Take Me Home (The Heartbreak Brothers 1)

“Grab a table, I’ll bring some menus over,” Maddie called out.

“Actually, Maddie,” Jessica said, walking up to the counter. “I just came to make sure you were all right.”

Maddie’s brows pinched together. “I’m fine, thank you. How are you?” She wondered if Ashleigh had been talking to her.

“Well I’m not the one who’s gone viral, so I’m doing great.” Jessica smiled. “I’m glad you’re not letting it bother you. People are going to talk, right?”

So the news about her and Gray was out. She knew it would be. “You read the magazine article?”

Jessica shook her head. “What magazine article? I’m talking about that video of you and your… I don’t know. Was he a boyfriend? And the girl, was she your girlfriend? I’m a little sheltered living here in Hartson’s Creek. I don’t know how those threesomes work.” She laughed. “You’re a dark horse, you know that?”

Maddie’s chest felt tight. She tried to breathe in, but the air wouldn’t go down. The door opened again, and Gray walked in, and it felt like everybody in the room turned to look at him.

And then at her.

Their eyes met, and she could see her worry reflected back in his deep blue depths. “Maddie…” he said, swallowing hard.

“I know.” Her voice was croaky.

“Hi, Gray.” Jessica smiled at him. “Long time no see.”

He frowned. “Do I know you?” For a second, Maddie wanted to kiss him.

“I’m Jessica Martin. Formerly Jessica Chilton. You must remember me. I was a cheerleader.” She looked affronted.

He shook his head, a frown pinching the skin between his brows. “Maddie, I need to talk to you.”

“Oh, I heard you two had a thing going on. I guess it makes sense, right? She’s the kind of girl that attracts the bad boys.” Jessica shrugged. “I was just telling Maddie what a dark horse she is. I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody who’s had a threesome before.”

“Judy, was it?” Gray asked. “Can you shut up and leave us alone?”

Her back straightened. “I’m a paying customer. I don’t expect to be talked to like that.”

“If you’ll go sit down and shut the hell up, maybe somebody will come and serve you,” Gray said.

Jessica opened her mouth and closed it again, shaking her head as though she was trying to work it out. Ignoring her silent protest, Gray took Maddie’s arm and steered her toward the kitchen door.

Murphy looked up from the dishwasher as they entered. “Hey, no customers back here.”

Maddie pulled her arm from Gray’s hold and pulled the phone from her coat pocket, quickly opening it with her thumb.

“You don’t need to look.” Gray’s voice was low. “It’ll make you feel worse.”

“I need to know how bad it is.” She pulled up Twitter, frowning as that damn bird seemed to freeze on the screen.

“It’s bad, Maddie,” he said softly. “Real bad. But I’m working on it, okay?”

Twitter finally opened up on her phone, and she found herself typing her own name in. When the results came up, she stared at the screen, trying not to cry.

Never in her worst nightmares had she imagined being splashed over social media like this. Bad didn’t even begin to cover it.

* * *

Gray watched as Maddie’s face paled and her lips parted, knowing exactly what she was seeing. He’d watched it himself and just the memory of it made him want to get on a plane to L.A. and drag Brad Rickson by his hair down Hollywood Boulevard.

That asshole had it coming.

“Oh god, everybody will see this.” Maddie’s voice was thin. “Jessica will tell a few people and they’ll tell others and everyone in town will know.”