Page 70 of Wild for You
Maggie bites her lip as her eyes find Elliot’s, and Elliot gives her a nod of encouragement. “Go ahead, Maggie. Tell her.” The corner of her mouth pulls into a grin.
Maggie sighs and rolls her eyes. “Okay, I’ll tell you, but you’re just going to think I’m weirder than you already do …”
I reach out and place my hand on top of Maggie’s. “Babe, I am so damn happy for your weirdness. You saved my life.”
“There’s this guy at work,” Elliot chimes in. “He was my first client. You may remember him from that night at Terry’s when you threw me the party—”
“Is he the beauty influencer with the high cheekbones?” I squint my eyes, trying to remember.
“Yes,” Maggie confirms. “His name is Damian.” She cuts herself another piece of pizza. “Well, we got to talking at a work dinner Elliot hosted, and when we mentioned you and Jack were missing—”
“He told us not to give up. He could sense your energy and that you were both still alive.” Elliot’s eyes well with tears. “I don’t know if I ever would’ve believed him if he weren’t right about something he said to Benjamin and me before we first got together.”
“So we pulled up a Google Maps, and he pointed to the area he thought you were.”
They exchange a glance and look at me, and I almost can’t believe it, but after everything that I’ve seen and lived through over the last three months, who am I to doubt anything.
“Wow.” My eyes go wide as I take in this information. “Mag’s, you may have just made a believer out of me.” I clap her on the shoulder as tears prickle behind my eyes. “I don’t know if I can ever thank you enough for saving us.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Gwen.” Tears well in her honey brown eyes, and she pulls me into a tight hug, breathing a sigh of relief into the crook of my neck. I return her hug, squeezing her as if I’m afraid one of us will disappear, then Elliot joins, wrapping her arms around us both.
“Who are you, and what have you done with Gwen?” Elliot shrieks, and we all laugh. I’ve never been much on feelings, but somehow, realizing you were so close to death makes you appreciate everything and everyone around you that much more.
Maggie pulls away and clears her throat. “I hope you’re okay staying here. The couch folds out to a queen, but I don’t mind giving you my bed until we can get your things out of storage. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”
“Maggie,” I hold up my hand and stop her, “stop apologizing. This is perfect.” I snuggle into a throw pillow and inhale her familiar scent of peaches and vanilla. Everything about this place is so cozy and warm.
“So … you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” Elliot takes a gulp of her wine, “but what’s the deal with you and Jack?”
“Elliot!” Maggie gasps. “Gwen’s been home for two hours. Can you at least let her warm up before you bombard her with questions about her sex life!”
Elliot’s eyes go wide, and a smile breaks across her face. “Sex life!?” She points to me and then to Maggie. “Who said anything about sex life?” She grabs a throw pillow and shoves it in her lap. “You better talk, missy. I have a feeling this is going to be good.”
I stare daggers at Maggie, and her face turns a pale shade of green. “Dammit,” she whispers before looking up to meet my eyes. “Sorry, Gwen.”
Elliot’s eyes bounce between us as she tries to piece together what we’re not saying. “Wait a minute!” She throws the throw pillow down and stands, grabbing a fresh bottle of wine. “What’s going on here? What are you two keeping from me?” Her eyes scan me as she pours herself a fresh glass of wine, then she gasps so loud you’d think she witnessed a crime.
“Did you want a glass of wine, Gwen?” She pours me a cup and pushes it toward me.
I take the wine from her gingerly, “Oh, yes, thank you.” But I don’t take a sip.
She slowly sips her wine, staring daggers at me over the rim of her glass as if in a challenge.
I purse my lips, then lift my extremely full glass of wine to my lips, turning it up so the liquid touches my mouth. “Mmmm. That is really good.”
She repeats her gulp, still eyeing me.
I take another fake sip.
Maggie stares between us, her eyes darting back and forth as sweat starts to form on her upper lip.
“This wine is so good. Isn’t it Maggie?”
“Oh, yes, it’s delicious.” Maggie takes an exaggerated sip.
Their eyes land on me as if it’s my turn in this silent drinking game. I take another fake sip. “You know, I can already feel this buzz going to my head.” I set the glass down. “I haven’t had a drink in so long. I better slow down before I get a headache.”
Elliot slams her wine glass down so hard that wine spills out of the top of the glass. “You lying bitch!” she screams, pointing at me.
