Iroll my shoulders as I jog across the street to Jack’s front door. I’m late. Way later than I wanted to be. I’m anxious to see Maggie after being away from her for a few days. I texted her earlier to let her know I was on my way, but she didn’t text me back. I hope that means she’s enjoying herself.
I knock and open the door, figuring they won’t mind me just walking in. When I join the group in the kitchen, I look around, confused as everyone greets me. Jack and Ella stand on one side of the island, with Nate and Olive seated at the island, and Tyler is standing off to the side of the kitchen, leaning against the counter.
“Hey, Ian!” Ella calls out. “I’m surprised you’re here.”
Jack looks at Ella, his expression as confused as I feel. “What do you mean? I told you he was coming over.”
She grimaces. “Oops.”
“Where’s Maggie?”
Jack pivots and looks from his fiancée to me. “Why do you care where Maggie is? Usually, you two just glare at each other. I figured you’d be happy she isn’t here.”
I pull out my phone. “Ella, why isn’t she here?”
“She texted and said she wasn’t feeling well. I assumed you’d go to her apartment to be with her.”
Nate rubs his hands together with a wide smile. “Oh, this is getting good. All of Ian’s secrets are being revealed.”
“It isn’t a secret,” I mumble as I pull up Maggie’s texts to see if I missed one from her. “I just hadn’t told you guys yet. Ella and Olive know because Maggie told them at dinner the other night. Maggie and I are together again.”
Nate gasps and turns to his girlfriend. “Olive, you knew and didn’t tell me?”
Olive reaches over and pats Nate’s cheek. “Yes, Nate. I didn’t tell you. Be nice to Ian.”
A look of realization crosses Nate’s face. “Wait,again?”
“Yes, it’s the cutest.” A whimsical smile grows on Ella’s face. “They met over a year ago. Had a falling out and then they crossed paths againright here.”
The thought of calling what Maggie and I have been through, including ourfalling out, as Ella says, “cute” has me grimacing. I’m also getting tired of this conversation. I need to know Maggie is okay.
I’m typing out a text message to her as I comment gruffly, “It’s a little more complicated than that. But that’s the simplified version of it.”
“Huh, interesting. And explains a lot. You’ve definitely been…nicer…the last couple of weeks,” Nate says thoughtfully.
I look around the room. “You all can give me shit about this later. I’m going to go make sure she’s okay.”
Ella waves me away. “Go. Please let me know she’s fine. Now I’m worried about her, too, because she didn’t tell you.”
I nod to her and say a quick goodbye to everyone else. As I drive off, I call Maggie. It rings and goes to voicemail.
“Fuck,” I growl and throw my phone in the cupholder.
I run my hand over my head in frustration and unease.
Why wouldn’t she have texted me that she wasn’t feeling well? I had just talked to her about seeing her there.
I can’t deny there’s a part of me that’s scared I’m about to walk into the same thing I did a year ago. I suppose that’s the best-case scenario. Because at least if she decided that she didn’t want to be with me, she’d be okay. She wouldn’t be sick, hurt, or in danger somehow.
Because the alternative makes fury settle in my gut.
Out of the two of us, I’m the one who deserves pain or discomfort. Not Maggie. Even with what she did to me. She doesn’t deserve any of that.
I park as close to her building as I can. As I cross the parking lot, I try to call her one more time. Her car is in the lot, so I hope that means she’s home. She doesn’t answer. I shove my phone in my pocket as I jog up the stairs.
My fist bounces off her door as I bang on the thin wood. “Maggie, open up.” There’s no noise coming from inside her apartment, and my heart rate picks up. I knock again. “I’ll break down your door. Don’t think I won’t.”
When I hear muffled words from inside, I drop my hand. As soon as the door opens, I lose my breath. Maggie’s face is red and puffy. Her glasses do little to hide her bloodshot eyes. Dressed in baggy pajamas, her hair is a little wild where it frames her face.
