Authors: Lily Harper Hart
“It’s okay,” Nick said, kissing her forehead and tightening his arms around her. “It’s okay.”
“I’m not sure it is,” Christy said seriously. “We need to come up with a story to tell those people out there, and we need to do it fast.”
“Do you think they’re suspicious?” Maddie asked, worried.
“I think they passed suspicious when Nick started beating on the mausoleum door and having a complete and total meltdown while screaming your name,” Christy said.
“This isn’t good.”
“You saw a raccoon?” Aaron’s eyes widened incredulously. “You passed out because you saw a raccoon?”
“I’m so sorry,” Maddie said, her back resting against Nick’s chest as he snuggled up behind her. “I’m mortified.”
“It’s fine,” Aaron said. “You scared us to death, but it’s fine. I don’t understand what happened, though.”
“I was just looking around the mausoleum,” Maddie explained. “It’s really pretty in there, by the way. Although, you might want to have someone dust it from time to time. It’s a little dirty… especially the floor.”
“How did you get locked in?” Max asked.
“That’s a pretty good question,” Nick said, shifting his gaze to Marla and Cassidy, an unsaid accusation hanging in the air.
“Why are you looking at me?” Marla asked, nonplussed.
“Because that door closes from the outside,” Nick said, not backing down. “Brian, Max, and Aaron were with me. Lauren was less than twenty feet away from me the whole time Maddie was gone. Christy was close, but not close enough to close the door. That leaves you and Cassidy as the only suspects.”
Cassidy’s face turned a mottled shade of red as Marla feigned total shock and disgust. “Are you actually accusing me of locking Maddie in that mausoleum?”
“Yes.”
“Why would I possibly do that?”
“Because you’re evil,” Nick replied, not missing a beat. “I know it was you. Don’t bother denying it.” He shifted his gaze to Cassidy. “I expected better from you. I know you’re angry with me, but do you really think a junior high school prank that almost resulted in Maddie being seriously hurt is the best way to deal with your issues?”
“I … .”
“Don’t accuse her of doing anything,” Marla said. “You have no proof. Personally, I think Maddie locked herself in the mausoleum so she could get attention. That would be totally like her.”
Nick opened his mouth, every hateful thought he had on the tip of his tongue and ready to be unleashed, but Aaron stilled him with a hand on his shoulder. “I believe Marla,” he said.
Marla stilled, surprise washing over her features. “You do?”
“Of course I do,” Aaron said. “Only a truly pathetic person would lock someone in the mausoleum.”
“I … um … right,” Marla said.
“The good news is that we can prove it wasn’t Marla,” Aaron said.
“We can?” Nick asked, glancing up at Aaron for a hint of what he was getting at.
“My mother was worried that grave robbers would try and steal from the mausoleum so she had cameras installed out there,” Aaron said. “I can go up to the security room and look at the video feed. That will prove that Marla and Cassidy are innocent.”
“I think we all should go and take a look,” Christy said.
“Well, wait just a second … .” Marla said, exchanging a worried look with Cassidy. “Is that really necessary?”
“I think it is,” Brian said, catching on to the game. “If you and Cassidy didn’t shut Maddie in the mausoleum, that means someone else did. There could be some sort of deviant hanging around the grounds. We all could be in danger. We can’t have that. I wouldn’t feel safe with a deviant on the grounds.”
“I think this is an outstanding idea,” Max said. “Plus, we have a police officer here. If we catch someone on the feed, Nick can arrest the guilty person.”
“He’s off duty,” Marla said.
“That doesn’t mean I can’t arrest someone if they commit a crime,” Nick said. “In this case, it would be my personal pleasure.”
“Let’s go up and look at the video,” Aaron said. “After all that’s handled, I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m starving. How about you, Miss Maddie? Did the raccoon scare the hunger out of you?”
“I’m really sorry I worried everyone,” Maddie said, clasping her hands together on her lap.
“Don’t worry about,” Aaron said, waving off her concerns. “We were getting complacent. We needed a little drama. Things were getting boring.”
“I’m still sorry.”
“It wouldn’t have happened if someone didn’t lock you in the mausoleum,” Nick said. “Let’s go take a look at the video feed. I can’t wait to see who the culprit is.”
“It was just supposed to be a joke,” Cassidy blurted out, her face contorting as hot tears started spilling down her cheeks. “I swear. We didn’t mean to hurt her. We just thought it would be funny to lock her in there with the dead bodies.”
“Why?” Marla asked, gritting her teeth. “Why did you just say that?”
“They’re going to see the video,” Cassidy said. “They’re going to know it was us.”
“There is no video out there,” Aaron said. “I was bluffing.”
“I knew it,” Marla grumbled.
“We also knew you were the one who locked Maddie inside,” Max said.
“How could you possibly know that?”
“You’re the only one pathetic enough to do it,” Aaron said.
“You’re also the only one mean enough to do it,” Brian added. “Maddie has been nothing but sweet and nice since she got here. You’ve been the aggressive one.”
“I’m so sorry,” Cassidy said. “I just … it was a horrible thing to do.”
“It was a horrible thing to do,” Nick said. “Maddie could’ve been seriously injured.”
“Hey, it’s not our fault Maddie scared herself silly with a raccoon,” Marla said. “That’s all on her.”
“Marla, I’ve had enough of you,” Aaron said. “I think you … and your little friend … should be going.”
“What? You’re kicking me out?”
“I am,” Aaron said.
“Wait a second,” Maddie said, leaning forward. “I’m not sure that’s necessary.”
“Maddie,” Nick groaned. “Let him kick them out.”
“I’m sure Marla and Cassidy are sorry,” Maddie countered. “Maybe this will be an important lesson for both of them.”
“Marla doesn’t learn lessons,” Christy said. “She’s too stupid to learn lessons.”
“Shut up, Christy,” Marla snapped.
Aaron studied Maddie’s serious face for a moment, trying to get a read on her. Finally, he turned back to Marla. “You can stay … .”
Marla smiled triumphantly.
“If you apologize to Maddie and promise not to say one more snarky thing to her this entire weekend,” Aaron said.
Marla made a face. “Excuse me?”
“That goes for both of you,” Aaron said, glancing at Cassidy pointedly. “I don’t know you very well, Cassidy, but you appear to be sorry for what you did. I’m hoping you’re willing to apologize and put this behind you … and I mean all of it. I think it’s time you realized Nick and Maddie aren’t your enemies. You’re not hurting anyone but yourself by holding onto this grudge.”
Cassidy bit her lower lip, conflicted. Finally, she squared her shoulders and met Maddie’s curious gaze. “I really am sorry for what we did,” she said. “I would never try to physically hurt you. It was mean … and stupid … and really juvenile. I won’t do anything like it again.”
“Thank you,” Maddie said, her voice low.
Aaron turned to Marla expectantly.
“Fine,” Marla said. “I’m sorry we locked you in the mausoleum. It was a joke. There. Are you happy?”
Aaron glanced at Maddie for confirmation.
“I’m not happy,” Maddie said. “I am willing to let it go, though.”
“Good,” Aaron said, moving toward the door. “Can we put this unfortunate incident behind us and eat?”
Maddie wasn’t sure her stomach was settled enough for food, but she was sure she wanted everyone to focus on something else besides her. “That sounds like a great idea.”
“CAN’T
you try to eat at least half of the sandwich?” Nick asked, tapping the side of Maddie’s plate for emphasis. “You only took two bites.”
After a few furtive glances – and open glares on Nick and Christy’s part – everyone settled around the patio table for a leisurely lunch. Maddie tried to hide her lack of appetite by pushing the food around on her plate, but Nick wasn’t about to be fooled.
“I’m trying,” Maddie said, forcing a weak smile for his benefit. “My stomach is still a little iffy.”
“I understand that, Mad,” Nick said patiently. “I also think, if you force yourself to take a few bites, you’re going to realize that you’re hungrier than you realize.”
“I agree with Nick,” Christy said. “You’ve had a big morning. You should stockpile some fuel so we can have some more drama and fun after lunch. Maybe we can have an equally big afternoon.”
“I love drama and fun,” Lauren said, grinning.
Maddie picked up the tuna sandwich and made a big show of biting into it. Nick watched her as she chewed, refusing to turn away until she swallowed. “Are you happy?”
“Not until you eat half of the sandwich,” Nick said, forking some potato salad into his mouth.
“He’s like a mother hen,” Max teased.
“He’s my mother hen,” Maddie countered, leaning over and kissing him on the cheek. “I promise I’m fine.”
“I’m not going to believe you until half of that sandwich disappears into your mouth,” Nick said. “That’s the rule of the afternoon.”
Maddie sighed. “Fine. You really are a mother hen, though.”
“I’m your mother hen,” Nick corrected, internally smiling when she picked the sandwich back up and started munching on it.
“So, after we all watch Maddie force her lunch down, what does everyone want to do?” Brian asked.
“I thought we were playing basketball,” Max said.
“I’m sticking close to Maddie until I’m sure she’s on solid ground,” Nick said. “I promise to play basketball, but I want to give it a few hours.”
“I guess that’s understandable,” Max grumbled.
“He can’t play basketball until he catches me a turtle,” Maddie said. “He promised me he would do it yesterday.”
“What is it with you and turtles?” Christy asked.
Maddie shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve just always liked them.”
“And you always catch them for her?” Christy asked, turning her attention to Nick.
“Yup. I’m the biggest and baddest turtle hunter in northern Lower Michigan.”
“What do you do when you catch them?” Lauren asked.
“She pets them for five minutes, gives them names, and then releases them,” Nick said. “It’s a lot of hard work for very little reward.”
“I always reward you,” Maddie countered.
Nick tilted his head to the side, considering. “I guess you do,” he conceded. “I can honestly say the rewards have gotten better over the past few weeks.”
Maddie grinned, her strength returning after a few wayward hours. “I promise to reward you well if you catch me a big one.”
“Well, I can’t ignore that challenge now, can I?” Nick leaned over to give her a kiss, surprised to find the entire sandwich gone. “Did you eat that whole thing?”
“I guess I was hungrier than I thought,” Maddie admitted sheepishly.
“Score one for the mother hen,” Nick said, extending his hand. “Come on, my Maddie. If you’re lucky, I might catch you two turtles today.”
“I’m feeling pretty lucky these days.”
“We both are,” Nick said.
“The river is fast moving today,” Maddie said, pulling her blonde hair on top of her head and securing it in place so she wouldn’t risk getting it wet or dirty. “We must have gotten more rain than I realized last night.”
Nick glanced at her, smiling at her lovely face in all of its simplistic glory. She wasn’t the type of woman who wore a lot of makeup, but on the days her face was bare and free, she was absolutely exquisite. And, while he preferred her hair loose so he could run his fingers through it, there was something appealing about the way she carried herself when the flaxen waves were corralled.
They’d changed to simple shorts and shirts, Maddie opting for a black tank top that showed off her sculpted shoulders. Maddie was one of those women who gave a hundred percent to everything, and that included working out. When they ran together, Nick often found he had to pace himself if he didn’t want to fall behind. Her body was lithe and strong – and it was all his.
“Where is your mind?” Maddie asked, placing her hands on her narrow hips and shooting him a curious look.
“Where is my mind all of the time?” Nick asked, refusing to be embarrassed. “I was thinking how cute you looked in your little outfit.”
Maddie glanced down, making a face. “Sometimes I think you just say things to see if you can charm me.”
“Sometimes I do.”
“Was this one of those times?”
“No,” Nick said. “I was honestly thinking how much I love the way you look when you’re dressed down. I love it when you get dressed up, don’t get me wrong. But when you’re like this – when you’re obviously comfortable – I think that might be when I love you best.”
“Wow,” Maddie said. “I should get attacked by a … raccoon … every day if this is the way you’re going to treat me.” She was going for levity, but her words caused Nick to sober. “I shouldn’t have said that. I’m such an idiot.”
“It’s okay, Mad,” Nick said, looking over his shoulder to make sure no one was within hearing distance. The rest of their party was still sitting on the patio, and while Nick and Maddie were a point of interest, no one could hear what they were talking about above the rush of the river. “You just scared me. Olivia only comes to me when you’re in real trouble.”
“Do you know what’s funny? She’s come to you three different times now. I think that’s a commentary on me and the fact that I just can’t quite seem to stay out of trouble.”
“I don’t think that’s funny,” Nick said. “I just got you. I’m not ready to lose you.”
“I promise you won’t lose me.”
“We both know you can’t make that promise,” Nick said. “You can promise not to leave me – which is one promise I’m holding you to forever – and you can promise me that you’ll be careful. You can’t promise that someone … or something, for that matter … won’t try to take you from me.”
“Actually, I can promise you that you won’t lose me,” Maddie sad. “Mom told me that some things are destiny, including our happily ever after. I believe with my whole heart that we’ll get it.”
“I think we’ve already gotten it, Mad,” Nick said, kissing the tip of her nose.
“Not until I get a turtle.”
Nick sighed. “You’re a demanding turtle wrangler,” he said. “Let’s find one. I’m afraid that if I don’t catch one your male fan club on the patio is going to get bored and try to charm you by showing me up.”
“Oh, no one could ever show you up,” Maddie said.
“That won’t stop them from trying.”
“Well, in that case … .” She held out her hand expectantly. Nick knew what was cupped in her palm and he took it wordlessly, rubbing his fingers over the smooth surface of the Petoskey stone. This was a little ritual of hers, and it was one he never grew tired of. Maddie pressed her lips to his softly. “For luck.”
“OKAY,
does anyone else think those two act like they’ve stepped off the pages of a bodice ripper and only agreed to join the mortals for a weekend because they were bored?” Lauren asked, smiling as she watched Nick and Maddie splash around in the water.
“They’re definitely living in a fantasy world I’ve never been to,” Brian said. “They’re so happy.”
“I love them together,” Christy said, grabbing a bottle of water from the drink cart and settling on one of the lounge chairs. “They give me hope.”
“That you’ll be jealous of them forever?” Aaron teased.
“That there’s someone out there for everyone,” Christy said. “Look how long they pined for each other. Their happiness is proof that neither one of them was ever going to be content with someone else.
“I’ve always believed there’s one person out there for everyone,” she continued. “I can feel you guys rolling your eyes over there … stop it. Those two prove I was right.”
“Well, I think it’s definitely true for them,” Brian said. “Their hearts joined a long time ago. No one else ever had a shot.”
“Then maybe Nick shouldn’t have been dating around and crushing women while he was waiting for Maddie to come back to him,” Marla suggested.
“I thought you were going to let this go,” Aaron said.
“Why should I let it go? Nick crushed one of my very best friends in the world.” Marla patted Cassidy’s hand. “This is just torture for the poor girl.”
“Then why did you bring her?” Max asked.
“Excuse me? I thought she deserved a fun weekend.”
“That’s not why you brought her,” Lauren said, shooting a sympathetic look in Cassidy’s direction. The woman was fixated on Maddie and Nick, and with each shared touch and giggle, Lauren could see the misery weighing Cassidy down. “You brought her to upset Maddie.”
“I did not,” Marla protested.
Lauren ignored Marla and focused on Cassidy. “Listen, I don’t know you very well, Cassidy, but I think you’re selling yourself short,” she said. “You seem like a nice woman caught in a bad situation. I get that you thought you had a future with Nick, but I also think you realize that he didn’t feel the same way about you.”
“You were at a disadvantage,” Christy said. “You had only been in town a few years when you and Nick started dating. You’d heard about his six-month cycle, and you’d even heard about Maddie, but without ever being able to see them together you never realized just how attached to one another they were.”
“See, we all went to school together,” Lauren said. “When we were in elementary school, everyone thought Maddie and Nick were weird because that was when boys and girls weren’t supposed to like each other. Those two were always together, though.
“Then, when we hit middle school, Maddie went through an awkward phase,” she continued. “We all did, but Maddie’s was kind of harsh.”
“She looked like a walking pimple,” Marla said, smirking.
“You should talk, pit stain,” Lauren said. “Your hair was always greasy, you were flat as a board, and you didn’t need a bra until right before you graduated. You started stuffing in seventh grade, but everyone knew because they could see the lumps from the tissue paper.”
“You shut up,” Marla ordered.
“No, you shut up,” Lauren shot back.
“Yes, Marla, please shut up,” Aaron said. “Lauren and Christy are trying to help Cassidy. I know that messes with your master plan, but shut up and let them try to help.”
Marla wrinkled her nose, crossing her arms over her chest as she glared at Aaron with unveiled contempt. “I don’t think I like the way you’re talking to me.”
“Then leave,” Aaron suggested.
“By the time high school hit, Maddie and Nick were … set,” Lauren said. “We all knew there was something different about their relationship. The funny thing is, none of us ever doubted they would end up together.”
“Speak for yourself,” Brian said. “I had big dreams of stealing her away from Nick.”
“You never had a chance with me in the game,” Max said.
“Oh, please, none of you had a chance with Nick in the game,” Christy said. “As far as anyone was concerned, those two were the only ones on their particular team.”
“If all of that is true, why didn’t they get together as teenagers?” Cassidy asked. “Why did Maddie run away from Nick and abandon him? Marla says she only came back because she couldn’t hack it in the real world. She ran back home to what was safe. What’s to stop her from taking off again?”
“Marla is filling your head with crap,” Christy said, fighting to tamp down her irritation. “What Marla isn’t telling you is that she had a huge crush on Nick in high school.”
“What?” Cassidy was surprised … and puzzled. Marla had never mentioned anything of the sort.
“That’s not true,” Marla said hurriedly.
“It is true,” Lauren said. “She was infatuated with Nick in high school. If she’s telling you otherwise, she’s lying.”
“I don’t understand,” Cassidy said, legitimately confused.
“Marla cozied up to you after you started dating Nick,” Christy said. “You should know that after Maddie left town Marla tried every trick in the book to get him to date her. He refused. He was never interested in her.”
“You shut your filthy mouth,” Marla snapped.
“Nick was the ultimate prize for Marla,” Lauren said. “He was just a prize she could never lay claim to. It made her bitter. I’m guessing she became friends with you just so she could have a reason to be close to Nick.”
“Never think, not even for a second, that Marla wouldn’t have tried to steal Nick from you if the opportunity arose,” Christy said.
Cassidy swiveled, fixing Marla with a hard look. “Is that true? Did you just befriend me because I was dating Nick?”
“Don’t listen to them,” Marla said. “They’ve always been jealous of me.”
“What reason would we have to lie?” Christy asked, opting for logic. “Other than being happy for Maddie and Nick, we don’t have a dog in this fight. Have you ever asked yourself why Marla does?”
Cassidy rubbed the back of her neck as she chewed on her lip. Christy was convinced at least some of the wisdom they’d been imparting on her was starting to sink in. From the look on Marla’s face, she was worrying about the same thing.
“They’re messing with your mind,” Marla hissed.
“Shut up, Marla,” Max said. “Everyone is sick of hearing you talk. Give Cassidy a chance to think for herself. I know that’s not what you want because you’ve been thinking for her, but leave her alone for a minute. Good grief, you’re just such a … pain in the ass.”
“I can’t believe I slept with you,” Marla said, her eyes narrow slits.
“Me either,” Max said. “It would’ve been so much better if you could’ve just shut your mouth when we were done.”
Cassidy turned back out to the river, watching as Maddie handed Nick something.
“What is she giving him?” Lauren asked. “It looks like a rock.”
“It’s a Petoskey stone,” Christy said. “He catches turtles for her and she gives him Petoskey stones for luck. They’ve been doing it since they were kids.”
“What does he do with the stones?” Aaron asked.
“He keeps them,” Cassidy said, deflating as a memory washed over her. “He has a whole box of them in his house. I found them when we were dating. He only ever let me go over there a few times, and I was going through his stuff one day because I was curious, and I found them. I thought he collected them for himself, but when I gave him one he thanked me for it and left it on his back deck. He didn’t even look at it again.”
“Oh,” Christy said, pity for Cassidy welling in her chest. “I’m sure that … .”
“Don’t,” Cassidy said, things finally slipping into place for her. “He kept the stones because they were all he had of her. They were a tie to her. He never wanted a tie to me. I know that. It’s just … .”
“It hurts,” Christy supplied. “I get that.”
“I loved him,” Cassidy said. “I thought we were in love. I thought we were building a future. It turns out, though, that she was the only future he ever wanted.”
“It’s better that you know now,” Lauren said. “Nothing was ever going to keep Nick and Maddie apart. Not in the grand scheme of things, at least. Let’s say you did manage to hold onto him longer than the original six months … he still wasn’t ever going to love you like you deserve.”
“I know,” Cassidy said, fighting off tears as Maddie squealed and Nick twirled her around while she watched the interplay with a growing sense of dread and disgust – both of which were aimed inward. “I have to let this go.”
“You do,” Christy agreed. “The sooner you let this go, the sooner you’ll realize that you’re free to find someone of your own to love.”
“It will never be Nick Winters, though,” Cassidy said.
“No.”
“You don’t know that,” Marla said. “You … .”
“Shut up, Marla.” Everyone said the words at the same time, including Cassidy, and Marla was taken aback. “What the … ?”
“I’ll pay you a thousand dollars if you’re quiet for an hour,” Aaron offered. “I’ll up it to five grand if you keep your mouth shut the entire evening.”
Christy giggled. “I would take it if I were you. That’s the best offer you’re going to get.”