5. Chapter Five
Chapter Five
Maddy bent down to clean up a chunk of pancake soaked in maple syrup Dylan had dropped on the kitchen floor. She knew kids were messy, but Dylan wore almost as much food as she ate.
With a damp paper towel, she wiped her daughter’s face and hands. “How did you get so much syrup on your hands when you used a fork?”
Dylan twisted in her seat, making the task more difficult. “I don’t know, Mommy.”
Her brown hair, lightened by the sun, was a tangled mess even though Maddy had brushed it earlier that morning. And sure enough, Dylan got syrup in her hair, too.
“Can I get down, Mommy? You promised I could watch Paw Patrol before we left.”
Maddy kissed the top of her daughter’s head and pulled the chair away so she could scoot off the booster seat. “One episode.”
“Hooray!” Dylan yelled, and took off, the puppy trotting after her.
Maddy used the back of her hand to push her own hair out of her face. Some days she started the day more exhausted than when she went to bed. And she had a full day today, beginning with swim lessons.
With Tyler.
She flushed, recalling what they’d done last night…what she’d done to him…her best friend’s brother. Ty, with his short dirty-blond hair and bare chest in the bay. He’d flirted with her and challenged her to join him in the water. Tempted her to find out whether he was bare-assed naked, she’d accepted his challenge, stripping down to her underwear.
And that would have been okay, but to touch him…to allow him to touch her and make her feel things she hadn’t felt in so long…was more erotic than she could have imagined.
It’d been spontaneous and wrong. Ty was a forever guy, and Maddy was on borrowed time in Pelican Bay. After her year was up, she and Dylan would return to L.A.
For what?
A question she’d asked herself many times since returning. What did she have in L.A. that was so special? Once, she’d have been able to name ten things that kept her on the West Coast, but now…the main thing keeping her there was her mom, her music, and her friends.
But did it have to be that way? Planes flew to both coasts. Could they find a middle ground?
And what about Broadway Betty’s?
Being back in the space had been amazing and triggered Maddy’s memories of a wonderful time in her childhood. She wanted Dylan to have those kinds of special memories along with friends to share it with.
To get that in L.A., Maddy would likely have to enroll Dylan in private kindergarten, but she may have missed that timeframe. And honestly, she wasn’t sure that was the best option .
If she bought and reopened Broadway Betty’s, Maddy would have more ties to her hometown, making it easier to justify staying, but adding to complications with work. Especially when it was time to record a new album and tour.
But she enjoyed living in Pelican Bay. She was busy working with the Mark Erickson Foundation on publicity for the town, helping her friends with minor projects, writing music, and caring for her daughter. Maddy liked the pace, challenges, variety of the work, and being around her friends, who were like her family.
She pressed her fingers to her temples, trying to ward off the headache that had started.
“Morning, Mad,” Emma said as she entered the kitchen, dressed in a short blue sundress.
“Morning. Coffee’s still hot.”
Emma headed right to the pot for what was most likely her second cup. “You were up early this morning. Dylan have a nightmare?”
“Gabe called me,” Maddy said.
“At what time?”
“Four.”
“What the hell? Has he forgotten about the three-hour time difference?”
Gabe Pascal was her manager. He coordinated with the producers at Pacific Records on the details of recording her albums, served as a liaison with her booking agent, who booked gigs and public appearances, and did pretty much anything else related to her singing career.
“He’s a night owl and not considerate of my personal life,” Maddy said.
“Maybe it’s time to find someone who is.”
Maddy had thought that more than once, but Gabe had been with her from the start of her career and looked out for her best interests. He’d been understanding when she got pregnant and after Reece’s death. The thought of starting over with someone who didn’t know her was not appealing, especially as she contemplated more changes that could affect her career.
Better to deal with the late night and early morning calls.
“There are some finishing touches that need to be done on the album I recorded before coming back here,” Maddy said.
“What does that mean?” Emma asked.
“I have to record background vocals, and they’ll mix them together before creating the final product,” Maddy said.
“You need to go back to L.A. for that.”
Maddy nodded. “They want me to go back for a week, record, film a music video, plus other stuff.”
“When?”
“Week after next. After July Fourth.”
Conflicts with her family life had been a concern and something that until this time she’d been able to manage. In L.A., her mom lived with her and helped with Dylan, but now…
“Go,” Emma said.
“Huh?”
“Leave Dylan here with us and go. Take care of what you need to do and come back.”
“For a week?”
Emma put her arm around Maddy’s shoulder. “Jace, Ev, Ty, and I all know Dylan’s routine. We can handle it. I’m sure Connor and Abby will pitch in, too.”
“I don’t know, Em. That’s a lot to ask of all of you,” Maddy began.
“You’re not asking. I’m offering.”
While she appreciated her friend’s offer, could she do it? Pulling Dylan away when she was happy and settled with her friends at day camp didn’t seem in her best interest. Plus, she would be bored in L.A. with nothing to do.
“You’ll be able to focus and get done what you need to do quicker without Dylan there,” Emma said, as if she could sense Maddy’s conflict.
“I know—it’s just I’ve never left her for more than a long weekend.”
“Then that will motivate you to return quickly.”
Maddy furrowed her brow. “But there’s a million things I’d need to do here first. There are preparations for the July Fourth celebration and Girls’ Weekend festival. Plus, I still haven’t decided what to do about Broadway Betty’s, and I promised Abby I’d help her upload pictures of new products to her website. And damn, Dylan has swim lessons today.”
“I thought you were going to take them, too.”
Maddy fought the urge to cringe. Facing Ty after last night would be difficult. She’d been able to avoid him when he came home last night, and he was out the door early this morning. While she couldn’t avoid him forever, a little more time to process what happened would be good.
“With everything I have to do, I’m not feeling up to it,” she said.
“I can take Dylan today, if that helps.”
“It would. Thanks.” Maddy sighed. “Sometimes it’s all so much.”
Emma put a hand over her friend’s. “I get it. You had this whole fabulous life in L.A., and I guilted you into spending a year here to help me.”
“You didn’t make me do anything I didn’t want to do.” Maddy wiped at her eyes. “Life in L.A. is different with a child.”
“It’s a far cry from Pelican Bay,” Emma said.
“It’s been a rough couple of years since the scandal with Reece’s death,” Maddy said .
“I remember what you went through with the press.”
Learning of Reece’s indiscretions hadn’t been a surprise to Maddy. They’d had many fights about him coming home in the early morning hours smelling of alcohol, high on who only knew what, and smelling of women’s perfume. While Maddy had dealt with early feedings and diapers, Reece was out on the town living it up with singers, actresses, and groupies.
“I appreciated you coming out back then to help with Dylan,” Maddy said.
“That’s what best friends do.” Emma said. “And if you need to return to L.A., whether it’s for a week or permanently, I’ll understand.”
“What about my promise to the foundation?”
“You are more important than the foundation. I want you to figure out what you want out of life and where you want to be.”
Maddy closed her eyes and fought back tears. “What if I don’t know?”
“Take the time to figure out what makes you happy. If that leads you back to L.A., then I’ll support you…we’ll all support you.”
“You’re the best friend ever.” Maddy threw her arms around Emma.
“I know,” Emma said. “That’s why I’m going to tell you that you have syrup on your chin.”
Maddy swung the oversized tote bag that held her laptop onto her shoulder, donned her large sunglasses, and walked up the ramp to the boardwalk. Although it was early—barely even nine—the boards were full of joggers and people of all ages riding bicycles and walking dogs .
The scents of eggs, waffles, donuts, and other breakfast delights filled the air, making it difficult for Maddy to remember she’d already had breakfast. Seagulls circled overhead, occasionally diving to pick at something dropped on the ground. The sun was warm, and the low humidity promised it would be another perfect beach day.
Maddy walked to the railing that separated the boardwalk from the beach and watched a family approach the hut to buy beach tags. The man paid while the woman adjusted the hat on the head of the child in the coach. The girl, only two by Maddy’s guess, held out her hand, and the mom pressed a kiss to her palm before handing her a plastic book—the kind that Maddy used to give Dylan to play with in the bath.
Having finished his purchase, the man circled his arms around the woman’s waist, kissing her neck. The woman smiled and covered his hands with her own. Single file, they walked down the ramp, the woman leading and pulling the stroller backward while the man pulled a cart with chairs, beach umbrella, and other beach paraphernalia.
A normal day at the beach. Only to Maddy, nothing about the scene she just witnessed was normal. Between her mom’s fear of water and her dad’s job, they’d never gone to the beach as a family. Her dad died when she was four. As a fisherman, Benjamin Kinkaid would take his boat out early in the morning to catch fish he would sell to area restaurants and stores. It was an old and noble profession. It wasn’t a high-paying job, but happiness didn’t require money.
While she didn’t have many memories of her dad, one in particular stood out. Her mom sang while her dad strummed a tune on his guitar—a guitar Maddy still used and was among her most cherished treasures. They were happy and, while not wealthy, had never lacked for food, clothing, or shelter. Until an asthma attack on the sea—on a day her dad had forgotten his inhaler—cost him his life .
Maddy blinked away the memory, which could easily bring down her mood. She squinted, and in the distance could see the man and woman had set up the beach umbrella and were holding hands with the toddler, who was straining to get to the water to play.
That.
Maddy wanted to be able to hold Dylan’s hand and walk her to the water without feeling as though she were going to hyperventilate. Would she ever be able to?
And like her friends had often told her, didn’t she owe it to both herself and Dylan to try?
The call of a nearby seagull startled her. Pushing down her thoughts and daydreams, Maddy walked to Abby’s shop.
Soap Sisters bath and body product shop had only been open a couple of weeks, but it was already a tremendous success. Every time Maddy was in the store, customers filled the space, browsing through the wide variety of products and placing them in the small shopping baskets provided. She had arrived before the store opened so she could take pictures of new products and displays. Today, she was also going to show Abby and her older sister, Natalie, how to upload the pictures to their website.
She knocked and waited a minute before Abby unlocked the door.
“Morning,” she said. “Thanks for coming by. I know you have a lot on your plate.”
“I’m glad to help,” Maddy said.
Inside, cool temperatures and a welcoming décor greeted her. White shelving held an assortment of products in the trademark blue-gray packaging. The walls were painted a similar shade, giving a sense of cool and clean . The focal point of the room was the mermaid statue Maddy had found. She’d been on a website looking for ideas for Dylan’s birthday party and come across it. No sooner had she texted the link to Abby than her friend had called squealing that it was perfect.
With the help of Connor and Jason, they had built a rock platform, complete with running water. The mermaid sat perched on the rocks, with various soaps in dishes all along the rocks and even in her hands. It drew you in as soon as you walked in and prompted lots of conversation among the customers and staff.
The mermaid and water theme continued throughout the store. Maddy had even seen a mermaid perched on a surfboard in the window display. A nod to Abby’s fiancé, Connor, who loved to surf.
“I promise we’ll stop leaning on you for website support unless we screw something up,” Abby said.
“It’s no problem. Is Natalie here?”
Abby frowned and shook her head. “She had to bring Liam to community service and meet with her lawyer. This whole mess with the vandalism is a nightmare for her.”
A few days before the store’s grand opening, Natalie’s fourteen-year-old son had been caught trespassing on the site of the future Pelican Bay Museum. It turned out that Liam and his friends had been responsible for several vandalism incidents throughout town.
“I’m sure it’s a difficult time for her. I can’t imagine what she must be going through.”
“She’s beyond frustrated with everything. Mom and I are doing our best to support her. Livvie, too, but it’s hard with her living in Philly. My baby sister was little more than a child herself when Liam was born.”
“Let me know if I can help with anything,” Maddy said.
“Fixing up our website and establishing our newsletter has already been a tremendous help. ”
“The offer stands, whatever you need.” Maddy looked at the displays. “Where are the items you want photographed?”
Abby led her to a baker’s rack in the front of the store. “Right here. We added a sign to show which products are new. I also added a few new candles and am experimenting with a line for men.”
Maddy liked that the display was simple and fresh. Little touches like glass soap dishes and netting with shells attached added character and tied in nicely with the overall theme of the store.
“I like,” she said after smelling each of the new scents. “You can use your phone to take the pictures. It will make it easier to upload to the website.”
Maddy helped position Abby to capture a good angle of each product along with a picture of the collection together.
“You can include a picture of all the new items in your newsletter,” she said. “It will hopefully draw people either into the store or ramp up your online sales.”
After Abby snapped several photos, they went to the back room, which served as a workroom, storeroom, and office. The kitchen and work tables made it convenient for Abby to make all the products. There was also an area dedicated to packing online sales, which Maddy predicted would grow, especially in the offseason.
“Natalie and I started the next newsletter. It’s easy to copy and update, since you set up the first one for us,” Abby said.
“I’m glad. The program is super easy,” Maddy agreed.
“How did you learn to do all this stuff and record your albums?”
“The first few years in L.A. were hard. Mom and I were sharing a studio apartment that could probably fit inside the front room of your store. Every penny we earned went to pay rent and buy food. There was nothing extra to pay someone to build me a website.”
“That must have been tough. ”
Maddy thought back. To an outsider it may seem that way, but she and her mom were used to being on a budget. As long as they had each other, that was all that mattered.
“I enjoyed tinkering with tech and saved to buy a reconditioned laptop. I learned through friends who were also trying to break into the music business that it was never too early to build an online presence, even though I was an unknown artist. They guided me to the tools, and I figured out the rest.”
“I know what you mean by living on a budget,” Abby said. “When my dad died, my mom had to work full time while raising three girls under the age of six. Things were definitely tight, but we dealt. Made us appreciate special things, unlike expecting them, like many kids do today.”
“Exactly,” Maddy said. “Even though I have money now, I don’t indulge Dylan in every toy she wants. If I did, I’d have enough to open a toy store.”
Abby laughed. “She’s a sweet girl. You’re so good with her.”
“Thanks. She has her moments when she’s unbearable, but all kids do.”
“Does she ever ask about her dad?”
“Every so often. I’ve told her he loved her and is in heaven, but she doesn’t get what that means.”
“Yeah, it’s a hard concept. I remember not understanding why my dad wasn’t coming home from work. As the youngest, Livvie was only six months old when Dad died and never even knew him. At least I have some memories.”
“Dylan was only two when Reece died, so she doesn’t have any memories of him, similar to Livvie. I framed a photo of the two of them that’s in her bedroom. I imagine she’ll ask more questions when she starts school. The challenge will be explaining the way he died. How do you tell a four-year-old that her dad overdosed while partying with another woman in a hotel room?”
Abby considered. “I think you keep it simple at first until she’s older and can understand more. And who knows, by then you could remarry and she may not ask for more details.”
Remarry?
Maddy immediately thought of Ty. He was the marrying type, for sure. He had so much to offer…so why wasn’t he married with a couple kids of his own?
But married to her ?
It wasn’t possible…and yet…
Maddy thought back to last night and the way he held her gaze while they made each other come. It was unbelievable…yet impossible.
“Maddy? You okay?” Abby asked.
Maddy blinked. “Sorry…yes, I’m good.”
“You’re flushed. You were thinking about something…or someone,” Abby pressed. “Is it Tyler?”
Maddy felt her cheeks flush more. “Why would you think that?”
Abby flashed her a knowing look. “I have eyes, Maddy. I see how you look at him.”
Keeping her feelings and her fears bottled up was killing her. She needed to talk to someone.
She blew out a pent-up breath. “Okay, yes. Something happened with Ty.”
Abby pulled out two stools and plopped down. “Tell all.”
Maddy joined her. “Last night, I went for a walk after Dylan’s bedtime. I ended up at the marina by Ty’s new place.”
“Connor’s been talking about the renovations,” Abby said.
“I stopped by the beach area and heard splashing in the water.” Maddy licked her lips. “Ty was there. He asked me to join him…wa nted to start my swim lessons. I didn’t have a bathing suit, and he said he didn’t either.”
“Oh my God. Did you go skinny-dipping?”
Maddy shook her head. “No, but since we were alone, I stripped to my bra and underwear and joined him. He flirted with me.”
“Did you have sex?”
“No. We touched and—” Maddy swallowed. “We both came.”
Abby bounced in her seat. “This is so great.”
“No, it’s not. I sort of freaked out about what happened and took off. I’ve been ignoring his phone calls and texts.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m afraid.”
“Of what?”
“Of being hurt…hurting him. Then there’s Dylan.”
“I’ve seen Ty with Dylan. He’s wonderful. This is about how you feel.”
Abby was right, and Maddy knew it.
“There’s so much more at stake if we start something and it doesn’t work.”
“Because of your friendship with Emma.”
“And because he’s part of our group. If it doesn’t work out, then what?”
Abby considered. “I understand your hesitation, but ignoring what happened isn’t going to work, either. You need to talk to him.”
Maddy knew her friend was right.
“I was worried about starting something again with Connor,” Abby confessed. “We had so much history together. I didn’t think I could survive another breakup.”
“And now you’re engaged. What made you take a chance? ”
Abby sighed. “Because ignoring Connor and how I felt was becoming a larger problem. And I still loved him. Always have…always will.”
It all came down to love.
Maddy and Ty didn’t have the history that Abby and Connor had, but there had always been a pull…one Maddy hadn’t been brave enough to pursue as a teen.
Could Maddy risk her life with Dylan, her friendships, her career…her heart to take a chance on what could be?
The next few days flew by for Ty. Owning three Jersey Boy retail stores kept him busy hopping from store to store. Plus, there’d been numerous meetings about starting the renovation on his place at the marina, which he decided to call Jersey Boy Paddle Company.
His schedule kept him out of the house most of the day and into the evening. And when he arrived home, Maddy was either busy with Dylan or hiding out in her room. She’d even passed on late night cocktails on the patio, a tradition she had started since moving in with them. Clearly, she was avoiding him. He could have pressed her to talk about what happened between them in the bay, but the timing never seemed right.
And by not facing it, there was still the possibility they could figure it out.
At least, that was what he told himself at first.
In the meantime, Ty threw himself into work and training for the triathlon. But the avoidance was eating away at him. How could what happened between them not matter to Maddy? Perhaps she regretted it, and if that was the case, Ty would be disappointed, but at least he would know where things stood .
He blinked away his thoughts when the director of Beach House Flippers called for quiet on set. Today was the first day of filming, and Ty stood to the side while Jason and Connor filmed the opening scene.
The premise of the show was to take a house or property by the beach or in a beach town and renovate it. But they didn’t find just any old house. The houses they sought were usually historic or held significant importance to the community.
Which made Pelican Bay a prime spot to continue their next season.
According to Connor, this season the producers wanted to add a twist by having a competition between both Maguire brothers. They each would take on a renovation project and manage them independently. By the end, they’d invite celebrity judges and prominent people from the town to choose the winner.
Jason’s project started last week and was to renovate the mini-golf place ten or so blocks south. It had once been a hot spot for teens and families, with a frozen custard stand and tables for kids to hang out. On the first day of spring, the past owner, Mr. Riley, would host Putt and Cone Day, where he let kids play a free game followed by a free ice cream cone. Every year on that day, kids would flock there as soon as school let out. By the end of the day, most of the residents would have stopped by at some point.
Since returning to town, the show focused on the history of Pelican Bay and all the projects aimed at restoring the small-town charm. Anyone could renovate any house, but Jason and Connor were finding buildings that told a story about either a prominent citizen or were an important part of Pelican Bay history. The stories showcased the heart of the town, and so far, their efforts on the boardwalk and amusement pier were increasing visitors .
The brothers did their intro, and then Ty was introduced and asked to provide the backstory of the original building, and his vision of what he wanted Connor to create. They broke and Jason was asked to step off set so Connor could show Ty the design. His friend went through the images they’d discussed and Ty asked a few questions he already knew the answers to, but did it for the camera.
Then the cameras were off, and they joined Jason by his SUV.
“I’m outta here,” he said. “I don’t know what you’ve cooked up, but it’s going to be great when I beat my brother’s ass.”
Connor laughed. “No way, bro. My design is going to kick your ass.”
Ty didn’t care which brother won, but enjoyed watching the two of them banter back and forth.
“I’ll catch you both later at the foundation meeting,” Jason said. “Don’t be late or we’ll be there all night.”
It was known among all the friends that Emma was a control freak and a stickler for punctuality. They liked to bust her chops about it, and she took it in stride.
“Yeah, yeah. We know the drill,” Connor said.
They had learned the hard way how long Emma could drag out a meeting.
They all laughed and fist-bumped before Jason drove off.
Connor held up an extra pair of work gloves. “You want to help with the demo? It’s my favorite part.”
“Hell yeah,” Ty said.
They worked all morning, taking a break at midday for lunch. On filming days, the network served lunch and made available a variety of snacks and beverages throughout the day for the workers and film crew. It was a nice thing to do, and it gave business to the area eateries. Today’s lunch was sandwiches from Harrison’s Market .
Ty grabbed a ham-and-cheese sandwich, chips, and a drink and tracked down Connor. “You free to sit and eat?”
“Give me five and I will be.”
“I’ll be on the deck,” Ty said.
The deck stood next to the pier with walkways that led to the boat slips. It was a large space, and Ty considered how best to use it.
After a few minutes, Connor joined him. They sat with their legs dangling over the side of the deck and facing the bay.
“Good progress so far,” Ty said.
“Yeah, we have an aggressive schedule, but hopefully we’ll have most of the demo done tomorrow or the next day,” Connor said.
“Great,” Ty said with a little less enthusiasm than he intended.
“Everything all right? You seem off,” Connor said.
An understatement, for sure. Ty was borderline neurotic over worrying about how to deal with his feelings for Maddy. Maybe it was time to talk to someone who could give him objective advice.
“I’ve been distracted,” he began.
“Is it about the reno, because if so, I’ve got it covered,” Connor said.
Ty shook his head. “No, I trust you know what you’re doing with that. It’s something else.”
Connor studied his friend. “Ah, I got you. Girl troubles, then? Well, you’ve come to the right person. What’s up?”
“It’s about Maddy,” Ty said, and just speaking the words out loud gave him some relief.
“Did something happen?”
“Actually, two things did,” Ty said.
“Let’s hear them and see how I can help.”
“You remember the night a few weeks ago when we went to Toninos and ordered rounds of shots for the ladies?” Ty asked .
Connor sighed. “Do I ever. That was the night I got back together with Abby. It was a memorable night.”
“You had already left with Abby, and Jenna and Evan took off, as did Natalie and Ethan, and Jason and Emma. Maddy and I were the last two there. I didn’t want to drive home because I’d had a few beers, so we walked. At the house, we hung out on the back patio. She was pretty drunk and stumbled while walking, so I picked her up and set her on the chaise lounge. Then we kissed.”
“Who initiated the kiss?”
Tyler had cupped her face and was about to pull back when something passed between them as their eyes met.
“We both did.”
“That’s great, man. What’s the problem?”
“She doesn’t remember it happening.”
Once Ty had held her, he wasn’t letting her go. He’d put everything he felt into that kiss, and she’d been as into it as he was. She had shifted so he could lie next to her, and the kiss turned wild, with both their hands exploring.
“What happened after you kissed?” Connor asked.
“I slowed things down because if I didn’t, we would have had sex right there…”
“Which would have been a problem why?”
“I didn’t want our first time together to be when she was wasted. She didn’t remember a kiss. It would have been worse if she didn’t remember us having sex.”
“Good point.”
“I was about to suggest we go out on a date and…”
“And?”
“Next thing I knew, she fell asleep.”
Connor snorted. “Passed out, you mean.”
“Yeah. ”
“What did you do?”
“I carried her upstairs to her bedroom and took a cold shower.”
Not even that helped, and he’d ended up jerking off and spending a restless night thinking about what he would say to her the next morning.
“The next day she was hungover and didn’t say or act like she remembered anything.”
“I assume you didn’t say anything to her?”
Ty shook his head.
“That sucks, man.”
“But then there’s what happened the other night,” Ty continued.
“The other night?”
“The night you helped me swim here in the bay. After you left, I stayed. Maddy showed up, and I convinced her to join me in the water so we could start her swim lessons.”
“Did she?”
“She stripped down to her bra and panties and waded in,” Ty said.
Watching her slip out of her shorts and tank top was an erotic striptease. She wore the teeniest of bikini panties that showcased her petite curves, and a bra that cupped her large breasts. Ty didn’t even pretend not to watch her awkwardly make her way into the water. And knowing there wasn’t a way he’d be able to disguise his arousal if she got close enough to him, he’d flirted with her.
And she had bitten…hook, line, and sinker.
“This is better than those romance novels Abby likes to read,” Connor said. “Go on.”
“I may have suggested that I was skinny-dipping…”
“Hell, man. Enough with the G version. Did you or did you not have sex in the bay?”
Leave it to Connor to be direct and want all the details.
“We didn’t have sex. ”
“She get you off?”
Ty winced at the crassness, but nodded.
“And you did the same for her?”
“Yes, dammit. We both came. Okay?” Ty grabbed the paper wrapping of the sandwich he couldn’t finish and crumpled it into a ball.
“What’s wrong? This is great news,” Connor said.
“That’s what I thought. You don’t do that and not have it mean something.”
But rather than letting the intimacy of what they shared bring them together, Maddy had bolted, like a shark was after her.
“What happened next?” Connor pressed.
“She took off. Ran out of the water and has been ignoring me ever since. Won’t return my texts and has been having Emma bring Dylan to swim lessons.”
“Huh…Maybe she’s embarrassed to have let herself go like that in a public place? She is a celebrity. Maybe she’s worried someone saw?” Connor said. “Lord knows I know what that’s like.”
Over a year ago, Connor had had sex with a coworker, not realizing she recorded their tryst. He had no idea until it was posted all over social media.
“Maybe. What do I do now?” Ty asked. “I’m in love with her. I can’t tell her that or she’ll freak, but I don’t want things to end when they haven’t even gotten started.”
“You need to confront her. Make her remember the kiss—make her know you want more than a quick jerk in the bay.”
Ty shook his head. “You really have a way with words, man.”
“You get my point.”
Ty did. The challenge was finding Maddy alone. At the house, someone was always around—a kid, a dog, his sister, his friend.
But if Ty didn’t do something, he would always wonder if there could be more between them .
Now to find the right time and place.