Take a Chance on Me(15)

Maddie walked to the bed and sat down. On impulse, she blocked the number before dialing her oldest girlfriend’s cell. After half a ring, Penelope came on the line with a clipped, “Hello.”

Maddie twisted the cord around her finger and whispered, “Are you alone?”

“Maddie, thank God,” Penelope said, although her tone held no harried urgency. “Where are you?”

Maddie darted a nervous glance around the room, irrationally worried that her brothers would jump out from behind the lace curtains. “I’m fine. Are you alone?”

“Sophie’s here,” Penelope said. “Are you sure you’re okay? Everyone has been crazy with worry. Your mom is in hysterics, Shane’s popping antacid like it’s candy, and the rest of the clan is pacing the floors like caged lions.”

Maddie heard Sophie Kincaid’s urgent “Where is she, where is she?” in the background.

Penelope’s voice grew distant. “Geez, give me five seconds to find out.”

Maddie’s chest tightened, and she wished she hadn’t called. She didn’t want to think about home and reality.

“Where are you?” Penelope asked again. “We’re worried. Do you need help?”

“I’m okay,” Maddie said. “Can you let them know?”

Silence. Maddie could picture Penelope standing there, completely put together, not a hair out of place. She’d always been like that even when they’d been in kindergarten, with her pressed Catholic uniform and black patent leather shoes so shiny that Maddie had been able to see her reflection.

“You’re not going to call?” Her friend’s quiet question pulled Maddie out of her thoughts.

“Please, I don’t want to talk to them. I can’t.”

“Hey,” Penelope said, her voice softening. “It’s okay—I’ll take care of it. Tell us what you want us to do.”

“Tell them I’m okay.” Maddie wrapped the telephone cord around her fingers until they pulsed from lack of blood. “Tell them I’m sorry, and I’m safe.”

In the background, Sophie said, “Let me talk to her.”

“In a minute,” Penelope said, with her tone calm and soothing. “Are you sure you’re okay? I can’t believe you ran away and didn’t tell us.”

“I left a note,” Maddie said, lamely.

“Did something happen with Steve?”

Maddie shook her head even though Penelope couldn’t see her. “No, nothing happened. I don’t know. I was sitting there by myself, feeling like I wanted to throw up. And I knew. Knew it wasn’t supposed to be this way. Pen, I don’t feel the way I should.” Maddie’s voice cracked as her eyes filled with tears. “Does everyone hate me?”

“How can you even think that?” Penelope said sharply. “I only wish I’d known how unhappy you were.”

“I’m sorry.” Maddie brushed away the wet tracks on her cheeks. “Everyone loves Steve. He’s perfect.”

“No. We love you. We tolerated him.”

“But all he’s done for me—”

Penelope cut her off. “You were fifteen; it’s time you stopped doing penance. And just because he was nice and helped you doesn’t mean you have to marry him.”

“My mom—”

“She’ll get over it.” Penelope mumbled something under her breath that Maddie couldn’t hear. “It’s your life.”

Maddie pressed a finger to her throbbing temple. She didn’t want to think about Steve right now. “Tell them I’m sorry, okay?”

“I will. What about money?” Penelope asked. Forever practical, she was probably already opening a spreadsheet to compile a runaway-bride to-do list. “Do you need any? I could wire some to you.”

Yes! Maddie’s mind screamed, but then she’d have to say where she was and for some reason, she couldn’t. Not even to her best friends. Wire transfers were traceable, and Shane had connections everywhere. “I’ll get by.”

“You sure?”

“Yes.”

“At least tell me where I can reach you.” There was rustling in the background, as Penelope probably got out her trusty notebook.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

The background noise stopped, and quiet fell over the line. Several beats passed before Penelope said, “You know I’ll never tell anyone.”

“Yeah, I do,” Maddie said. Her friends had always had her back and always would. “But you know how my brothers are.”

Penelope let out a huff. “Point taken.”

A laugh bubbled up, surprising Maddie.

“Okay,” Penelope said, her manner taking on a businesslike tone that always made everyone sit up and take notice. “On one condition: you have to call either Sophie or me every day and check in. Deal?”

Maddie smiled. “Deal.”

“Good,” Penelope said. “Call tomorrow or I swear to God I’ll sic Shane on you. Don’t make me play dirty.”

“I won’t. I promise.” Maddie watched the dial on the clock click over. “Put Sophie on.”

“If you need anything at all, you let me know, right?”