Page 81 of Sirens
“Sorry,” she said, extracting herself the rest of the way from McGarvey’s embrace. “Goddamn telemarketers.”
He tilted his head, furrowing his brow thoughtfully. His dark eyes were like an x-ray machine, scanning her for the truth she was trying so hard to hide.
“Which reminds me,” she said. “I owe Chris a call. I’m just going to throw my clothes on and give her a shout.”
“Whoa,” he said, reaching out for her elbow. “Hey. Where you going all of a sudden?”
“It’s not sudden.” Maggie laughed, wiggling out of his grip and striding toward the laundry closet. “I’ve been here for hours. It’s almost Roxie’s dinnertime, and?—”
He blocked her path, resting both hands on her shoulders. “Take a breath. Your clothes aren’t even dry yet.”
Maggie ducked out from beneath them, wrenching open the dryer drawer and grabbing the still alarmingly damp items before they’d even finished their tumble.
“Dry enough for the short walk home,” she said, already padding away.
“You could borrow some of my sweats,” Trent called out after her as she disappeared into the bathroom.
Maggie gave a dry chuckle as she got her bra and panties. “Aside from issues of physics when it comes to your narrow hips and my not-narrow ass, making my official walk of shame in clothing different than what I came in is thelastthing I need after your little parade leader act earlier.”
McGarvey was waiting outside the bathroom, following after her as she strode toward the foyer. “How about I come with you? I was excellent at feeding Roxie, if you’ll remember.”
Maggie turned around, meeting his earnest gaze and offering a small, rueful smile. “I remember, Trent,” she said softly, reaching out to cradle his cheek for a moment. “You are excellent at many things.” She dropped her hand and took a step back, her defensive walls rising again. “But I really need to get working for notes on my podcast, and with you around, something tells me I’d be doing a lot ofnotwriting.”
She winked at him as she stepped into her boots and shrugged into her coat, a measure of the ache in her chest easing as she saw his eyes soften.
“Gotta go,” she said, leaning in to plant a quick peck on his lips that Trent foiled by taking her face in both hands. They threaded into her hair as his tongue teased the seam of herlips, the brief squeeze against her scalp enough to send fresh goosebumps cascading down her body
“I’ll call you later,” he said, releasing her.
“Not if I call you first.” Tears blurred Maggie’s vision the second she pushed through the door and threatened to spill from her lids by the time she hit the bottom of the stairs and shoved through the door to the street.
Running directly into Gabe and Gemma in the process.
“Whoa,” Gabe said, catching Maggie by both shoulders and helping her catch her balance. A knowing smirk lifted one corner of his mouth as his eyes moved from her hair to her mouth to her eyes. “I’d ask you where the fire is, but I have a feeling I already know.”
“Shut up, Gabe,” Gemma scolded, but her grin betrayed her own curiosity. “Maggie’s in a hurry, that’s all.”
Maggie wanted nothing more than to crawl into a hole and hide from their prying eyes. Her mind raced, searching for a sassy retort or a quick deflection, but all she could do was stammer out, “Right. Well, I…um…need to check on my dog. Because she’s blind. And deaf. And hungry. And blind.”
“You said that already,” Gabe said, arching an eyebrow.
“Uh, yeah, well, that’s because she’s…uh…veryblind,” Maggie said, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Anyway. I always cock—uh—cook her dinner myself and…and okay, fine!” Maggie suddenly blurted out, tears welling in her eyes. The emotional turmoil had finally bubbled over, and she needed to get it all out. “We totally fucked! Is that what you want to hear?”
Gemma and Gabe exchanged shocked glances, neither expecting such an outburst from their usually composed friend.
“Whoa, Maggie, we were just teasin’,” Gabe said, his expression softening. “No need to get all upset about it.”
“It’s fine.” Maggie sniffled. “But I’m going to go now, okay? Away. Like, now. Right now.”
And for no reason she could think of, Maggie found herself sprinting, tearing down the street like a woman possessed, feeling her past gaining on her even as the frigid winter air chilled the tracks of her tears.
FIFTEEN
"FIDO"
AN ACRONYM USED BY POLICE OFFICERS THAT MEANS "FORGET IT, DRIVE ON"
Trent couldn’t helpbut admire the way Maggie’s vibe seemed to catch the very essence of Valentine’s Day as they strolled through Townsend Harbor’s Love Fest. The town square was alive with crimson and pink streamers, heart-shaped balloons bobbing in the chilly breeze, and the laughter of couples clinging to the festive spirit like it was their love’s own lifeline. Music swirled around them—a blend of peppy pop songs and classic love ballads that made even Trent’s cynical heart twitch in rhythm. True to cliché, the scent of cotton candy and popcorn beckoned, lending a sweet note to the crisp air that’d just dipped about twenty degrees once the sun disappeared.
