Page 143 of Keeping Score

“I don’t know. Talking to them. Taking a picture. It meant a lot. To them. And to me.”

“It was nothing,” I told her, knowing I would do so much more, if it earned me even a fraction of the smile she was sharing with me.

“It was something, Brody.” She argued. “You give away pieces of yourself to everyone, do you know that? You’re so incredibly selfless, even during the times you have every right not to be.”

I’ve given all of myself to you.

“Do you—”

Do you want me?

Do you love me?

Do you—?

“—need a ride?” I finished lamely, a million things unsaid between us.

I stared at her, praying for her to say yes. I just wanted her beside me. Needed it, actually. And because I was a desperate, pathetic man, I wasn’t above begging. “Please say yes.”

She nodded, smiling shyly.

I exhaled in relief, opening the passenger door. Watching as she climbed inside and buckled herself in, I shut the door behind her.

It was only when I settled myself in the drivers’ side, drove us out of the lot and under the city lights of Boston did I finally feel like myself again.

Because that was the thing. Maggie was a part of me. Probably the biggest part.

And I hadn’t been me without her.

Chapter Forty-Six

Maggie

Can he hear my heart pounding?

The car was silent as we drove, save for that. Dark, but I preferred it that way. He couldn’t see how nervous I was in the dark.

Then again, maybe he could. Brody always had a way of sensing the most subtle of shifts in me.

Was he thinking about the last time we were alone in this car together, driving through the night just like this?

“What? No audiobooks tonight?” I said, more to distract myself than anything else.

He laughed.

“No, actually. I haven’t been listening to any lately.”

“You always have an audiobook playing.” I gaped. “Don’t tell me you’ve been sitting in silence with your thoughts?”

“Nah, I haven’t quite turned into Liam just yet.” He smirked. “I’ve actually been listening to music.”

“Like what?” I asked, because Brody hardly ever listened to music. I knew audiobooks helped him unwind in a way music didn’t. Gave him something to focus on besides his thoughts, he always said.

People thought Brody was all happy-go-lucky and grins and jokes, but the truth was, it took a lot out of him to present that way all the

time.

People didn’t see the other side of him.