Page 4 of Spring Forward
A beat up green Altima.Derek shook his head. That was Maddi straight through. She could afford to replace the beater, but wouldn’t spend the money as long as it was still running. “That’s Maddi’s. She’s had it since freshman year of college.”
“Madison’s here?” Uncle Grant lit up like a Christmas tree, smiling beneath his bushy mustache. “Teresa’s happy about that, I bet.”
“Happy and surprised,” Derek said.
The usual twinkle in Uncle Grant’s eyes grew. “Describing Teresa’s feelings about it, or yours?”
Fair enough. Every member of the McGee family knew that Derek and Maddi had dated. A few could even tell he hadn’t gotten over her.
“I’m surprised, definitely.” Derek wandered toward the kitchen side of the large room.
Uncle Grant pulled out some bowls for the ice cream he’d bought. He knew the kitchen well after a few months of dating Mrs. Collins. “You’re surprised, but not happy?”
“Maddi has visited before,” Derek said. “It never works out.”
“Never say never.”
Mrs. Collins and Uncle Grant were a perfect match. They were both optimists, even if it meant believing in the impossible.
Derek peeled back the lid on the ice cream carton. “Are we still going to watch this movie tonight, or what?”
That changed the subject. Even when the Collins ladies returned, things weren’t as awkward as before. Derek could almost ignore the memories that hung around Maddi. He could almost pretend she was just an acquaintance sitting in on a last-minute movie night.
Almost.
Maddi settled in as if she’d never been gone. It was like the last two years had never happened, like the two of them were still together. She was the same Maddi he’d fallen hard for, just hanging out at her mom’s place. She even ate ice cream the same way she used to, flipping the spoon over after each bite to have one more go at whatever she’d missed with the first pass.
He spent most of the movie watching her. Though she glanced his way once in a while, Maddi was definitely not watching him. But she wasn’t paying attention to the movie either. She was watching her mom. More specifically, she was watching her momand Uncle Grant.
Was that the reason for her drive down? To check out her mom’s new boyfriend?
What, did you think? That she came to say she was wrong to break things off? That she’s changed her mind after two years? Not gonna happen.
He knew better. He’d accepted years ago that she had cut things off totally. But it still hurt.
Derek made a break for it before the closing credits were done rolling. There was a reason he’d skipped town the last time Madison Collins came home.
Chapter Three
Grant McGee had done a good job of seeming like a decent guy. Madison, though, wasn’t entirely convinced. All of Mom’s boyfriends hadstarted outokay.
“Wear this blue one.” Mom pulled a top out of Madison’s closet. “You look great in blue.”
“I’m not going, Mom. I came to seeyou,not my old friends.” She’d also come to ward off a disaster, but that was best left unsaid.
Mom didn’t argue. She simply went on as though Madison hadn’t made any objections. “Definitely the blue one. What jewelry did you bring?”
Madison took the blue top from Mom and hung it up again. “We’re ordering in, remember? I don’t need to accessorize to throw back a carton of General Tso’s from Chang’s.”
“Grant and Iare having Chang’s.Youare meeting your friends for dinner.” Mom pulled the blue top out again. “They want to see you. You don’t visit often. Besides, Derek will be there.”
All the more reason not to go.“Derek and I broke up two years ago.”
Mom shrugged. “I didn’t mean it like that.” If her guilty expression was anything to go by, she’d meant it exactly like that. “Only that he’s a friend, like the others who will be there, and they’re all expecting you tonight.”
But how can I spy on you and your new boyfriend if I’m not here?
“They’re counting on you,” Mom said, which slammed the last nail in that coffin.
