Grave Misgivings (2 page)

“We’ll go.”

Her decisiveness surprised Nick. “We will?”

“You’ve been going out of your way to make sure I get everything I want since we got together,” Maddie said. “I think it’s my turn to give you what you want. I do reserve the right to leave if things get too … weird, though.”

“Why would they get weird?”

“I’m psychic and I can see ghosts, Nicky,” Maddie said. “Things always get weird around me.”

“I guess it’s good that I like weird things then,” Nick teased, kissing her cheek. “I know I’ve told you this before, but being psychic doesn’t define you. It’s something you can do … and I’m proud of everything about you.”

“Thank you.”

“I love you, Maddie,” Nick said. “I love you with everything that I am. If you get uncomfortable, we’ll go. I just … thank you for giving this a chance.”

“I would do anything for you, Nicky,” Maddie said. “You’re my whole heart.”

“Good,” Nick said. “I’m glad we both feel the same way. Now … about our game … I believe I owe you some nudity since you won.”

Maddie smiled despite herself. “I want a little dance, too.”

“You know I don’t have any rhythm.”

“That’s why it’s funny.”

“Love, just a tip, but men don’t like women who laugh when they’re naked,” Nick said.

“I’ll take that under advisement,” Maddie said. “Now … get stripping.”

“Yes, love.”

“What’s up, girlfriend?”

Christy Ford was a bundle of energy on a normal day, but if Maddie was any judge of her friend’s moods, she was especially excited today. Her bouncy red hair was brighter than normal, and her smile was so wide it overshadowed the rest of her cute face as she bustled around her hair salon, Cuts & Curls.

“What’s up with you?” Maddie asked, lifting an eyebrow.

“I’m just in a good mood,” Christy said. “I love this time of year. It’s second only to Christmas for me. In fact, it’s like Christmas in July.”

Maddie smiled, Christy’s good mood was too infectious to ignore. “I love summer, too. Although, if I’m being honest, Halloween is my favorite time of year.”

Christy wrinkled her pert nose. “Why?”

“I just like multicolored leaves and horror movies,” Maddie said.

“You’re weird.”

“I can’t explain it.”

“Not that I’m not happy to see you, but what are you doing here?” Christy asked, handing one of her workers a bottle of conditioner before moving over to her own station at the front of the salon.

“I was hoping you could cut a couple inches off my hair,” Maddie admitted, instinctively running her fingers through her long, blonde locks. It was her trademark, and she didn’t want to cut it too short, but she wanted to ease up on the length just a bit.

“You never want to cut your hair,” Christy said.

“You’ve cut my hair four times since I got back to town,” Maddie protested.

“I’ve trimmed your hair four times since you came back,” Christy countered. “Basically I’ve cut the very tips of your hair off. That’s all you’ve trusted me to do.”

“I … I trust you,” Maddie said, here eyes widening. “It’s just … my hair is one of my favorite things.”

“Your hair is beautiful,” Christy said, reaching over so she could grab a strand of Maddie’s hair to study it. “People would pay thousands of dollars to get this color. It’s long without being straggly. Your face is heart-shaped, so your hair offsets it nicely. Your hair is breathtaking.”

“So you think I shouldn’t cut it?” Maddie was starting to worry.

“How many inches are we talking here?” Christy asked.

“Two.”

Christy snorted. “I think that’s a healthy haircut,” she said. “I also think you and Nick are the only ones who are going to notice it. Your hair is really long.”

“Maybe I shouldn’t,” Maddie hedged, biting her lower lip. “Nick loves my hair long.”

“Sit down,” Christy ordered, rolling her eyes. “I promise you’ll be happy when I’m done.”

Maddie climbed onto the chair and leaned forward so Christy could drape a protective smock over her. “Don’t go crazy.”

“I never go crazy,” Christy said, grabbing a bottle of water from the counter and spraying Maddie’s hair. “So, tell me, how is the construction going?”

“It’s not too bad,” Maddie said. “I kind of wish I would’ve had them finish the upstairs bedroom before starting on Granny’s apartment, but it’s too late now.”

“Why?”

“They’re refinishing the hardwood floors and there’s dust everywhere,” Maddie said. “I had to hang some of those plastic sheets at the top of the staircase so the dust doesn’t drift down into the store, but people are traipsing in and out … and Granny refuses to wear the little plastic booties when she’s up there … so it’s still a mess.”

Christy smirked. “It won’t take long,” she said. “Just think, when it’s all finished, you’re going to move into the big room with Nick. That has to be exciting.”

“It is,” Maddie conceded. “I’m a little nervous, though.”

“Why?”

“I … he’s going to see me all the time, even when I’m at my worst.”

Christy waited for Maddie to expand.

“My hair is a mess in the morning.”

“You guys haven’t spent a night apart since you got together,” Christy pointed out. “He’s already seen you at your worst. I should point out, though, that your worst isn’t bad so you should probably shut up if you don’t want people to hate you.”

Maddie made a face. “I … I’m sorry.”

“You should be.”

“I can’t decide if you’re good for my ego or bad for my self-esteem,” Maddie said.

“I’m both,” Christy replied, nonplussed. “You’re a beautiful woman, Maddie Graves. Sometimes I think you purposely don’t see it because you think it makes you vain. Other times I think you’re fishing for compliments.”

“I am not!”

Christy grinned. “It’s okay to fish for compliments,” she said. “Everyone does it. I just wish you’d admit you’re doing it.”

“I hate you sometimes,” Maddie grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Well, I love you,” Christy said. “What are you and Nick doing this weekend? Are you looking forward to the reunion?”

“I wasn’t going to go until Nick sprung it on me last night,” Maddie replied. “I honestly forgot all about it.”

“Why weren’t you going to go?”

“No offense to you, but I hate everyone we went to high school with.”

“No offense taken,
bitch
,” Christy deadpanned.

Maddie rolled her eyes. “It’s just … high school was a really hard time for me,” she said. “I was always so nervous … and uncomfortable in my own skin. I had a hard time fitting in, and it always felt as if people were staring at me.”

“You went through an awkward phase in middle school, like everyone does,” Christy said. “Somewhere after sophomore year, though, you blossomed. I remember when everyone came back from summer break before junior year started. All the guys were buzzing about the ‘new’ girl in school.

“The thing is, there wasn’t a new girl,” she continued. “It was you. I remember you sprouted like two inches in three months, and your boobs filled out, and every guy in school decided you were the one they wanted to get.”

“That didn’t happen,” Maddie said.

“Yes, it did,” Christy said. “You were in your own little world, so you probably didn’t realize it, but it definitely happened. The entire football team had a bet to see who was going to get the first date with you.”

Maddie stilled. “Nick was on the football team.”

“He was the only one who didn’t play the game,” Christy said hurriedly, not wanting to cause problems between Maddie and her heart’s desire. “Trust me. He was nothing but respectful where you were concerned.

“The problem for poor Nick was that he’d gone through the whole summer with you and somehow managed not to notice all the changes your body was going through,” she said. “I think it was just one of those mind-over-matter things. He didn’t want to see it, so he didn’t see it. The more the football team talked, though, the more Nick realized you were hot.”

“It’s a little weird that you know all of this,” Maddie said.

“I was in the band,” Christy said. “Talk about geeky … ugh.” She shuddered and then returned to the moment. “I heard all the gossip because we practiced on the field next to the football team. You were the topic of conversation for weeks.”

“What did Nick do?” Maddie was interested, despite herself.

“Well, at first he pretended he didn’t notice what everyone was saying,” Christy said. “He tried to ignore it when everyone talked about your legs … and boobs … and butt.”

“You’re making me uncomfortable,” Maddie warned.

Christy winked into the mirror. “I do remember one specific blowup,” she said. “Brian Franz told everyone he was going to sneak over to your house and spy on you because he was desperate to see you naked. Nick completely freaked out and beat the crap out of him. Brian had a black eye for two weeks.”

Maddie frowned. “I … that’s why Brian and Nick fought? Nick said it was an accident on the football field that got out of hand.”

“I think it definitely got out of hand, but it wasn’t an accident,” Christy said. “I know that Brian was begging Nick to get off of him by the end and he promised he would never even do so much as look at you again as long as Nick stopped hitting him. That’s when everyone knew.”

“Knew what?”

“That you and Nick were destined,” Christy said. “Everyone knew you guys were close up until that point. No one – especially you two, apparently – knew that you were in love.”

“I don’t know what to say to that,” Maddie admitted. “I … part of me is happy to hear it. Does that make me a horrible person?”

“It makes you human,” Christy said. “I’m glad, too. I was a little worried you were an alien because you were so perfect.”

“Okay, you’re officially good for my ego,” Maddie conceded. “I’m a little worried about something else, though.”

“What?”

“Aaron Denton invited Nick to stay at his house this weekend as part of the reunion celebration,” Maddie said. “I agreed to go with him, and I’m really nervous. I never hung around with that crowd in high school. Nick did sometimes, but I only hung around with Nick when it was just the two of us.”

“Oh, you’re going to Aaron’s?” Christy looked surprised. “I am, too.”

“You are?” Maddie didn’t realize she was holding her breath until it whooshed out. “I’ve never been happier to hear anything in my entire life.”

“Six weeks ago Nick Winters admitted you were the love of his life and he wanted to spend forever with you,” Christy said. “You’re saying the fact that I’m going to be staying at the Denton mansion with you this weekend is better news than that?”

Maddie’s smile was rueful. “You have a way of putting things into perspective.”

“I do,” Christy said. “It’s going to be okay, Maddie. “I don’t think there are going to be a lot of people there. I heard it’s only going to be like eight or nine of us total. That’s not a lot of people. It will be good for you.”

“You sound like Nick,” Maddie muttered.

“Nick loves you more than anything else in this world,” Christy said. “He would never let anything bad happen to you. This weekend is going to be a way for you to put a lot of those high school insecurities behind you.

“Think about it. You grew up to own your own magic store and you’re practically engaged to your dream man,” she said. “You’re on top of the world. Do you really think people you didn’t take the time to know in high school are going to tear you down?”

“I guess not,” Maddie said. “I … they didn’t take the time to get to know me either.”

“It wasn’t for lack of trying,” Christy said. “I’ll admit that a lot of the girls didn’t want to get to know you because they were jealous, but almost all of the boys – even most of the gay ones – wanted to know you. You were just … standoffish.”

Maddie made a face. “I wasn’t standoffish.”

“Fine,” Christy said, holding her hands up in mock surrender. “I shouldn’t have used that word. That makes you sound like a snob, and you’re definitely not a snob. You were isolated, though.

“Listen, I know why you were like that now,” she said. “You were scared to death people were going to find out … certain things … about you. Personally, I think that would’ve made you even more popular, but what do I know?  It’s different now. You’re an adult. It’s going to be fun. I promise.”

“I hate to say it, but I feel so much better knowing you’re going to be there, too,” Maddie said. “I was worried I was going to cling to Nick and smother him because I was afraid to interact with everyone else.”

“I think Nick likes to be smothered. I wouldn’t worry about that.”

“You know what I mean.”

“I do,” Christy said. “I’m really looking forward to this weekend. We’re going to have a good time. We’re going to get drunk … and we’re going to gossip … and I’m hoping some of the guys have aged well enough for me to get lucky and still retain my dignity the next morning.”

“You are so gross,” Maddie said, chuckling.

“I am,” Christy said. “I’m also done with your cut.” She twirled Maddie around so she could look at the back of her hair. “What do you think?”

“It looks good,” Maddie said. “I … feel good.”

“You should feel good,” Christy said. “Your life is practically perfect right now. You don’t have anything to complain about.”

“I don’t,” Maddie said. “Are you going to the bonfire tonight?”

“I would never miss the traditional Fourth of July celebratory bonfire,” Christy said. “I look great in the romantic light given off by a huge bonfire. Men are going to be falling at my feet. Why do you think I brightened up my hair?”

“You really are … something,” Maddie said.

“I try,” Christy said. “I’ll see you at the bonfire tonight, and if I don’t, I’ll definitely see you at Aaron’s house tomorrow night.”

“I’m actually excited to see the house,” Maddie said. “I’ve heard it’s spectacular.”

“You pick weird things to be excited about,” Christy said. “Here I am excited to get hammered and lucky, and you’re excited because you want to see the mansion.”

“I want to see the mausoleum, too,” Maddie said.

“Weirdo!”