Page 85 of Situationship
The cocky swing of her hips said this was about a boy, whom Colin would kill if he ever learned of their middle-of-the-night rendezvous. Maddison tiptoed across the back deck, her shoes sounding like a stampede of elephants attempting ballet.
“Pro tip,” Teagan said, just loud enough to carry to the neighboring deck. “You might want to put your shoes on after you’re down the street. Heels on wood planks are a dead giveaway.”
Maddison froze and slowly spun around. Even in the darkness, Teagan could make out twodeer in the headlighteyes. “I’m meeting my cousin. She’s super upset? And needs to vent?”
Teagan made a foul-play buzzer sound. “Sorry, try again.”
“Fine, maybe I’m the one who needs to vent. I’m super scarred over catching my dad and my boss, postcoital, if you know what I mean.”
Oh, she knew. And if Maddison was feeling even a tenth as awkward as Teagan felt right then, maybe they needed to have a girl-to-girl talk. Not that she doubted Colin’s ability to handle tough conversations, but Teagan was the interloper in this equation. “Scarring? I don’t know about that, but for sure embarrassing and super awkward. Maybe if we talked about—”
It was Maddison’s turn to make the buzzer sound.
Teagan shrugged and went back to sipping her tea. “Maybe you want to talk about how scarred your dad would be if something happened to you?”
“I know what I’m doing. It’s not like I’m meeting a stranger or anything.”
“Good to know, that eases my worry.” Teagan grabbed her cell off the patio table and dialed.
“Let me guess, you’re calling my dad, not to tell him about this, but to force me to tell him.”
“Wrong again. Played that game once before. It didn’t work out so well for me. I’m going to camp on your deck and tell him as soon as the sun comes up.” But right now, she had a window of opportunity to help his daughter get through some of her anger. Maybe she’d aim it all Teagan’s way so it would be one less thing Colin had to deal with. After all, the girl wasn’t mad at her dad. She was as scared as Teagan was that tonight would somehow change everything.
“Of course you are.” She could practically see Maddison roll her eyes. “Then who are you calling?”
“The cops.”
“Why?”
“There was a guy in a suspicious black truck parked down the block earlier.”
Maddison took off her heels and padded to the edge of the deck. She glanced right and left, going on her toes to make sure Teagan wasn’t lying. “Where is he?” she accused.
“Oh, your cousin?Hewaited about ten minutes, then took off.”
“So you didn’t call the cops on him?” Maddison asked, sounding a little relieved that the truck was gone. “Why do I not believe you?”
“You don’t have to. But if I’d known he was here to pick up you, I would have.”
“Because I’m too young?”
“Because he’s too old.”
“You don’t know anything about him.”
“I know that he was drinking while waiting.”
“Maybe it was a soda.”
“Your lack of conviction makes me believe he’s driven drunk before. Hopefully, not with you in the car.”
“I’ve never been in his car.”
That was a relief. “Hey, I’m going to go grab you a cup of tea. If you’re here when I get back, you can ask me anything you want.”
“And if I’m not?”
“Then we’ll both have a long night waiting for your dad to wake up.” Teagan headed for the teapot in the kitchen, praying to God that when she returned, Maddison would be there. She didn’t know what she’d tell Colin if Maddison slipped right through Teagan’s fingers to find Black Truck Guy.
