Page 129 of Touch the Sky

They’re not getting it. They didn’t see her tonight.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“Give it time,” Maddie urges. “She went through a lot tonight. You both did. I really don’t think this is the end.”

I suck in a sharp breath and try to listen to what she’s saying, but I just don’t see another way out.

Tess is going to leave.

“I’m so fucking stupid,” I mutter. “I know better.”

Natalie makes a fist and holds it up in front of my face.

“Hey. Don’t call my best friend fucking stupid.”

She boops my nose, and it’s so ridiculous it somehow manages to make me crack a smile.

“I’m sorry we haven’t been there for any of this,” she says, letting her arm drop back to her side. “We’ve all been so busy adjusting to running the inn. You should have been able to talk to us.”

I huff a laugh. “Ben, itwasa secret.”

She chuckles. “Yeah, well, we’re pretty shit at keeping secrets from each other. I don’t remember either of you being shocked when you found out about me and Brooke.”

Maddie clears her throat and raises her hand. “For the record, I’m still in the middle of a major dry spell with no secret lover in sight.”

Natalie reaches over and swipes at some of the smudged eyeliner on her cheeks. “That I do believe, kitty cat.”

Maddie swats her away.

“You bitch,” she snaps, but she’s laughing.

Somehow, despite the ache in my chest and the tightness around my lungs, I’m laughing too.

“Look, we’re going to figure this out, okay?” Natalie says. “And we’re not going to let running a business together get in the way of being there for each other as friends.”

She steps away and rifles through one of her cupboards before pulling out a bottle of amber liquor.

“Regular catch-ups are a must, okay? Starting with whiskey tonight.”

Just the sight of the bottle makes my stomach churn. I doubt I’m going to be able to eat anytime soon, never mind throw back straight whiskey.

“I really do not think I can drink.”

Natalie raises her eyebrows. “Damn. You’re too upset for Macallan? You really do like this woman.”

I give her a weak grin. “Guess I really do.”

Maddie snatches the bottle out of Natalie’s hands and sets it on the counter.

“How about just a group hug, then?” she asks.

They’re already folding me into their arms, holding me like we’ve held each other for every storm we’ve weathered before, but I still answer anyway.

“A group hug sounds very good.”

Chapter 27

Tess