Without answering it, she drops it on the bed and unties my hands. I’m staring at her face, wishing she didn’t look so offended by my ex-girlfriend calling, but I can’t say I blame her.
As soon as my hands are free, I swipe the screen to answer the call.
“Hello?”
“Why are you ignoring Sophie?” Charlie snaps without a greeting.
“What? I’m not.”
“She’s been texting you all day. Now she’s in her room crying and won’t come out. She’s sensitive, Beau. I know she’s just a kid, but she was just starting to get close to you, and she doesn’t need another man in her life to let her down.”
“Charlie, I’m not ignoring her. I just haven’t been around my phone much.” I glance up at Maggie, who’s biting her bottom lip with a look of guilt on her face. “Is she really crying?”
The feeling that settles in my gut with that image is worse than guilt. Much worse. It’s shame, regret, self-deprecation, and remorse all rolled into one, and I have never hated myself more than I do in this moment.
“Yes. But she’s been really moody lately. I think she started seeing that boy from the D&D club, and it’s been rocky.”
That little fucker.
“All right, I’m coming over.”
“Don’t bother. It’s too late, Beau.”
“Fine, then I’m calling her.” Without waiting for an answer, I hit End Call and immediately find Sophie’s contact in my phone. Before calling her, I glance up at Maggie.
“Is she okay?” she whispers.
“Yeah, I just…fucked up.”
Her brow furrows as the call starts to go through to Sophie. It only rings twice before her sniffly voice picks up on the other end. “What?” she says as a greeting, but not a warm one.
“Hey, kid, I’m sorry. I was just busy today.”
“Forget about it. I don’t care,” she mumbles in reply.
“Let’s go to D&D now. I’m ready.”
“It’s almost over by now, Beau. It’s too late.”
“Then let’s go get ice cream or something. Come on. We haven’t hung out in a long time.” I’m frantically pulling my clothes on as I talk.
“I’m not in the mood,” she mutters quietly.
“I don’t care. I’ll be there in fifteen. Be ready.” With that, I hang up, and rush toward the door.
Maggie is sitting on the bed as she watches me. Before leaving, I spin and look at her. She’s staring at me with a tense, uncomfortable-looking smile.
“I’m sorry. I have to—"
“Go,” she replies.
“Come with me,” I say before really thinking about it.
She tilts her head. “We can’t be seen together like that, Beau. Charlie would know and then your dad would know.”
Fuck, she’s right. God, I hate this. Maggie is not some dirty secret, and I don’t give a shit about my dad knowing anymore, but I still can’t seem to work up the guts to let it out of the bag just yet.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble again.
“Don’t be. Just go.”
Before I can leave, I rush back to the bed and plant a kiss on her lips, pulling her close and feeling her hum against my chest.
Then, I run down to my car and leave.