Role Playing(74)

“I’m going to hit the restroom,” he said quickly, then got up. He felt a little concerned about leaving Maggie alone, but she’d been exemplary, more than able to handle anything. She played the perfect combination: just friends, with a suggestion of more. She’d shocked Riley and made an instant friend with Davy, and even his mother seemed to be thawing out, asking Maggie about her cottage pie recipe and talking about Kit’s time at Fool’s Falls High. Only Sheryl still seemed aloof, which was probably the best he could hope for at this point.

He went about his business, and bumped into Riley on his way back to the table. “Dude!” Riley enthused. “I cannot believe that your Maggie looks like that. Hell, I didn’t even know she had legs!”

Aiden sighed. He liked Riley, he did. But he was quickly getting tired of the whole “dude-bro, let’s nail some chicks” attitude that had been progressing from old school to offensive, no matter what his rationales were. “Be nice.”

Riley’s eyes popped wide. “Are you dating her?”

“I want to. But don’t say anything,” he warned. “I haven’t even talked to Maggie about it yet. But I really like her, and I want to give us a shot if she’s open to it.”

Riley hooted, and Aiden hissed at him, causing him to quiet down. They were close enough to the table that several heads turned to look at him. He felt heat creep up his neck, and for a moment, he wanted to kill Riley. Riley looked immediately apologetic, at least.

“Looks like we missed the cake cutting,” he said, quickly taking his seat.

Aiden sat next to Maggie. Their dinner plates had already been cleared away, and they each had cake on small plates. He took a bite. It was good. He went to say as much to Maggie, only to see that she’d eaten only a bit and was systematically cutting the rest into a paste with the edge of her fork.

“You’ve only known each other for a few months?” Sheryl said to Maggie. There was a tone to the question.

He felt his tension ratchet up. He didn’t know what Sheryl’s problem was, other than the usual, but he wasn’t about to let her take potshots at Maggie.

“Yes.” Maggie took a sip of water. “Longer online than in real life.”

“She took care of me when I broke my foot,” he added. “She’s been great. She’s one of my best friends.”

Davy smiled. His mother shrugged.

Sheryl didn’t change expression. She took a sip of water, mirroring Maggie’s action. Then she leaned over, enunciating clearly and firmly.

“Then he told you he’s gay?”





CHAPTER 31


HEART BEAT-DOWN


Maggie’s jaw dropped as she stared at Sheryl’s expression—a facade of boredom, with a sharp bitterness peeking through the cracks. “Excuse me?”

“Didn’t you know?” Sheryl’s voice was low and unemotional, like she was talking about the Seahawks game or her favorite taco recipe. The fury in her eyes belied her calm tone. “He’s gay.”

Aiden’s face went ashen. His mother looked like she’d swallowed a live octopus, her mouth working, her eyes bulging. Davy face-palmed. Riley, on the other hand, went very, very still.

Maggie’s back stiffened. She glanced at Aiden, checking his response.

Anger etched his expression. “Dammit, Sheryl,” he said, his voice so low it barely carried to the other side of the table.

“Sheryl, this isn’t the time . . .” Davy said, but it was too late. She was on a roll.

“And it wasn’t just experimentation,” Sheryl spat out. “I wouldn’t have cared about that. Hell, I experimented in college! But no. He was in love with the guy. They had a full-on relationship.”

“Hold the phone. You experimented?” Riley asked. “Like, with another girl? Or . . .”

“For years,” Sheryl finished, ignoring Riley. Which, understandable. But still.

Davy spun on Aiden. “Wait. I knew about . . . your, um, interests.” Like sleeping with men was a hobby. “But who the hell were you dating for years?”

Riley stared hopefully at Sheryl. “More than one girl? Maybe?”

“Oh my God,” Aiden’s mother groaned, covering her face. Maggie felt like she was witnessing a hundred-car collision.

Aiden glowered at Sheryl. “Why are you doing this? Why can’t you move past it, and just . . . just let me live my life?”

“Like this is your life.” Sheryl sneered. “Isn’t it obvious? I don’t want to watch you lead some other poor woman on.”

Davy looked shell shocked. His mother looked agonized. Riley just looked uncomfortable—and was still staring at Sheryl curiously.

Maggie had been on her best fucking behavior, and after five years of being a hermit who forced herself to be polite only for Kit’s sake, that was really saying something. Tonight, she’d been a goddamned delight. Still, Sheryl had been grating on her nerves all evening. Maggie had managed to talk about cars and baseball with Davy. She’d even gotten the somewhat dour Mrs. Bishop to warm up. But Sheryl was acting personally affronted, which still made no damned sense. Now, this? With Aiden’s face looking like a storm cloud . . . this gentle teddy bear of a man, upset and furious?

Yeah, the time for good behavior was over. As Ms. Sheryl was about to fucking find out.