Beautiful Sacrifice (Maddox Brothers #3)(36)

He cocked his head. “What?”

“Nothing. You’re just … not what I thought … I think.”

“Great. Now, you’re in love with me. I’ll never get rid of you.”

My nose wrinkled. “I am definitely not and never will be.”

“Promise?” he asked, smug.

“Yes, and unlike you, I keep my promises.”

“Good. Makes things a lot less complicated now that you’ve been friend-zoned.” He playfully pushed me forward, and I pushed him back. “Onward.”



We were almost back to the truck as the sun disappeared behind the mountains. The temperature had dropped from sweltering to refreshing, and the sweat that had beaded on my skin was cooling in the light evening breeze.

Somewhere ahead, music was floating in the air, and smells of food tipped off a party.

“Oh,” I said, “the fund-raiser is tonight.”

“Here?” Taylor said.

“Every year. For the …” I scanned Taylor from head to toe. “It’s the Heroes Gala, raising money for the families of fallen firefighters.”

A look of appreciation came over Taylor’s face. “That’s kind of cool.”

Just when the lights and people came into view, I froze. “Shit … shit.”

“What?”

“My parents are there. They attend it every year.”

“So, we’ll go around it.”

“It’s dark,” I sighed. “We should stay on the trail. People get lost out here.”

He grabbed my hand. “We’ll hurry past it. My truck’s just beyond that boulder.”

I nodded, and we rushed toward an enormous white tent with hanging lights, the sound of a generator mixing with excited chatter and laughter.

We had nearly made it when I heard William’s voice calling my name. I closed my eyes and felt Taylor squeezing my hand.

“Falyn?” William said again.

We turned, and when William recognized Taylor and then saw our hands, he puffed out his chest, already preparing to lose his temper. Blaire joined us, the swishing of her long gown coming to a halt once she took her husband’s arm. The expression on her face was familiar, one I had begun to relish.

“Falyn, dear, what are you doing here?” she asked.

“It’s a public place,” I said, angry.

By the term of endearment, she had revealed herself. She’d only call me those asinine pet names in front of her friends, the fake ones who she’d ruthlessly trash in the privacy of her home. I wasn’t welcome, and she wanted me to leave sooner rather than later.

People were beginning to crowd around my parents, like a small army of judgmental *s, all listening in to make sure they could hear the juicy details to discuss at the next dinner party.

I began to turn, but William quickly approached. “This has got to stop. You—”

“Dad,” I said, my voice saccharine sweet, “you remember Taylor Maddox. He’s from Eakins, Illinois.”

William blanched.

Blaire touched her fingers to her chest. “Bill,” she said, reaching for her husband, “leave Falyn to her friend. Good night, sweetheart.”

“We’ll discuss this later,” William said, turning his back on me.

I pulled Taylor to the truck, desperate to get into the passenger seat. Once Taylor was sitting beside me, I yanked on the seat belt, feeling like I could finally breathe once it clicked.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I think so.”

“What was that about?”

I shook my head.

“Falyn,” he said, hesitation in his voice, “why do they care that I’m from Eakins?”

“Because they don’t want me anywhere near there.”

“Why not?”

“Because I could cause a lot of trouble for a lot of people if I go there.”

Taylor started the truck, and I peered over at him.

He was staring straight ahead into the darkness. “Did you know I was from Eakins when we met?”

“No.”

“Does it have to do with the fire?”

“Does what have to do with what fire?”

He turned to me, glaring. “Are you f*cking with me, Falyn? Who are you?”

I wrinkled my nose. “What fire? What are you talking about?”