Page 44 of Full Out Fiend

“You said Fielding’s working hard to get his shit together… so that implies it wasn’t together at some point?”

I study her as she purses her lips, flips up the grill lid, and busies herself flipping the steaks. When she’s done, she walks over and sits beside me on a pool lounger.

“It was not. He wasn’t well for a while,” she admits.

“And now?” I try.

She exhales, glances at the house, then looks back at me. “He’s been working really hard.”

I play with the ends of my hair, accepting that’s probably all I’ll get out of her. Her answers seem honest—but they do nothing to settle the uneasiness in my gut that kicks up when I think about the videos and the way Andy carried on last night.

“Before I met Fielding, I was engaged,” I offer. I figure if she’s being candid with me, I can do the same. “We met the night of my bachelorette party, even though I was calling off the wedding.”

Maddie doesn’t react—so she already knows this part of the story.

“My ex-fiancé’s little brother showed me all these videos last night. Of Fielding at a party, drunk or high… or both… trying to make people fight him.”

She pales at my words, but it’s almost imperceptible behind her golden tan.

I stay quiet, waiting her out for a reaction.

Finally, she sighs. “I was there when those videos were taken.”

I suspected as much. In a few of the videos, a petite blonde runs into the crowd and screams at everyone to stop. Most of the videos Andy showed me cut out around that point, so I don’t know what happened after that. Now that I’m sitting here beside her, it all makes more sense.

“So you know what happened that night?”

She side-eyes me as she stands up, whether to check on the steaks or get away from me, I’m not sure. She smooths down the front of her shorts and blows out a long breath before looking at me with sincerity in her eyes.

“I do. But that’s Fielding’s story to tell.”

Chapter 27

Fielding

“Thisissogood,” Daphne practically moans as she cuts into her steak. She must feel my eyes on her, because she looks up and gives me a sheepish smile. “I haven’t had an appetite all week.”

I reach under the table and squeeze her thigh. I’m thrilled that she’s eating. Hopefully, she’ll be able to keep this down. And she’s not wrong—Maddie did an excellent job with the steaks, Dem’s potato salad is on point, and the rice pilaf and fresh sweet corn from the little farm stand we like down in the valley put the meal over the top.

We make small talk as we eat, which I’m grateful for. Daphne and I need to really talk—and soon—but it’s nice to sit around the table and enjoy a meal together. I won’t see my brother and Little Wheeler again until the holidays. Despite the melodramatic reason they rushed home, I’m grateful they’re here.

When we were alone in the kitchen, Dem drilled into me how unnecessary their trip home now seems. He’s not wrong, but never in a million years did I expect to be sitting around the dinner table with the woman who walked away from me last night.

Maddie starts classes on Monday, which I did not know when I asked them to come back to Hampton. After dinner they’ll get their travel plans arranged, and thankfully, she won’t miss anything because of me.

Dem stands up first to clear his plate, and I side-eye Daphne beside me. “Did you get enough to eat?” She nods, but I push back. “You’re sure? You’re growing a human. You need nutrients.”

She smiles at me but rolls her eyes, declaring that she’s stuffed before thanking Maddie and Dempsey for cooking.

I watch the easy way she interacts with my family. I watch her settle back in her seat and let out a little satisfied sigh. I could watch her do anything, really. She’s so pretty. Her hair is down, curled in soft waves. I can’t stop staring at the blush on her cheeks.

I know I should keep my defenses up after all the drama of last night… but something in me believes her. Iwantto believe she left with Anthony to prevent things from escalating. And I want her to believe in me.

Dem grips my shoulder as he reaches in front of me and picks up my plate. “We’ll take care of cleanup and give you two some privacy.”

He knows Daphne has seen the videos. He knows what’s on the line.

I smile appreciatively as I turn to Daphne, take her hand, and help her to her feet.