Page 69 of Chasing Fireflies

“I don’t know what you two are talking about.” But Maci blushes.

“You’re blushing!” Leigh calls her out.

“I’m a redhead. We blush a lot.”

“Nope, not true. My cousin is a redhead, and you can’t get her to blush a bit.”

“That’s got to be a lie,” Maci says.

“I’ve never seen her do it. Anyway, you’re trying to change the subject. What’s up with you and the bearded bar owner?” Leigh takes a sip of her drink and casts her eyes to me.

“Come on, Maci. Tell us something here.”

Maci sighs. “Fine. I think he’s cute, okay?”

Leigh gulps. “You think he’s cute? Duh, heiscute, girl. Tell us something else! Why does he keep looking at you like he wants to pull on your ponytail and slap your ass?”

I burst out laughing. “Good God, Leigh.”

“Too much?” Leigh asks, grinning from ear to ear.

“Both of you stop it.” Maci is fire engine red.

I stop laughing. “Come on, Maci. We’re just playing. We’re happy for you. So, you’re not talking to Lucas anymore?” I ask, serious.

“I was never talking to him. He wrote me, remember?”

“Yeah, but you told me you were confused back before Thanksgiving.”

“Well, that was then and this is now. I’m no longer confused. In fact, I sent him the divorce papers again, and I told him it was over last week.”

“Really?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Oh, Maci, I’m so sorry you had to go through all that bullshit,” Leigh says, grabbing Maci’s hand from across the table. “I know you did love him.”

“Yes, I did love him with my whole heart, but it’s done now. I’m moving on.” She turns to face me. “Like you said, he treated me like crap, and you don’t treat people you love like that. That is not love. I thought really hard about it.” She looks over at the bar. “I thought so hard about it, actually on Thanksgiving, I came here and got cry-in-my-beer piss drunk.”

Leigh laughs. “You did not.”

“I did. Banner had to get me home.” She chuckles a little. “It was embarrassing, but it happened, and the next day—minus the hangover—I felt really good about life again.”

I give her a half-smile. “So that’s why you didn’t come to Thanksgiving.”

She winces. “I’m sorry. I was just having a rough day.”

“No, I’m sorry you were dealing with all that alone.”

“She wasn’t alone, Sara. Didn’t you hear? The girl said she was here, with Banner!” Leigh winks, and I roll my eyes.

“You know what I mean. Does Banner not have any family?” I ask.

“He only has his dad, but I don’t know too much else about him besides that.”

“You plan on finding out, though, right?” Leigh asks.

“I hope so,” Maci says, biting her bottom lip.

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