8:59 p.m.…
“Okay, so y’all keep your eyes peeled for any approachin’ boats. I’ll go help Bran keep an eye on things over by the lighthouse,” Maddy told the girls once she found them a spot atop the parapets where they had an unobstructed view of the sea around the island.
“Right, Miss Maddy,” Louisa said. “You go help Bran over on the other side. Because your face on his face will besohelpful.”
“L-Louisa Sanchez,” Maddy sputtered. “Of all the things to say.”
“Do ya deny it?” Sally Mae asked, leaning back against an old cannon that no longer had the ability to defend the crumbling garrison. There was enough light filtering up from the spotlight on the seawall below them to show the teasing glint in the girl’s eyes. It gave Maddy hope that the teens wouldn’t betooscarred by what they’d experienced this night.
Kids are resilient, right? They bounce back?
“Deny what?” she asked as innocently as she could, picking at a loose thread on the hem of her T-shirt.
“Deny that you’re hot to trot for SEAL McStudly,” Donna said.
Maddy pulled a face. “Am I that obvious?”
“Totally,” Donna said. “But, yo, that’s okay, Miss Maddy. He’s that obvious too. Way to go. Big-time score. He’s super hot.”
“Wait a minute. Wait a minute.” Maddy patted the air. “Are y’all sayin’ you think Bran…”
She didn’t finish. She wasn’t sure how to.Do y’all think Bran really likes me?just sounded so…high school girls’ locker room.
Well, look who you’re talkin’ to.
“Wants to butter your muffin?” Sally Mae said, causing Maddy to blink. “Yes.We definitely think he wants to do just that.”
“Sally Mae Winchester! And here I thought you were the shy one!”
Sally Mae snickered.
“Good Lord.” Maddy shook her head. “Your parents are goin’ to kill me. Not only did I nearly get y’all kidnapped, but I also got you talkin’ about butter and muffins. Which…ew. That’s a disgustin’ euphemism when you stop and think about it. But more important, it’s official. I am theworstchaperone in the history of the world. Theuniverse!”
“Please,” Louisa scoffed. “We’ve known about buttered muffins for quite some time. In fact, I venture to guess some of us have even had our muff—”
“La-la-la!” Maddy sang, plugging her ears. “I’m ignorin’ all y’all. You don’t exist. This conversation never happened.”
“Come on, Miss Maddy,” Sally Mae said after Maddy dropped her hands. “After everything that’s happened tonight, don’t we deserve a little fun?”
And suddenly all Maddy’s guilt and self-reproach bubbled to the surface, making the skin across her face and shoulders itch. “I’m so sorry, girls. Sorry for everything.”
“It’s not your fault,” Louisa was quick to assure her, grabbing her hand.
Maddy squeezed her fingers. “But I chose this island adventure because I…because I…”
“Wanted to get close to SEAL McStudly,” Donna finished for her. “Yo, that took us about two seconds to figure out once we saw you with him.”
“And we certainly don’t blame ya for it,” Sally Mae piped up. “After all, the man is a triple threat.”
“What does that mean?” Maddy asked.
“Tall, dark, and handsome,” the three of them chimed at once.
Maddy made a face. “I know, right? It should be against the law or somethin’. Two out of the three? Sure. But three out of the three?”
“So go on,” Louisa encouraged. “Go make like Paula Abdul.”
“I’m afraid to ask…”
