Page 73 of Pucking Your Best Friend

“Better take your things straight to the rooms,” Mrs. Payne called over her shoulder and waved them into a narrow hallway with a mass of jackets hanging on the coat rack, then on into a spacious living room with a light blue carpet, black fireplace, and lots of worn furniture. A large wooden staircase led out of the room to the second floor. “Maddie, your bedroom is next to Matt’s, the first door on the left after the stairs. He can show you. Then come down and say a proper hello to everyone. Your sisters are all here, Matty. They’re on the patio and in the garden! The rest of the guests will be arriving in an hour. We even organized a caterer for tonight because we didn’t want the stress of cooking. There are gazebos and beer stations outside and…oh, just take a look for yourself! Oh, I’m so happy!” She clapped her hands joyfully, gave her son another quick hug, then pointed to the stairs. She hustled through the living room toward the glass doors leading out onto the patio.

It was a beautiful house. That was great for focusing on everything but Matt.

“Maddie, it’s creepy how quiet you are.”

She swallowed. “I don’t want to say the wrong thing,” she finally whispered guiltily and started to heave her small suitcase up the stairs.

“Maddie.” Matt impatiently took the suitcase from her and carried it the rest of the way. He sighed heavily and turned to her. “I didn’t mean to make you feel like you couldn’t talkat all. I’m sorry, okay? I know I’ve been a little annoyed and angry the last few days. We should probably talk about what…”

“No,” she interrupted hastily.

He blinked in confusion. “But…”

“No, no,” she repeated, shaking her head. “We shouldn’t do anything.”

He laughed dryly. “Maddie, weneedto talk about it.”

“No!”

“Yes,” he insisted harshly.

“I don’t want to argue, Matt. Whenever I argue, I feel bad.”

“But you argue all the time. For other people. Why not for yourself?”

“About that. We’ve already talked about it! It’s not worth it.”

“What?” he spat, his eyes darkening swiftly.

She narrowed hers. “That’s not what I meant. What I meant was that we don’t need to talk. Everything is great between us. Let’s just forget what happened.”

“Forget what?” he asked sharply. “The sex or the argument?”

“Both?” she suggested, pained.

He snorted. “Maddie…”

“No! I don’t like arguments, Matt!” she interrupted.

“I know, but sometimes you have to have one.”

“No!”

“Fuck, yes!” he said louder.

She had a different opinion. Right now, everything was cracked, but if they argued…what if it broke? “No,” she repeated urgently. “I need harmony.”

“But you won’t get that if you suppress your anger and feelings. Youhave toargue to restore harmony.”

“No!”

“Yes. That word is starting to get on my nerves.”

“I don’t care. I can still get harmony if I disappear without a word.” She smiled briefly, ducked into the room to her left, and shut the door.

“Are you serious, Maddie?” Matt called after her in disbelief.

She didn’t answer and he left, cursing softly.

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