to her forehead. “Oh my God, I didn’t think the story could get any worse. You were trying tostealfrom Fred?”

He couldn’t let Maddie take the blame for this. “It’s my fault?—”

“It was my idea. Brooks didn’t even want to do it.” Maddie set down the glass of water and moved around the other side of the island, closer to her sister. “I just got worried after what you said yesterday about the video.”

“That didn’t mean you should break into his storeroom and try to steal the footage.” Naomi squeezed her eyes shut. “I can’t decide if I need a Tylenol or a shot of tequila. What is even happening right now?”

When Naomi opened her eyes, they blazed at Brooks. “Why the hell are you still in this town? Haven’t you done enough damage already? What, does Maddie need to go to jail, too, before you’re satisfied?”

Funny . . . he could almost agree with her.

Guilt burned at his gut with an acerbic speed. “You’re right, it was risky?—”

“You’re being incredibly rude,” Maddie snapped at her sister. “Brooks had nothing to do with this plan. I dragged him over there. And he’s my friend, so I’d appreciate it if you’d treat him with a modicum of respect.”

“Your friend?” Naomi’s expression pained, and she moved closer to her and set her hand on her elbow. “Honey, Brooks Kent is a megastar who has known you for a handful of days. Maybe I can buy that he’s friends with Cormac Doyle—who I’m going to murder as soon as I see—but you? He’s just using you. Whenever he leaves, and it can’t come soon enough, Brooks is going to forget you even exist.”

Maddie flinched. “I think you should go, Naomi.”

Naomi’s eyes filled with angry tears. “You’re my sister. I love you. I’m just trying to look out for you?—”

“Right now, you’re being as bad as Logan was when he found out Lindsay and Travis were dating. Except worse, because you have no real reason to treat Brooks this way. What’s his big mistake? Having a car accident?”

“He asked you to lie about it! Set you up against your family from the start, without a single concern about how it might impact the rest of us. And then has some demented request to have you serve him for ten hours doing whatever he wants.”

No wonder Naomi was mad. Given the way she’d said it, she was probably imagining the worst.

She set her hands on her hips, glaring at Brooks. “And yeah, now I’m finding out it might be as bad as it sounds because apparently, you seem to have some sort of twisted Stockholm syndrome. ‘Fake’ or not, you certainly convinced Fred you werehis woman. So I guess nothing’s off the table?”

The headache he’d been ignoring from his hangover all day roared to life, and he set his hands on the counter to steady himself. “She doesn’t owe me anything anymore. Anyway, our deal about the concert ended the minute she told you about it.”

Now it was Maddie who turned and stared at him, hurt flashing through her face. God, he didn’t want that. But he needed to walk away at this point anyway.

He wanted to do the concert for her, but his presence was damaging her life so much. He’d help her find another band. That was easy enough.

Breaking the deal was a good excuse to make sure anything tying them together—other than paying for the accident damage—would end when he left. He was in too deep with her and had spent the day letting himself get swept away by the notion that their connection might last beyond this week.

It clearly couldn’t.

“Good.” Naomi turned back to Maddie, setting her hands on her. “I’m not trying to hurt you, Maddie, but this guy is a creep.”

He’d been called far worse. But somehow, he probably deserved this one.

“Leave, Naomi.” Maddie tore herself away, swiping her eyes. “You have no idea what you’re talking about. You clearly came here to say what you wanted to say and you’ve said it. I told you the truth and it still wasn’t good enough for you—just like it wasn’t last night. So please go.”

Naomi appeared conflicted

The last thing I want to do is to come between Maddie and her family.

“I apologize for the damage,” he offered in a low voice. “I fully intend to pay for it.”

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