CHAPTER EIGHT
Summer
Ifinish loading thedishwasher, when the sound of a car making its way down the dirt road has everyone in the kitchen pausing.All of us are on edge, even if none of us will admit it out loud—the Addisons more than me since they have the most to lose.
Malia meets my gaze from where she’s wiping down the kitchen counter.“That must be them.”
“We can trust him,” I assure her and those of us in the room.The tension is thick in the air, and I know it’s not just Malia who is worried.
“Mercedes, make sure my bat is within reach,” Malia orders, then grimaces at my wide-eyed look.“It’s just in case.I swear.”
“Hey, Malia, have you seen this?”Magnolia calls out, her voice getting closer.She’s holding a piece of paper in her hand when she steps into the kitchen.“There was a note stuck to the front door.”
Malia takes it from her and snorts at whatever she reads.“What is it?”I ask, trying to peek.
“Someone challenging me to a food eating contest,” she replies, handing me the note.
Scrawled in barely readable writing is a threat.“I challenge you to a food eating contest.You might be big where you come from, but I’m the champion in this town, and I plan to keep that title.Call me to set up a time and a place,” I read out loud, my eyebrows rising.“Um...this is worrying.”
I leave out that I know exactly who this is from andwhyit worries me.There is no point in getting her more worked up since Liam will be knocking any second—if that bang was in fact a car door slamming closed.
“Puh-lease.Like whoever that is has a chance.”
“You should call him.He left his number,” Makayla offers.“We haven’t embarrassed anyone in a while.It could be fun to let our hair down for the day.”
“You had a spa treatment last night,” I state, rubbing my hands down my jean shorts.
She waves me off.“That’s nothing.”
“Is someone going to get the door?”Milly yells.“I’m trying to watch the television.”
“Coming,” Malia shouts back, and takes a deep breath.“On your best behaviour, girls.”
I’m left standing in an empty kitchen for a moment, wondering how I’m going to stop them from getting arrested.There is no way Max will let this go, and there is no way Malia will go down without a fight.Either way, we are screwed because even if she wins, he will never stop coming back.
I race after them, skidding to a stop in the hallway when I see our guest isn’t alone.“What are you doing here?”I snap.
Reid smirks, eyeing my shorts and T-shirt.“That’s not a nice way to greet the person who saved your life last night.”
I scoff.“Please, you did a bit of cardio.Let’s not go over the top.But I’ll ask you again, what are you doing here?”
“I was to going to take a look for the horses but I think I’ll stay here,” he tells me, his smirk morphing into a grin when he glances at Liam.“That’s okay, right, Liam?”
I’m not even sure Liam has heard him, because he never once moves his gaze away from Malia.He watches her like he wants to pounce, like any second he’s going to snatch her and take her against the wall.I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed attraction so boldly before.
