Page 175 of Between Regrets and Promises

“You’re way too transparent,” I tell her.

“I’m determined to break him down, and I think it’s working this time.” She falls back into an overly dramatic ballet pose, her body nearly bent in half. I don’t know how she’s so damn flexible. There are times when I can barely tie my shoe.

“He saw my moves, and now he can’t stay away,” she says with a bow.

Lennon nearly spits out her water, and it causes me to laugh at both of them.

Soon the guys return, and they go back to playing darts.

“I might make a million dollars soon,” Maddie says to all of us.

“How?” I ask, and she gives me an evil grin.

“Selling my virginity. I read an article about a girl who sold hers on eBay. Sheliterallyauctioned off her V-card,” she tells us, and Liam’s jaw nearly snaps.

Maddie notices too, which only encourages her further. “Apparently, she used the money to invest in some tech company, and it basically saved her life. She almost went homeless.”

“Don’t be stupid,” Liam tells her, his expression hard as stone.

“Stupid or smart? I could makea lotof money,” she retorts. “I’m not rolling in the dough here. Or dick. So…” She shrugs.

“It’s probably a fake article. You can’t believe everything you read on the internet,” I remind her.

“What if you get some weirdo or some old guy with shriveled up balls?” Liam’s trying to reason with her, and all she’s doing is teasing the hell out of him.

“If you’re so worried about it, I’ll give you the link when I make the listing, and you can place your own bid,” she quips, going back to her darts.

Liam grunts.

“What? Worried you’ll lose? Not a gambling man?”

When I look at Liam, he’s tense as fuck, and I think Maddie might’ve actually hit a nerve.

As Liam and Maddie go back and forth, Hunter notices how tired Lennon is, and they decide to call it a night. We all exchange hugs, and after Maddie completely destroys Liam and Mason in two more rounds of darts, we leave too. The entire ride to her dorm, she has me laughing to the point where my face hurts, and it feels good. There’s no worry or stress, and right now, I feel more like myself than I have in a month.

We pull into the dorm parking lot, and when Maddie gets out of the truck, Liam volunteers to walk her to her door. Masonand I watch as he chats all the way up the sidewalk with wide eyes.

“I’m shocked,” he says. “I think she’s really getting to him.”

I snicker. “She said it was her dance moves.”

“It might’ve been.”

The air in the truck is thick as he gazes at me with bright eyes. “Next week, my aunt wants us to have dinner with her.”

“What? I thought she would’ve forgotten by now,” I exclaim, and he shakes his head with a smirk.

“Nope, and it’s gotten to the point where she texts me twice a day to remind me. She said Tuesday. Will that work for you?”

I catch a glimpse of Liam smiling at Maddie, and I wish I could hear what they’re talking about. “Hmm,” I say, stalling.

“If you say no, I’m giving her your number so she can textyouall day,” he threatens.

I lick my lips, wishing he’d kiss me, but he won’t cross the line. “Yeah. I’ll go.”

He grabs my hand and kisses my knuckles. “Thank you. She cooks a mean spaghetti and meatballs and doesn’t serve small portions, so wear your stretchy pants.”

A giggle escapes me. “She better because I can put away a lot of food.”

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