“So she got in?” Leo interrupts. “Jeez, Maddie, could you be any more dramatic? You clutched your pearls so tight I thought you got rejected and I’d be forced to transfer schools with Nate to be with you.”
I turn, grinning like a fool. “Aww. You’d follow me to another school.”
“If you haven’t noticed, your boyfriend is obsessed with you. We’re a package deal.” He hugs me and kisses my cheek. “Now let’s celebrate with some pancakes. I’m going to faint from starvation.”
“Talk about dramatic.”
“My real answer is not appropriate to say in front of my sister.”
“I’ll go,” Leo announces. “Head.”
I giggle. That’s such a Leo answer. “That’s it? If you were to choose the way you die, you’d want to go by a blow job?”
“Gross, Maddie. Don’t even say that word.” Mason sticks his finger down his throat, fake gagging.
Leo shrugs. “Like Nate wouldn’t want the same thing from you.”
“You won’t be able to pick the way you die because I’m about to kill you in two seconds,” Mason threatens, and as per usual, Leo ignores him.
“Actually, that’s not true.” Nate wraps his arms around my shoulder. “I’d want to be holding her just like this.”
I stretch my neck to meet his lips. “That sounds perfect,” I whisper for only him to hear.
“Okay, you two make me sick to my stomach.” Leo pops M&Ms into his mouth. “Getting deep-throated by a smoke show is so much better.”
“Maddie.”
I turn my attention to Mase. “What’s up?”
“Mama knows I’m home. I told her I took you out, but we won’t have long.” He points to the park across the street. “Go take a walk. You have fifteen minutes.”
My chest tightens, and instant unease swoops in, leaving me with an unsettled feeling of emptiness.
Fifteen minutes…that’s not nearly enough time.
My heart hurts, even though Nate’s still here, standing so close I can feel his breath sweep along the curve of my neck. The last thing I want to do is say goodbye again.
He walks us down the path to the first bench.
“You flew all this way, and we only get fifteen minutes alone.” I duck my head, my voice barely above a whisper. “You shouldn’t have wasted your time.”
Nate stops, pulling me onto his lap as he sits on the bench. “You better be kidding me with that shit, Mads.” His fingers brush my hair back. “Look at me, please.”
I cross my arms, clenching my jaw to stop the verbal nonsense spewing from my mouth.
Who am I kidding? I’d rather have three minutes with Nate than none at all.
“You’re lucky I can read you so well,” he murmurs, twisting the ends of my hair around his fingers. “I know you didn’t mean that.”
My lips tremble. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” He tugs me into his chest. “Just let me hold you.”
I press my face against his shoulder, inhaling his familiar scent and soaking in the warmth of his arms.
My one hand travels to his chest, and I lightly trace the outline of his necklace through his shirt.
“I can’t believe you flew here just for today. Thank you,” I whisper.
