Getting Lucky (The Portland Pioneers Book 2) (27 page)

Maggie’s mouth opened and closed once, then twice. “You’re here,” she finally said stupidly.

“You don’t even look the slightest bit happy to see me,” Tabitha chided fondly, but Maggie would have to be a lot more shocked to miss how Tabitha’s eyes narrowed and took in every bit of Maggie’s flushed and mussed appearance, including what was clearly a man’s t-shirt she was wearing. “Did I come at a bad time?”

It was almost comical, Maggie thought. In five years, or maybe make it ten, for safety, she might look back and find this whole charade funny, but right now there was only sheer, blinding panic.

How did you confess to your sister, “Oh sorry, but I’ve just been screwing your ex-boyfriend and oh, by the way, I might be a little, or a lot, in love with him?”

Not exactly the kind of confession Maggie was prepared to make on no coffee. Of course, she could probably have drunk a whole pot of coffee and that still wouldn’t make it easier.

Then, of course, it only got worse. She heard Noah’s footsteps in the hall, and Maggie wanted to run away or scream at him to stay where he was, but it was quite a
small house and suddenly there he was in the entry with her and Tabitha and suddenly they’d become the world’s most hilarious trio.

Maggie had only seen Tabitha speechless a handful of times. She had a tendency to think quickly on her feet and land lightly. But this situation seemed to defeat even her oldest sister, because faced with boxer brief-wearing Noah, still mostly asleep and clearly just come from Maggie’s bed, her jaw fell open and then flapped like a fish.

It would have actually been a really great moment for Maggie, shocking Tabby like this, but unfortunately it also came at the expense of her own extreme humiliation—Maggie felt like she’d just been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. It didn’t matter that Tabitha had dumped Noah and left him far behind, it only mattered that she’d been caught poaching her sister’s leftovers.

Tabitha kept looking from Noah to Maggie and then back again, and then she let out a fake, amused little laugh. “I see I was right to come down here. I was going to warn you. . .but it looks like I’m a bit too late.”

Noah had clearly already moved past his surprise and now seemed more annoyed because he just shrugged, like he was over the whole thing. Maggie was still struggling to put together a complete thought and then get her mouth to say it, but it did occur to her that he’d wanted to confront her and now here was the perfect opportunity. It was like Maggie had practically gift-wrapped it for him and stuck it under the tree they’d put up together in her living room two nights ago. “Cut the crap, Tabby,” he said. “What the hell are you doing here?”

Tabitha just sniffed, pert nose flawless as she even managed to look down at Noah, who had half a foot of height on her.

“Maggie,” she said and Maggie hated the reproachful tone in her sister’s voice, “I thought you’d be happy to see me for Christmas. Mom told me you weren’t coming to Florida this year.”

There were so many reasons Maggie had decided a few months ago not to go to Florida and see her parents for Christmas in the retirement community they’d moved to. Ironically, Tabitha was one of the main reasons. She hadn’t felt prepared to see her sister, hadn’t felt ready to try to renew their friendship. Had actually wondered if a lifetime might not be enough separation.

“I. . .I. . .um,” Maggie stuttered, hating how childish and undecided she sounded in comparison to her polished, poised elder sister. Hating how she’d felt this way her entire damn life and still couldn’t shake it, even though she was a grownup and perfectly in control of her own life and her own feelings. But Tabitha had always so effortlessly wrenched that control away, and made Maggie feel like she’d just never be good enough.

“Oh, Maggie,” Tabitha said indulgently, reaching up with a smile to ruffle Maggie’s hair, as if she was five again, and she hadn’t just spent half the night having her hair mussed by Noah.

He hadn’t said anything else, Maggie registered. He’d been silent, and she glanced up at him, hoping for reassurance or something, but the expression on his face was completely neutral. Blank. As if he was afraid to let a single feeling slip through the mask, and Maggie’s heart just wrenched. She’d been so sure of his feelings before this morning, and it wasn’t like she
doubted
him necessarily, it was just that a little help wouldn’t have been remiss. She never knew how to deal with Tabitha, and this whole awkward situation was further evidence of that.

“I’m just surprised,” Maggie finally got out, sheer pride forcing the words from her stubbornly uncooperative lips. “You never come home.”

Tabitha glanced around the entryway and the living room, and Maggie could read every single one of her thoughts: nothing had changed since their parents had moved to Florida. Sand Point, and this house, had never been good enough for Tabitha. She’d looked down on them her entire life and couldn’t wait to ditch both of them. Which was why her coming back made so little sense. Maggie literally couldn’t remember the last time she’d even come home. Maybe during college? Anyway, Maggie thought unrepentantly, it had definitely been long enough.

“You shouldn’t be alone for Christmas,” Tabitha chided, and then caught herself with a little laugh. “Of course, you’re clearly
not.
And I haven’t said it yet, but congratulations. This one here is a major catch.” She gave Noah a sly little glance and Maggie wanted to throw up. Just plain puke. Right on her sister’s Tory Burch flats that probably cost a month’s budget at the Café.

Noah frowned, creases marring the beauty of his face, but still didn’t say a word.

“I’m assuming I can stay here,” Tabitha continued, clearly very amused with herself and the situation, “since you two are so obviously sharing a bed. I’m perfectly happy sleeping in the spare room.”

Maggie flinched. Suddenly it was just too much, the thought of sharing a bed with Noah, nevermind having sex with him, with her sister only in the next room over. Her
sister
, the last woman he’d slept with before Maggie.

But she couldn’t tell her sister to go to the hotel. Tabitha wouldn’t, in any case, and it felt too private to tell Tabitha how truly, horribly uncomfortable this whole situation made her feel. Tabby would only roll her eyes at her dear, sweet,
innocent
, little sister and tell her to man up and
grow
up. It wasn’t just Maggie being prudish—it was more than that. Something bigger and worse, and Maggie just gritted her teeth. She couldn’t tell Tabitha, so she was going to have to talk to Noah about it.

“I have to get dressed,” Maggie said, “and go to the Café. Rosa took my early shift, but she’ll need me for lunch.”

Tabitha just airily waved a hand. “Oh, dear, I’m not here to interfere.” And that was just ridiculous, because that was exactly
why Tabby had shown up; Maggie just didn’t know how she’d apparently found out about her and Noah, but there was zero doubt in her mind. She’d come to Sand Point to fuck up Maggie’s life. Because Tabitha’s was never complete unless she was destroying someone else’s. “I’ll just make myself at home. Coffee?”

“I hadn’t gotten to it yet,” Maggie said, trying desperately not to grind her teeth in annoyance.

“Of course not. I mean, you were busy,” Tabitha said, practically giggling, and Maggie really hated her insinuation, though it wasn’t all that far from the truth. It was just that Maggie had always believed in and had always wanted more,
and the fact that Tabitha could sit there and hint they were just messing around, that they were just sex, annoyed Maggie beyond belief. It scared her. Because Tabitha technically had known Noah far longer, and probably far better than Maggie did. If she thought that was what he was like, then maybe Tabitha was actually right.

“I have to go take a shower,” Maggie said again, awkwardly edging towards the hallway—really, towards safety and the bathroom and a closed door where she could sit on the toilet and try to figure out what the fuck had just happened to her life.

“I’m coming with you,” Noah finally spoke up and Maggie tried to ignore Tabitha’s annoyingly shrill laughter as they ducked down the hallway and into the bathroom.

It was a small, okay, more like a tiny
,
bathroom, and they felt crammed together as Maggie flipped on the shower. She could see in the mirror that Noah was leaned up against the vanity. She knew he was staring at her, waiting for her to turn around and face him but she just couldn’t. She knew what she had to say to him and she had to get it out before he made any comments about her totally ineffectual performance with Tabitha. She knew she failed at deflecting Tabby’s criticism and standing up for herself; she didn’t need Noah to say it too.

“Maggie,” he said softly, and she stiffened, hand gripping the shower curtain. “Look at me.”

She couldn’t; she just couldn’t. It was horribly, horribly chicken and completely spineless, but if she looked at him, she’d probably burst into tears.

“I’ve got to take a shower and get to the Café,” she said, trying to focus on what needed to be done, instead of the emotions swirling through her. She had the Café. Something solid and real that she’d built from the ground up. She didn’t need a sister who loved her or a man who cared about her. She’d be okay, she told herself firmly, no matter what. “I think maybe it would be better if you didn’t stay here. I don’t want to kick you out . . .”

“But you’re kicking me out,” he bit off, and Maggie hated the hurt and anger in his voice. She just
couldn’t.

“It’s a lot to process,” she said. “I think I need some time. We. . .we’ve spent a lot of time together lately.” Really, every second that she wasn’t at the Café and he wasn’t at his house, and it had never felt like too much in the moment, but maybe they’d been moving just way, way too fast. Maybe it would be a good idea to slow down and take stock. Maybe Tabitha showing up wasn’t a total nightmare scenario. Maggie couldn’t help but laugh weakly at that thought. What was she thinking? Of course Tabby showing up was a fucking nightmare.

“I’ve loved every second of it,” Noah said softly, reaching out and brushing a hand across her back, across
his
shirt that she was wearing. “I wouldn’t change it.”

Steam was filling the bathroom now, from the shower she still hadn’t gotten into. Maggie felt frozen in place. She knew she should turn and look Noah in the eye when she said these things, but if she did, she knew she wouldn’t ever say them. He’d managed to captivate and charm her just as thoroughly as everyone else, it seemed. One look into his dark eyes, and she was absolute mush.

“Maggie,” he tried again, more determined this time. “Don’t do this. Please, please don’t do this. It’s not a big deal, I swear. I don’t care about her. I’m not sure I ever did. I’m only grateful that she led me here.” Maggie heard the unspoken
to you
, after his sentence and closed her eyes. It wasn’t quite a declaration of love, but it was really close.

It shouldn’t be a surprise and it wasn’t. Not exactly. She’d seen the love in his eyes for days now. Maybe a week. Maybe before they’d even had sex. He’d said she was important
and every time he looked at her, she’d felt it. She
still
felt it.

“I just need time,” she mumbled into the shower curtain. Because if she didn’t take the time, she’d probably do something stupid, like tell him she was in love with him.

Maggie knew the moment he realized she meant it. His hand dropped from her back as if she’d just lit herself on fire, and the temperature in the sauna-like room still managed to drop a couple of degrees. She could see his expression in the mirror if she looked out of the corner of her eye just right, and it was just awful. She’d never meant to hurt him. But why couldn’t he see just how horrifically awkward this was for her? She loved him, but he’d never really been hers to love in the first place.

“Okay. If that’s what you really want,” Noah said.

The problem was Maggie didn’t really know what she wanted. Space seemed like a good thought, but when had space ever helped anyone?

“It’s not. . .forever,” she said, hating the way her voice caught on the last word. They’d never talked about forever. They’d never even talked about the next month or the next year, when he was supposed to play baseball again and leave Sand Point for eight months. But she’d been thinking about forever, and maybe that was enough.

“I know, Maggie. I still don’t have to like it.” His tone was surprisingly gentle, and she actually glanced back at him, and he didn’t seem as upset as he had at first. His expression was surprisingly fond. As if he’d figured out exactly what she was afraid of. Maybe that was even worse.

“I have to take a shower,” she repeated, as if this whole conversation hadn’t just happened.

“Okay. I’ll just check back into the hotel, then.”

The whole town would know something had happened and as soon as Tabitha waltzed down Main Street, they’d know exactly what the something was, but Maggie straightened her shoulders and tried not to care.

“I’m sorry,” she said again.

“Don’t be. It’s okay. I know it’s tough for you, with her.” Maggie just cringed. She’d hoped that he wouldn’t say a word about how terrible she was at standing up to Tabitha, but that was probably too much to ask.