Page 5 of Ever With Me

Darren’s proposed plan was infuriating . . . but a sad commentary on public perception of his life, too. Who wouldn’t believe that Brooks Kent needed to check into rehab, sex therapy, and whatever other so-calledtreatmentDarren planned? No one would bat an eyelash. A few loud apologies, some groveling, sorry-faced social posts where he admitted hisaddictionshad taken him to a bad place—hell, it might even get him some interviews and sympathy.

The public gobbled that shit up. Darren was right.

No way, no how.

“Then tell Ava to come up with something else. Because I’m not doing that bullshit plan. Ever.” Brooks unlocked the car and slipped into the driver’s seat. “See you around.”

“Straight to the hotel or?—”

Slam.The door silenced Darren, who clearly hadn’t taken his firing seriously.

Brooks started the car with a push of a button and pulled out his phone.

Cormac picked up on the first ring. “What the fuck happened to you?”

“Long story.” Brooks adjusted the mirrors on the car. “Quick question. You still heading back home tonight?”

“I’m halfway there. I figured you’d be, ah . . . otherwise occupied.”

“You mean you figured I’d be in jail for at least the night?”

“Yeah, man, I mean, I’m glad you’re not unless I’m your phone call, in which case, I gotta tell you, I’m a terrible lawyer.”

Brooks chuckled. “No, don’t worry, I’m not that stupid.” He cleared his throat, glancing in the rearview mirror. Darren appeared to be heading across the parking lot. “Mind if I still come crash at your place?”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll text you the address. It’s a few hours away, though.”

Brooks pulled out of the parking spot, not bothering to wait for the text to come through. When it finally did, he opened it in his Maps app and glanced down.

Brandywood, Maryland.

Could be Podunk, Maryland, for all he cared. He just needed to get out of here.

Fast.

3

MADDIE

“Madison Yardley, open the damn door.”

The knock on Maddie’s bedroom door was loud, annoying, and insistent—and somehow oddly endearing.

“Come on, Mads, we know you’re in there,” her younger sister, Lindsay, called from the other side.

“I have a key,” Naomi chimed in, using a singsong voice that Maddie swore she’d heard her older sister use on her children.

Maddie sat up from her bed, squinting one eye at the back of the door. This was the problem with having moved into the attic apartment above their grandfather’s Country Depot store that she and Naomi ran on Main Street. Naomididhave a master key.

Groaning, Maddie flopped back down onto the bed. “I’m changing the locks as soon as you leave today,” Maddie said into the pillow.

“Do you even know what time it is?” Naomi asked, concern in her voice.

“Knowing her, she’s probably wearing Josh’s Virginia Tech hoodie, eating Little Debbie cupcakes, and has been listening to ‘All Too Well’on repeat,” Lindsay said.

Maddie cringed, swiping the cupcake packaging off her bed as she sat and pushed back the orange hoodie off her head. Her sisters meant well, but she wasn’t ready to leave the bed.

Maybe not for the whole next day.

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