Page 164 of Ever With Me

Gina closed the door to the storeroom behind her.

No one in here. Whew.

“You okay?” Gina asked. “Can I get you some water or something?”

“Actually, water would be great.”

Gina nodded and pointed at a metal folding chair. “Feel free to sit. It’s not super comfortable back here, but you know that.” She went over to a shelf and pulled a bottle of water from a package. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Maddie took it and popped it open, her eyes roaming the space. She hadn’t given thought to the comfort of the storeroom before. Gina was right, though. Their back storeroom was a far cry from the Depot’s. In fact, the Stricklands hadn’t updated anything—including the front—for years.

She knew little about them, but she didn’t get the feeling they had a ton of money. Gina didn’t dress well and worked part-time at the front desk of the accounting office where Josh was a partner. Fred drove a ratty old station wagon that Travis swore was held together with duct tape.

For the first time, Maddie felt a wave of shame go through her.

Maybe she’d never considered the Stricklands point of view.

She loved her grandfather and the Depot, but she’d gotten so caught up in theirrightto sell gelato and how much business they brought to the town that she’d never considered the hurt they’d inflicted regardless of their intentions.

Just like Brooks hurt me, regardless of his intent.

“Gina, I’m sorry.” Maddie took a swig of the water, thirstier than she thought. She capped it and looked up at her. “I’m sorry that my family hurt yours. That I disrespected your father and your store by fooling around with guys in here. I’ve been a brat and I’m sorry.”

Gina’s eyes clouded. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“I want to.” Maddie set the water down. “There’s enough petty drama that happens in town, and I don’t want to be a part of that anymore. My family isn’t better than anyone else’s. And gosh, the Stricklands have been here as long as the Yardleys. I think I was even best friends with your sister Hannah one summer after camp. I don’t want to have enemies. Do you?”

Gina pulled her dark hair into a ponytail and leaned back against a wall. “No, I don’t.” She sighed. “By the way, I never cheated with Josh. I swear it. And if it makes you feel any better, Josh dumped me. He’s dating some girl from a few towns over now.”

Wait, what?

Josh had dumped Gina?

Ugh. I can’t believe I ever thought I was in love with him. Or lived with him.He was despicable.

“It doesn’t make me feel better to hear Josh dumped you. Having recently had my heart destroyed by a man, I don’t wish that on anyone. But at the risk of sounding like my family, you deserve better than Josh, Gina.”

“God, that phrase sucks when you still love the idiot, right?” Gina unfolded a chair and sat beside her. “I was so jealous of you. First, when you were dating Josh. Then, when I realized Josh still was hung up on you even though we were dating. But then you were fine and happy and dating a rock star and I just kept thinking to myself,how does she get so lucky?Guess Brooks Kent wasn’t as great as it seemed, either.”

Maddie lifted her water bottle in a mock cheers. “Here’s to myluck.” She let out a sarcastic laugh, then rubbed her eyelids. “Brooks was great, though. And I know I sound dumb. You know why he broke up with me, right?”

Gina shook her head.

No, of course. How would she know?

“Well, first a stalker of his showed up and attacked me, tried to stab me with a knife. My grandfather shoved her into the lake, but he had a massive heart attack as a result.” She didn’t know why she was telling Gina any of this, except for the fact that they were both heartbroken women. “That was in addition to the paparazzi showing up everywhere we went, making our lives impossible and losing all privacy.

“Then someone threatened me and extorted Brooks. He was terrified of me getting hurt. Felt like he couldn’t protect me, especially here where he lacked resources, and he didn’t want me to have to leave Brandywood for him. So he left.”

Gina blinked at her for a few moments, then stood and grabbed her own bottle of water. She shook her head. “Well, shit.”

“Yeah.”

Gina chugged some water back. “And why are you still in Brandywood?”

“Well, he didn’t give me a choice, either. Not to mention, my family?—”

“Yeah, but . . . look, even I know that deep down Josh is a scumbag, but it sounds like Brooks actually loves you. If a man loved me like that, I would have packed my bags and left this town a long time ago. And I love my family, too.”

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