“I didn’t tell Liam anything about my memory, so you can forget about that.”Nana tsked and shook her head.“This is all thanks to those so-called parents of yours.What I wouldn’t do to give them a piece of my mind,” Nana growled.“In fact, where’s that cell phone?I’m going to call them right now and tell them precisely what I think of them.”She turned toward the door.“No, I have a better idea.I’m going to invite them here so I can introduce my foot to their asses before I make them apologize.Nobody treatsmyfamily like that and gets away with it.”
“No, wait!”Maya grabbed her arm.“Don’t invite them.Please.”Her voice softened.“I don’t want them coming to Carlisle Creek.I don’t want to see them.”
Nana paused, her expression shifting into a knowing smile.“Because you’re staying?”
Maya sighed.“Well, I can’t very well leave now, can I?Not after Harold smothered my bag, showing me for the first time ever that he cares what happens to me, and then you tell me I’m family, and that I didn’t let you down.”
Nana grinned, victorious.“Good.This is your home, Maya Parker.And don’t you forget it.Now, why don’t you and Liam go have something to eat, then come back andtake a nap?”She waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
My face flushed with heat.“Nana,” I groaned.“Please.Don’t.”I would never get used to her talking about sex.
“What?”she asked innocently, as if she had no idea what was bothering me.“Things always look brighter after a good meal and a good fu—”
“Nana!”
She cackled.“Fine, fine.Just remember, I’m here if you need pointers.”
Maya groaned, pressing her palms to her eye sockets.
“I’ll be off then,” Nana said cheerfully.She kissed Harold’s head, rousing him from his nap.“Come on, Harold.You deserve some salmon pâté after saving the day.”Harold jumped up and trotted after her like a furry shadow.
Maya watched them go, shaking her head.“That cat is way too spoiled.”
“I think he earned it this time,” I said, pulling her into my arms.
“Did he, though?”
“He kept you here long enough for Nana to talk some sense into you, so I’d say he did.”
“I guess he doesn’t hate me as much as I thought.Maybe I really should stay.”She snuggled closer.“I’m sorry for what I said about you leaving Nana.Maybe I should still leave.”
My heart squeezed in my chest as I held her.“Maya.Don’t leave.Ever.”I tilted her chin up, meeting her eyes.“Your being here is the best thing I can think of.You belong in Carlisle Creek.You belong at Bishop’s Books.This is your home.”
Maya parted her lips, most likely to argue—but her stomach rumbled, interrupting her protests.She groaned, rubbing her face.“Fine.Food first.I’ll have my emotional breakdown later.But only because I’m starving.”
I grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.“It’s from processing all that emotional trauma.Healing is hell on the appetite.”
Maya barked a laugh, then schooled her features.“Shut up.I’m not ready to joke about it.”
But as she leaned into me, I knew the truth.Even if she wasn’t ready to admit it yet, she would ultimately decide to stay.And I had plans already in motion to make damn sure of it.
It was time to pull out the rest of the big guns.
forty-seven
it’s georgia peach
Maya
“Youweregoingtoleave?Leave?LEAVE?”Sierra threw her hands up, scanning the diner as though gathering angry villagers to carry torches and pitchforks.“You don’t leave your home for no reason, Maya.You don’t leave me—leaveus—for no reason.”
We hadn’t even made it to a booth before she came storming in after us, kicking things off with an indignant, “I can’t believe you,” and she hadn’t stopped since.
I opened my mouth to answer, to apologize, to …something.But Sierra charged ahead before I could think of what to make this better.
“And another thing,” she railed, her eyes blazing with barely repressed rage, “you were going to leave Nana?Without saying goodbye?Nana?The woman who gave you your job?The woman who saved you from the side of the road when your car exploded just outside of town?The woman who took you in and gave you a home and treated you like a treasured family member?”
I recoiled.She was absolutely right about everything.
