Page 112 of Keeping Score

Here I was, hurting him again.

I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t be selfish with him.

I turned to him and forced, if not a smile, then at least a neutral expression.

Liam and Cassie were dead silent in the front seat, making the whole situation all the more awkward. I needed to hold onto a shred of my dignity after everything.

“You can have the apartment for a while,” I told him in what I thought would be a selfless offering. “You’ve stayed with Liam and Cassie long enough. I’ll take a shift with them now.”

“What?” Brody shook his head. “No, Maggie, that’s not what I—”

“It’s okay,” I stopped him. “It’s what I want.”

And really, I did. I couldn’t bear to be alone in the apartment anymore. Not where every corner held a memory of him, and I was ninety percent sure I had turned into my mother, bursting into tears at the sight of his dirty laundry on the floor.

But I didn’t deserve to cry, because it was my fault.

“Well, I’m not doing that,” he said blankly.

“Well, I’m not going back to the apartment,” I said resolutely.

“Fine, then neither am I,” he said, matching my snark and crossing his arms across his chest.

“So,” Liam cleared his throat, “where am I driving to right now?”

“I’m going to your house,” I met his gaze in the rearview mirror while he stared at me in a way that said, stop being a stubborn pain in the ass. “Like I said.”

“Brody?” He turned, exhaling the weariest of sighs.

“As am I.”

I turned, frowning at my smug-looking not-boyfriend sitting next to me in what looked like victory.

Whatever, I thought. Liam and Cassie’s mini mansion was big enough for both of us, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to lock myself in the tomb of memories that was the apartment. I just couldn’t.

“Fine,” I bit out, daring him to back out first.

“Fine.” He smiled at me, tauntingly.

Liam groaned, taking a sharp left instead of continuing straight toward mine and Brody’s apartment.

“Yay,” Cassie let out an anxious giggle, looking at Liam with a nervous smile. “Sleepover.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Brody

Being near Maggie again felt like being on a roller coaster. The air filled with anticipation, the nerves rolling around in the pit of my stomach. The thrill that you feel right before the drop.

Look at me. I pleaded wordlessly. Look at me and let me know that everything is going to be fine.

But she didn’t. Not even once.

It was past midnight when we stumbled into the foyer of Liam and Cassie’s house, and while the latter tried her best to linger—ready to extinguish any fires that might arise between Maggie and me—Liam was quick to usher her up the stairs, telling her she needed rest.

“Well,” I said, as Maggie and I lingered in the darkness. “He’s been extra broody lately.”

Maggie was silent, doing anything and everything except meeting my eyes.