Page 140 of Keeping Score

“What can I say?” She said, sounding a little breathless herself. “I’ve always had a flair for the dramatics.”

I gave her a lopsided smile. “That you have.”

“Besides,” she cleared her throat. “You weren’t answering your phone and I—” she paused, chewing her lip as if she weren’t sure she wanted to finish the sentence.

“You what?” I said, gently, reaching out to tuck a piece of hair behind her hair.

Miraculously, she let me, and I had to pull my hand back before I did something stupid like scoop her up in my arms and put her in my car, away from all these people.

“Callahan,” I still heard them call, and I turned swiftly to warn them off.

“I’m not taking any damned pictures tonight on account of my girlfriend almost getting run down by you all, so you can all go home.” I scowled, ejaculating my voice as loud as I could manage.

A few drunkenly staggered back, surprised by the vehemence in my tone, whereas some of the others had the decency to look a little ashamed.

Without listening to anything else, I pulled Maggie’s hand, taking her with me to the side of the parking garage where we could speak in relative privacy.

Some of the crowd staggered away, realizing I wasn’t going to sign their beer belly with permanent marker, while a few others lingered nearby, snapping photos on their phone from a distance.

I didn’t care. Let them take all the photos they wanted. But God help them if they got close to my girl again.

Not technically mine anymore, all things considered, but it didn’t matter—as far as I was concerned, Maggie Brynn would always be my girl.

Mine to protect. Mine to keep safe.

And I would.

Of course I always would.

But I should probably clear that up to her, so she didn’t think I was living in denial by my use of the term ‘girlfriend.’

“Sorry about back there. The whole ‘girlfriend’ thing. I just figured it was the easiest way to get the message across.”

“What, ‘best-friend’s sister slash ex-girlfriend’ was too long for you to explain to them?” She gave me that smartass look of hers that always drove me crazy in the most mind-blowing way.

“Something like that,” I agreed. “Now are you going to tell me the real reason you came out here to linger with all the groupies instead of talking to me back at Liam’s?”

Her face fell.

“I don’t know.” She said. “I just needed to see you and I was so scared you were going to leave before I found you so I rushed out here and—” she paused, as if trying to catch her breath.

“I just… didn’t want you to leave without you saying goodbye.” She finished, looking up at me with raw vulnerability.

“I didn’t even know you were at the game,” I told her, dumbfounded.

“I didn’t know I was going to be here, either.” She shrugged. “It was sort of a last-minute decision.”

“Why did you come?” I asked, my voice sounding pathetically like a plea. “For Liam?”

Or for me? God, please say for me.

She didn’t say it in words, but her eyes were all the confirmation I could ever need. Brimming with earnesty, she stared up at me and said, “I really miss you, Brody.”

“I miss you, Mags.” I said, hand wrapping around the back of her head. “God, you have no idea—”

“Mr. Callahan,” a small voice that was either my savior or my demise called out, because fuck, I’d just been about to kiss the shit out of Maggie.

Still might. I thought. After I tell them to screw off.