Just Sister Stuff
Delaney
As Maddox and I stood on the classic wraparound porch surrounded by our luggage – one pristine black suitcase for him and two shabby yellow ones for me – my heart was hammering so loud, I swear, I could hear it.
Maddox held the potted hydrangea tucked against his side. It was the same one I'd lugged to Chicago months ago. It looked a little bedraggled, but at least it was alive.
Somehow, it seemed important to finish what I'd started. Or maybe I just didn't have the heart to leave it behind.
With his free hand, Maddox reached for mine and gave it a tender squeeze. "You okay?"
Funny, he'd asked the same thing on the plane. The script called for me to say I was fine. But I wasn't fine – which was why I'd asked him to give me a minute before knocking.
We were finally standing outside the place my sister called home – one she apparently shared with her fiancé, a man I had never met.
The lovely Victorian house, located just a few blocks up the hill from Main Street, looked like something straight out of a postcard. It was a cheerful shade of yellow with tall, elegant windows and a stunning view of the sparkling blue water in the distance.
It should've been impossible to feel anything but peaceful on this porch.
A cool autumn breeze rustled the colorful leaves still clinging to the surrounding branches while sending a few crisp fallen ones skittering across the floorboards near our feet.
But no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't relax. My stomach twisted as I turned to look at the horse and buggy that had carried us here from the small airport.
The buggy was still parked in front of the house because Maddox had tipped the driver extra to wait until we were safely inside. Smart or not, it was a good reminder that a happy reunion wasn't guaranteed.
Even now, I couldn't imagine the expression I'd see on Tessa's face.
But when I looked back to the house, I no longer had to imagine, because the door swung open without us knocking at all.
And there was my sister, staring back at me.
She looked gorgeous as always. The time was almost nightfall, but her golden-blonde hair still caught the fading light as her vivid blue eyes widened in surprise.
In her corded cream sweater and dark jeans, she looked like a high-end model for fall fashion.
I could only imagine how I looked, considering I'd been traveling for most of the day. Sure, my own clothes weren't terribly different, but I didn't need a mirror to realize I looked nothing like that.
Both of us froze. Her lips parted, but she said nothing. Neither did I.
She wasn't exactly jumping for joy.
The silence between us held until she said in a stunned voice, "Delaney?" Her gaze drifted to my hand, the one joined with Maddox's, and she frowned. "What are you doing here?"
Terrific.
Before I could even think to reply, Maddox asked, "Where's Ryder?" His voice was cold and clipped, like he wasn't liking our reception any more than I was.
Just then, a tall blond stunner stepped into view. Dressed in jeans and a navy button-down, he was every bit as handsome as the countless photos I'd seen online, right down to his easy smile as he called out through the open door. "Maddox! You asshole. Why didn't you say your date was her?"
Before Maddox could respond, Ryder moved forward and held out his hand – not to Maddox, but to me. "So, you wanna shake? Or do I get a hug?"
With my free hand, I reached out and gave Ryder's a little shake – until he pulled into half a hug while the other half of me remained firmly attached to Maddox.
Into my ear Ryder said, "You know, we're gonna be related, right?"
From the open doorway, Tessa finally laughed. "Way to ruin the surprise."
Releasing me, Ryder turned back to Tessa. "Oh, please. She's not blind. What, you think she didn't notice the ring?"
Oddly enough, I hadn't. But there it was, on exactly the right finger, in all its glittering glory.
The ring was absolutely beautiful.
Even so, at the sight of it, I felt funny about being so far out of the loop. Still, I summoned up a smile. "Uh, yeah. Congratulations."
Ryder turned his attention to Maddox. "So, you gonna stand on the porch all night? Or do you wanna come in?"
Maddox didn't answer. Instead, he looked to me and asked, "So, what do you think?"
From the open doorway, Ryder snorted. "What, like you're gonna stay in a hotel? Good luck with that. Half of them are already closed." He looked to Tessa. "And besides, we're not letting you leave, right Tess?"
She smiled. "Right." But then her gaze drifted to me, and her smile stiffened. "I'm so happy to see you."
I knew that smile. She wasn't truly happy. She was something else. I just didn't know what.
But then, Tessa moved forward and pulled me into a tight hug – so tight, that Maddox had to let go, whether either of us wanted to or not.
Into my ear, Tessa whispered, "We need to talk."
I pulled back. "About what?"
"Nothing." She gave Maddox a cold look. "Just sister stuff, that's all." She wasn't even saying it to me. She was saying it to him.
Sure, I got the sentiment. I was hoping for some girl-time, too. But she didn't have to be so rude about it.
All my life, my sister had been obnoxiously polite, and to see her acting so funny around Maddox set my teeth on edge.
I gave her a pointed look. "Aren't you gonna say 'hi' to Maddox?"
"Of course." She stepped back. "Ryder did invite him, after all." She looked to Maddox with a tight smile. "So…welcome." Except she didn't look particularly welcoming, even as she stepped aside, making room for us to enter.
I gave the horse and buggy another glance, wondering if Maddox and I should make a break for it. But already, Ryder was grabbing my suitcases and hustling both of us inside.
We'd barely made it into the foyer when Tessa said, "You'll love the guest rooms." She gave Maddox a hard look. "I mean, you do want separate ones, right?"
Oh, for God's sake.
I gave her one heck of a glare. "Just what's your deal, anyway?"
She blinked. "What?"
"Why are you acting all mean to him?"
Next to me, Maddox said, "She's not. It's fine."
I whirled to face him. "She is, too. And it's not fine." And then, I turned back to Tessa. "Do you know who you're acting like? Mom, when somebody shows up in the wrong clothes."
Tessa's jaw dropped. "What?"
"You heard me," I said. "Like, there you are, acting technically polite while doing your best to make us feel unwelcome."
"Me?" she sputtered. "You didn't object when Ryder called Maddox an asshole, did you?"
Ryder laughed. "No. Because he is an asshole. He knows it. I know it. Call it a compliment." He looked to Maddox. "And thanks for the heads-up, by the way." Ryder looked back to me. "Do you know this asshole refused to tell me where you were?"
I wasn't following. "You mean…today?"
Ryder snorted. "No. Months ago."
As my thoughts stuttered, Tessa whirled to face her fiancé. "Hold up. Are you seriously telling me that Maddox Fucking McGuiness knew where my sister was this whole fucking time?"
I almost crapped my pants.
My sister never lost her cool, especially in front of strangers. And now, there she was, dropping two f-bombs in a single sentence within moments of us walking through the door.
As I watched in stunned disbelief, she pointed straight at Maddox. "Do you know how worried I was? And how worried Maisie was? Do you know how many times she cried on my porch swing? And me, too?"
Her voice rose as she glared daggers at my date. "So, what was it? You wanted to keep Delaney all to yourself? That's really fucking selfish. You do realize that, right?"
Whoa. Make that three f-bombs.
I wanted to say something, but I was too stunned to speak.
Next to her, Ryder said, "Babe. Come on."
She whirled to face him. "What?"
He smiled. "You don't have a porch swing."
She stared. "That's all you have to say?" She threw up her hands. "Obviously, I meant at the other house, Maisie's place, where I was staying until we moved here. And don't play dumb, because you've only sat on that porch swing a million times."
He leaned close to her and lowered his voice. "You know you're cute when you're angry, right?"
Her mouth opened and closed several times before she whirled back to me. "And you." She looked fit to be tied. "What the hell are you doing with him?"