Page 18 of More than Friends

“What?”

“Quinn almost caught us,” she says, setting her sandwich down in her lap.

I shake my head. “Maggie, last night was the worst idea we’ve had so far.”

“How we didn’t get caught at the cabin is a great mystery, but the Inaugural Ball? That’s just tempting fate,” I continue.

She just giggles.

“Mags, you’re a really bad influence on me, you know that?”

“Me?” She points to herself. “Not possible.”

“It’s true. I was on the straight and narrow until I met you.”

She snorts. “You were not. I bet there’s a trail of women all across the globe who could testify to the contrary.”

I smirk. “You’re a pretty good liar. I was impressed.”

She buries her head in her hands. “Well, I had to tell Quinn something. We couldn’t exactly walk out of that tiny bathroom together.”

“Champagne and crab cakes – a lethal combo.”

She burps a little and pats her chest – “Honestly, right now, it doesn’t seem like a lie. I could actually eat another one of those sandwiches, believe it or not.”

“Want to go back and get another one?”

She looks over at me. I can’t see her eyes – just my reflection in her sunglasses. She pats my arm. “Oh, Dex, you are sweet. No, I’m fine.”

We watch a family walk past – three small children crammed in a stroller.

“That’s a handful,” she whispers.

I nod in agreement. “How soon before your sister starts popping out kids?”

She laughs. “Not long I imagine, judging by how they were at the cabin. Good lord, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other.”

“I’m looking forward to being an uncle.”

She pats my leg. “You’ll be an amazing uncle.”

She watches the family down the path and then turns to me and says, “Where’s your next adventure taking you?”

I stretch my neck a little and check my watch. “Leaving in seven hours for Auckland.”

“New Zealand?” She pulls off her sunglasses – her mascara is a little smudged under her eyes. “Seven hours? Are you packed?”

I shrug. “More or less.”

She pats my leg. “Probably won’t see you for a while, huh?”

I lean into her. “We’ll pick up next time we’re in the same town.”

She squeezes my thigh. “Sure will.”

Declan and Maggie Text Thread

Maggie: How’s New Zealand?

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