Chapter Six
Maddox
The problem with kissing Ivy Callahan is that I can't stop thinking about it. Three days after the wedding, and I still feel her fingers in my hair, still taste her lip gloss, still hear that soft sound she made when I pulled her closer.
My phone buzzes for the tenth time today. Liam's name flashes on the screen.
We need to talk about what happened.
I silence the phone, tossing it in my locker. That's the other problem. Because somewhere between pretending to date Ivy and actually kissing her, I managed to forget one very important detail. She's my best friend's sister. The same best friend who trusted me to keep this fake dating thing professional.
"Pulling another double?" Jones asks as I check the equipment for the third time today.
"Someone has to."
"Right." He leans against the truck. "And this has nothing to do with avoiding a certain someone from Mountain Laurel Lodge?"
I focus on inspecting a connection I know is fine. "I'm not avoiding anyone."
"So you just happened to switch shifts the day Ivy brought those cinnamon rolls by?"
My hands still on the equipment. "She was here?"
"Yesterday morning. Brought coffee too. That fancy hazelnut thing you pretend not to like." He watches my reaction carefully. "Seemed surprised you weren't around."
"I had things to do."
"Must be some important things." He pushes off the truck. "She texted to check on you. Twice."
I know. I've read both messages at least twenty times.
Hey stranger. Miss your face at the Coffee Loft.
And then, hours later: Everything okay? You're not usually this quiet.
I haven't responded to either. Because what am I supposed to say? Sorry I kissed you like my life depended on it and then disappeared? Sorry I can't stop thinking about doing it again? Sorry I'm pretty sure I'm in love with you and have been since we were teenagers?
"You're an idiot," Jones says, breaking into my thoughts.
"Didn't ask for your opinion."
"No, but you're getting it anyway." He crosses his arms. "She likes you. That’s obvious to anyone watching you two together. And you're hiding at the station because what? You're scared?"
"I'm not?—"
The alarm cuts me off, and for once I'm grateful for the interruption. We gear up quickly, heading out to what turns out to be a minor kitchen fire. By the time we finish, it's nearly evening, and the town square is filling up for the summer concert series.
Which is exactly where Ivy finds me.
"So you are alive." Her voice carries across the parking lot where I'm stowing gear in the truck. "I was starting to wonder."
I turn slowly, trying to ignore how good she looks in her simple sundress and boots. "Been busy."
"Busy or hiding?" She steps closer, arms crossed. The same way she used to stand when we were kids and she caught me and Liam planning something without her. "Because it feels a lot like hiding."
"Ivy—"
"You kissed me." The words hang in the air between us. "And now you're acting like it never happened."
"It was part of the plan," I lie, the words tasting like ash. "Making it look real for everyone at the wedding."
She goes completely still. For a moment, I see the hurt flash across her face before she masks it. "Got it."
"Ivy, wait?—"
"No, I get it." Her voice is too calm. "It was for show. Message received."
She turns to walk away, and everything in me screams to stop her. To tell her the truth. To admit that kissing her felt like coming home, that I've wanted her for so long I don't remember what it's like not to want her.
Instead, I watch her go.
Because that's what I do, isn't it? I watch Ivy Callahan walk away, telling myself it's for the best. Telling myself that keeping my distance protects everyone. Her, Liam, our families, our history.
"There you are."
I look up to find Liam leaning against the truck, casual as ever. Like he hasn't been trying to reach me all day. Like his sister didn't just walk away from me looking like I'd slapped her.
"Kind of busy here," I manage.
"Yeah, Jones mentioned you've been 'busy' a lot lately." He uses air quotes, watching me carefully. "So, it's over now?"
The question hangs between us. I should say yes immediately. Should agree that the fake dating charade served its purpose and now we can all move on.
Instead, I hesitate too long.
"Yeah," I finally mutter, but the word feels like a lie. Tastes like one too.
Liam laughs lightly. "Figured. Always knew it was just for the wedding." He claps me on the shoulder, missing the way I flinch. "Thanks for being cool about the whole thing. I know Ivy can be..."
"Can be what?" The words come out sharper than intended.
He blinks, surprised by my tone. "Intense? You know how she gets when she commits to something."
Commits to something. Like helping me fool my family. Like dancing with me under the stars. Like kissing me back like she meant it.
"Look, I should?—"
"It's fine," Liam cuts me off. "We can all go back to normal now. Maybe grab a beer this weekend? Like old times?"
Old times. Before I knew what Ivy's laugh felt like against my lips. Before I held her in my arms and finally admitted to myself what I've known for years.
She was never a fake date.
The wedding might be over, but this feeling, this ache in my chest when I think about her, this need to be near her, this certainty that I just monumentally screwed up, that's not going anywhere.
"Mad?" Liam's voice breaks through my thoughts. "You good?"
"I'm such an idiot." I run a hand over my face, reality crashing down hard.
"What?"
"Nothing." I straighten up, unable to look at him. "Just realized I forgot something important."
"Yeah?" He's using that tone he gets when he thinks he's missing something obvious. "What's that?"
That I'm in love with your sister. That I probably have been since we were kids. That I just told her it meant nothing when it meant everything.
"Doesn't matter now." I close the equipment compartment with more force than necessary. "I screwed it up anyway."
"Mad—"
"I need to go." I grab my keys, suddenly unable to stand still. "Rain check on that beer?"
I don't wait for his answer, just head for my truck. Behind me, I hear him call something about checking the schedule, but I'm already gone.
Because for the first time in my life, I have no idea how to fix this. No protocol to follow, no training to fall back on. Just the sinking feeling that I let the best thing that's ever happened to me walk away because I was too scared to admit what it really meant.
And the worst part? The absolutely gut-wrenching part?
I'm pretty sure Ivy knew exactly what it meant. She was just waiting for me to be brave enough to admit it.
I slam my truck door, grip the steering wheel until my knuckles turn white. Somewhere in town, Ivy's probably telling herself this is exactly what she expected. That I'm just her brother's best friend who got carried away at a wedding.
That it meant nothing.
When really, it meant everything.
And I have no idea how to tell her that now.