Page 71 of Face Me Off

“Yeah?”

“Is the Malibu house free tonight?”

My lips form a wicked smile. “Is someone needing attention?”

“Uh-huh.” Maddy bites her bottom lip. “Someone’s been a good girl.”

“Yes. Yes, she has.” I rise to my feet and pull her up with me. “And I think she needs to be rewarded.”

So much for being a gentleman.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

MADISON

Jesus,I don’t want to do this. I pace the long hallway, biding time before facing the inevitable, my parents. I run my shaky hands along my skirt and take a deep breath, squaring my shoulders.

You’ve got this, girl.

With my head held high, I step to the dining room table and take my place. Stuffing and spice waft around me, creating an illusion of a peaceful, happy family. We’re anything but.

“You’re five minutes early,” Mom says as she sets the mashed potatoes and gravy boat on the table. Every year, she makes such a production of bringing the food to the table that one would think she cooked the meal herself. She didn’t. She never does.

“I’m ready to get started.” In more ways than you think. “Do you need help?”

“No. I have a couple of salads left to bring, and your father has the turkey.”

She skitters toward the kitchen. I sit in the throng of a chair and look around at the fancy place settings. The silverware gleams. The wine glasses sparkle. Even fresh flowers adorn the middle of the table. It’s a picture-perfect scene straight out of ahome decor magazine. But it feels cold. Uncomfortable. I miss Amanda’s presence already.

Maybe I should’ve taken up Ryan’s offer to be here. Wouldn’t that have set off their minds? I almost laugh at the thought. If it wasn’t for the fear of retribution, I would’ve. But just his offering was enough to make me swoon. He hasn’t stepped foot in this house since his dad’s accident, and his willingness to be here proves he does care about me. A lot.

A pang of regret twists my stomach. At the beach, when he asked me what was wrong, I didn’t necessarily lie. I was worried about telling my parents, and still am, but that wasn’t the only thing bogging me down.

The fact that my best friend may move across the country doesn’t settle well with me. But I couldn’t tell Ryan that. I have to respect Amanda’s wishes and wait until she tells Blake. Yet another secret I have to keep. Secrets, secrets, and more secrets. It seems my life is full of them at the moment.

God, I don’t want her to go. But how can I tell her how much I’ll miss her without sounding selfish? She doesn’t even know about my relationship with Ryan.

Nobody does.

And that’s a shame because Ryan is the only good thing in my life right now.

My fingers run across the bulge in my pocket where the shell stays hidden. Calmness clashes with my nerves, edging out the win.

A small smile breaks across my face. The sincerity in his voice when he asked to be here made my chest tighten in a whole new way. I had to force myself to look away and focus on the waves crashing against the shore. Because the way Ryan looked at me was almost scarier than facing my parents. It was a look of determination and love. It was a look I could fall in love with.

If I’m honest, I already have.

“Here we go.” Dad places the turkey platter on the table, followed by Mom and her salads.

They sit on opposite ends of the formal dining table, with me in between. This arrangement always felt awkward and rigid.

“It’s a shame Amanda couldn’t join us this year,” Dad says, filling his plate.

“Yes, but it’s good that she visits her grandma. I suspect she doesn’t get that many chances,” Mom pipes in.

“No, she doesn’t.” I shift in my seat, delaying the inevitable.

“It’s nice that Blake has taken interest in her, but I can’t see the Morton’s putting up with that for long.” Dad’s statement is so matter of fact I choke.

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