Take Me Home (The Heartbreak Brothers 1)

Maybe that’s why she’d skipped her own prom. The thought of having her photograph next to Ashleigh’s was too much to bear.

“I hear Gray was there.” Ashleigh turned to her. “Jessica told me she saw the two of you talking in the square. Said you looked mighty close.”

“Jessica has too much time on her hands.”

The ghost of a smile passed Ashleigh’s lips. “She does like to gossip.”

“Yeah, even when there’s nothing to gossip about.”

Ashleigh sat down in the chair next to Maddie’s, making sure to straighten out her skirt to avoid any wrinkles. “I worry about you. After everything that happened in New York…” she trailed off, reaching for Maddie’s hand. “There’s nothing going on with you and Gray, is there?” she asked. “I’m just fretting over nothing, right?”

New York. Those two words were like a bucket of ice water over Maddie’s head. Ashleigh was one of the few around town who knew what had happened, and in the years since she’d arrived to bring Maddie home, she hadn’t breathed a word to anybody. She might drive Maddie crazy sometimes, but Ashleigh had been there for her when she needed her the most. For that reason alone she loved her sister like crazy.

“There’s nothing going on that you need to worry about.” It was only a half-lie. And a lie told to protect somebody wasn’t really a lie at all, was it? “It’s a small town and I work in the diner. I’m bound to bump into him sometimes. But he’s only here for a few more weeks and then he’ll be gone again. Probably for another ten years.”

And wasn’t that thought like a kick to her gut? Or a reminder to guard her heart.

“You see him in the diner?” Ashleigh asked, her eyebrows raised. “I would’ve thought he could afford to eat somewhere nicer. There are some lovely restaurants in Stanhope.”

Maddie thought about pointing out that the diner was nice, but she’d already told enough lies. “He’s working on his dad’s house. He doesn’t have much time to drive somewhere nicer.”

“What?” Ashleigh laughed. “That’s not true. Why would he be working on his dad’s house? He must have enough money to buy it ten times over.”

Maddie shrugged. “It’s a family thing, I guess.”

Ashleigh pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, then released it, looking down at her skirt. “Has he asked about me?”

“I don’t know,” Maddie said. “Probably. I must have mentioned you and the children.”

“Does he know I live in Stanhope?” Ashleigh asked. “Did you tell him I married Michael? And that his parents own the First State Bank?”

“Um.” Maddie was trying not to grin, but it was a challenge. “I don’t know, but I’ll make sure I do if I see him again.”

“Oh no, don’t do that. He’ll find out from somebody.” Ashleigh shrugged. “I just want him to know that I’m doing well.” She straightened her back. “That he’s not the only one who managed to leave town and make something of themselves.”

Maddie wasn’t sure what to say. If it had been anybody else she would have rolled her eyes, but this was her sister. And she could hear a note of hurt in her voice. A reminder of how devastated she’d been when Gray left for L.A. and didn’t look back.

If Ashleigh ever found out about Maddie kissing her ex, she’d be apoplectic. The thought of it twisted Maddie’s stomach into knots. Another reminder of what a bad idea it was to flirt with Gray Hartson, as if she didn’t know that already.

You didn’t flirt with him, you kissed him, the little voice in her head reminded her.

Maddie sighed. Yes, it was a terrible idea to kiss Gray Hartson. But the thought of not kissing him felt even worse. And if it meant she had to lie to her sister, to her mom, to the whole damn town to feel his lips on hers again? Then, god forgive her, that’s what she’d do.

“Mom, I finished my picture,” Carter said excitedly as he pushed the door open. “Wanna see?”

“Sure.” Ashleigh flashed Maddie a wary smile.

“Here you go.” Carter shoved the piece of paper in his mom’s hands before he turned to Maddie with a hopeful expression. “Can we play the piano now or are you two still arguing?”

Maddie burst into laughter and took Carter’s proffered hand. “Sure, we can go play for a while.”

“Ten minutes,” Ashleigh told him. “And we weren’t arguing, we were talking.”

* * *

At exactly eight o’clock, Maddie pulled on her shoes and called out to her mom. “I’m heading out. I’ll be back before midnight. Call me if you need anything.”

“Who are you going out with again?” her mom asked from her bedroom.