Page 34 of If the Trap Fits

She reached across the table and covered my hand with hers. “I’ve always tried to get you to move back to Rosewood, but if being with Maddix means asking him to leave with you, that is fine. Your happiness is the most important thing.”

I curled my hand into a fist. “This isn’t why I came here. This is supposed to be just a visit.”

“But things can change, can’t they? That boy loves you, even after all these years.”

I snapped my head up and pulled my hand out from under hers. “What do you mean by that?”

She sighed. “You don’t have to pretend. I know all about you and Maddix. About the breakup and the bullying.”

“How did you know?” Had I made a slip back then?

“Maddix told me.”

Whoa. It was a lucky thing I was sitting down. “He told you?”

“Yes.”

“When? Since I’ve been back?”

“When you left, his father fell ill. Prostate cancer. For years Maddix was the one taking care of him. They made peace between them during that time. They say nothing humbles you quite like an illness and that happened with Bill. When he eventually died, Maddix was just the poorest sight, looking as though he didn’t have anything to live for. I brought him dinner every week. About six months later, when I invited him to dinner, he asked me why I was being so nice to him. He thought I’d hate him. He told me everything that day. How you were the one he let get away.”

Shock radiated through me. I could only stare at her, slowly absorbing everything she’d said. Her words rattled me. Maddix had talked to her about us?

“He seemed very sorry for what had happened,” she said. “I could tell it ate him up. Since that day, he would ask me for updates about you. I’ve wanted you two to have a chance to clear the air since. When I visited you last Christmas and saw that you were about to ask that Josef guy to marry you, I knew I had to act fast.”

“Maddix planned this with you?”

“Not at all. I came up with the plan all on my own.”

“This was all a trap.”

She shrugged. “If the trap fits…”

I jumped to my feet. This changed everything. If all Gladys had said was true, it meant Maddie really cared for me. Our reunion wasn’t just a whim for him. He’d never forgotten.

His words earlier threaded through my brain. Not so much the words but his voice, heavy with emotion, cracked, and raw.

“What are you standing around waiting for?” Gladys shooed me off. “Go to him. You can thank me later.”

15

MADDIX

I’d already finished two bottles of beer when the knock sounded on my door. I wasn’t nearly drunk enough for company. Who could it be but Evan checking up on me? He’d seemed worried when I told him Troy and I were leaving the reunion earlier.

I hated how steady I was still on my feet. As I opened the door, a loud unexpected burp escaped my lips.

“Good god.” Troy fanned his hand before his face and wrinkled his nose. “We were separated for, like, fifteen minutes. How much have you had to drink?”

“What’s it to you?”

“I want you to be sober when I spread you out on your bed upstairs and fuck you.”

I snorted. “Is that what you think of me? Just your fuck buddy? Well, my ass is no longer available at your whim and fancy.”

He grinned. The asshole just stood there and grinned like he didn’t believe me. Suit himself. He would realize just how serious I was.

But if this is the last time, maybe I should give in?

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