Page 25 of Rival Hearts

A sly smile spread across Maggie’s face. “Hiran allowed me to use the original photo. I didn’t figure the town savior would mind saving the town.” Her lips turned down into a fake frown, and she tilted her head, a look of confusion clouding her face. “Unless—I’m sure I have this wrong—you don’twantto help the town?”

“Cut the shit, Maggie. We’re the only people in here.”

“Fine. I wanted to help the people who lost out in the flood, so I did it the best way I knew how.”

“By plastering my photo and some sentimental bullshit all over social media?”

“Is it working?” She raised her eyebrows and circled around the taller workspace at the back to the front counter. “I haven’t checked in the last few minutes. You wouldn’t happen to know the latest total, would you?”

Clearly, she knew it. I had no idea.

Maggie took out her phone and glanced up. “Also, I had no idea you knew Ariana Grande. What’s she like?”

Anger and frustration swelled in my chest. Maggie leaned across the counter, phone clutched in one of her hands, with her teeth caught on her bottom lip. Desire tried to push out my anger, but I won’t letthatemotional response win today.

“I don’t appreciate you messing with my career. She’s a professional contact.”

“To the tune of five thousand dollars. That’s probably peanuts for her, if it makes you feel any better.”

“Whether she can afford it isn’t the point,” I gritted out. “You should have asked me.”

“A professional contact?” Maggie raised her eyebrows, curiosity lighting her gaze.

A critical mistake. I’d come to tell Maggie to stop using me to further her own agenda because it was so lame and transparent. If only rewinding time were possible, I’d reel those words back into my mouth.

“What sort of professional contact have you two had?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why am I not surprised? I guess I’ve always known you were willing to stoop to any low to make yourself look good, to make sure you win.”

Maggie rose to her full height, which was far shorter than me, visibly bristling. “You don’t know me. You’ve never known me.”

“So, this GoFundMe didn’t have any ulterior motive? You posted my photo and that message just to get support for the town?”

Maggie crossed her arms. “We’re in a race for mayor.”

“You did it to get ahead.”

“I did it to help the people in town who had water damage.”

“And to win them to your side.”

She stared at me but didn’t say anything in return. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to turn this place upside down or toss her under my arm and carry her home. Being around her was so fucking confusing.

“Just like when you were seventeen, you’ll do anything to protect your own interests.”

“And just like when you were twenty-one, you’re talking out of your ass. Newsflash.” Maggie waved her hands around. “Your ass doesn’t know shit.”

We faced each other, and I wondered if there was literal steam coming out of my head. The bell above Maggie’s door rang, but neither of us turned.

“Maggie?”

I stiffened at the sound of the familiar voice behind me.

“I need your help.”

Without turning, I knew who I’d find. It had been six years since we’d seen each other face-to-face. Text messages. The occasional phone call. That’d been it. When I glanced over my shoulder, Trent was in the doorway, his focus trained on Maggie.

“Sorry.” Trent’s obvious affection for Maggie made me clench my fists. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

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