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MAGGIE

W hy do men become hotter as they age, but women slowly turn into hobbits? So unfair.

Trey Smith gets sexier every day and I hate it. I hate him. Well, that’s not true. I don’t actually hate anyone because I’m not that kind of person, and I could never hate Trey. I just don’t like him very much anymore. There was a time when I did, though.

We used to be inseparable. He had the coolest treehouse in his backyard, and we spent hours up there playing around and daydreaming about the craziest things. We went on adventures in the neighborhood, getting into the stuff we shouldn’t have, as he always pushed me to do things out of my comfort zone. He made me happy when I was sad, made me laugh until I cried. He was everything to me until he moved away.

When his dad took a new job in Lunsford, it was like they moved across the ocean instead of an hour away. Our parents promised we’d still be able to see each other, but that didn’t prove to be the case. We’d text and chat online occasionally, but the messages died off as we got older, and I chalked it up to us both being busy with extracurriculars. So when mom told me that he was moving back our sophomore year, I couldn’t contain my excitement— I was finally getting my best friend back.

Only I didn’t. Because the boy who came back was not the one I used to know.

Trey was different. He left a boy and came back a man. He looked nothing like the scrawny, pimply-faced teenagers at school, and he had bigger muscles than most of the seniors. At over six-feet tall, with a chiseled physique and a no-fucks-given attitude, I hardly recognized him. He’d always been well liked growing up, but at sixteen, kids flocked to him like he was the second coming of Jesus or something.

I was the shy one of our duo and only became more introverted when he moved away. I wasn’t expecting him to pull me out of my shell or turn me into one of the popular kids, but I wasn’t ready for our interaction on the first day of tenth grade. Nothing could have prepared me for that. Or for whatever this is…

Trey throws a few bills on the table and ushers me out of the corner booth. All eyes are on us— on him to be more precise—while we walk out of the bar. I recognize several faces, which is easy when you live in a southern town with a small population. I’m sure they’re wondering what the local bad boy is doing with the nerdy librarian.

When we step outside, I fill my lungs with the cool, night air. The crisp evening feels nice against my heated face. I tug my cardigan tighter around me before peering up at the man next to me. Trey is a giant compared to my five-foot-two frame.

“So, who was that girl back there?” I hike a thumb over my shoulder.

His expression is emotionless when he glances at me as we walk to the parking lot. “What girl?”

“The one sitting with you when I came in.”

He lifts one of his shoulders. “Don’t know. I didn’t care to get her name.”

My lips curl with disgust. I’ve heard the rumors about him, and I get the appeal. Women have been throwing their panties at my former best friend since he could drive, and he’s earned the reputation of being a bit of a man-whore. Supposedly, he even slept with a few teachers. I doubt that’s true. Trey may be a lot of things, but I know he has some principles, just not many. He may be able to fool everyone else around here. But the thing is… I know who he really is, and I’ve never forgotten.

I step into his path and stop walking, turning around to face him. “Look, it took a lot for me to approach you tonight, because believe me, I didn’t want to.”

Trey’s expression softens and he lifts an eyebrow.

“I know you travel a lot and I’m sure you’re busy?—”

“You keep up with my schedule, Mouse?” His cocksure grin is annoying.

“No, I don’t. I just notice things, and you’d be surprised at the gossip you hear being whispered at the library.” I pop my hip out and fold my arms over my chest. “All I’m saying is that I don’t think this will take more than a few days, whatever this is.”

“This is me being your boyfriend. Isn’t that what you wanted?” The corners of his eyes wrinkle with his mischievous expression.

“What I want is to—” The hairs on my neck rise and a tingle runs down my back as I stiffen.

Trey’s gaze sweeps up and down my body. “What? What’s wrong?”

I lean to the side, peering around his muscular frame. “I swear I saw… I thought I saw something in the shadows. Someone standing by one of the cars parked on the street.”

He turns to investigate, pulling me close behind him while he scans our surroundings. “There’s no one out here but us. You sure you saw someone?”

I shrink back, feeling foolish. “Maybe not. I’m probably just paranoid with everything going on.”

Trey pivots to face me again, putting his hands on my shoulders. “I’m gonna walk you to your car and follow you home.”

“You don’t have to do that, Trey. We can exchange?—”

“I wasn’t asking, Maggie.”

Maggie, not Mouse. Makes me feel like I’m in trouble with the principal.

“I’ll make sure you get home safe. Then we’ll figure this shit out. Got it?” His tone is stern and his gaze is intense. It would be futile to argue with him right now, so I don’t.

“Fine. I’m parked in the silver SUV up front.”

His gaze follows my finger to where I’m pointing. “The mom car?” He side-eyes me with a chuckle. “How old are you? Forty-five?”

“I’m twenty-seven.” I scowl. “And it has excellent safety ratings, low payments, and low insurance premiums. It was a sensible purchase.”

“That’s right. Maggie Houser is always the good girl.”

I ignore his ridicule as he guides me with a hand on the small of my back to my vehicle. I unlock it. Then Trey opens the door and offers me a hand to assist me inside. What surprises me, though, is when he leans across and latches my seat belt. There’s a peaceful sentiment in his eyes, as if he likes doing this for me, likes taking care of me.

Peculiar, but interesting.

“Lock up and wait for me at the exit. I’ll get my truck and follow you.” He shuts the door and taps the roof twice.

After starting the engine, I do as he says, waiting only a few minutes before he’s behind me, and I catch his intense gaze in my rearview mirror. Those piercing blue eyes could melt the coldest heart. Even mine.

As mad as I am after everything he’s done, I’m still in love with Trey Smith.