Page 81 of The Weekend Crashers
“Such as?”
“He seems to think I play it too safe.”
Maggie understands that in sharing this, he’s saying that Cole is right. And that maybe it’s something she needs to hear too.
“I guess... since I don’t even live around here... it’s harmless. Well, maybe not completely harmless. I mean, what fun would that be?”
He leans closer, and she wants to touch the auburn stubble along his jaw.
“Listen,” he says, “I’m feeling a little partied out. So I’m going to call it a night.”
She feels disappointed, but then he hands her one of the inn’s brass room keys and says, “I’ll be up for a while. If you get partied out too.”
He leans over and kisses her cheek before leaving.
Maggie flushes and glances around the room to see if anyone witnessed what just happened. She looks for Piper—to say good-night and don’t wait up—but doesn’t see her anywhere. She asks around, and Lexi tells her she saw her leave the room. She walks out to the lobby, looking around, and only sees Max behind the front desk.
“Hi, Max. You didn’t happen to see my daughter, Piper, did you?”
He nods. “She was just here. She went outside.”
Odd.
She thanks him and hugs herself, bracing for the cold outdoors. The front door creeks as Maggie opens it, and she meets a bit of resistance from a gust of wind. At first, she doesn’t see Piper. Then she turns to the far side of the porch and nearly loses her breath. Piper isn’t alone.
“Piper?” she says.
Ethan and Piper both look over. Piper’s eyes look extra blue from crying. Her pale face is red and blotchy.
“I don’t want to talk to you,” she says. “I can’t even look at you!” Her lower lip trembles, the way it always has when she’s agitated. It was so adorable when she was a little girl, Maggie had to sometimes fight to keep from smiling inappropriately at her tantrums. But there’s nothing to smile about now.
“What happened?” Maggie says.
“You! You happened,” she says.
“I’ll wait in the car,” Ethan says. When he’s gone, Maggie tries to reach for Piper, but she pulls away from her.
“What’s going on?”
“You can drop the act. I know you told him not to propose. This whole weekend, I’ve been wondering if maybe he changed his mind about us. And Itoldyou about it. You said nothing to me about your conversation with him. Nothing!”
“Piper, I can explain.”
“Save it. I’m leaving.”
She turns and walks away into the darkness. In the near distance, Maggie hears the rumble of a car engine.
She stands stunned for a few seconds, then realizes she has no time to waste. She has to get her things and go after her.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Aidan checks his phone. It’s close to eleven, but still no Maggie. He wonders if the party could possibly still be going on. So he texts Cole and asks him.
It’s beginning to feel ridiculous to still be dressed in his pants and oxford shirt. But changing into his sweatpants feels somehow inappropriate.
There’s a knock at the door. He jumps up and opens it, trying to keep his smile low-key. But he’s thrilled, like he’s a teenager again.
It’s not Maggie.
