Nate chose to drink a big gulp of his beverage instead of answering straight away, but she didn’t miss his sheepish expression.
“Yeah, well, um... actually I thought that we never got to drink the ones I’d made for New Year’s Eve.”
Her breath left her in a whoosh. Just when she’d thought she’d filled her quota of things to swoon over in an evening.
“Fuck, Nate.” She shook her head.
His smirk was positively sinful.
“Nowthatis definitely a good thing.”
Maddy’s laughter was interrupted by her own phone ringing this time.
“God, what is it with people today? It’s like they’re doing it on purpose,” she mumbled as she leaned over the living room coffee table to peek at the name calling her.
She winced seeing Stacie’s name. Stacie almost never called unless it was something important, she usually just texted.
“Uh, I’m sorry I think I should get that,” Maddy said, turning to look at Nate. “It’s Stacie and maybe it’s something important.”
“I’m not stopping you from talking to her. I value my life too much.”
She grinned, just as she accepted the call.
“Hey, friend, what’s up?”
“Oh, I’ll tell you what’s up. You were supposed to call me to make plans for tonight. You know, coordinate what we were going to wear and stuff like that.”
Oh no.
“Oh shit, Stace, I’m so sorry, I completely forgot.”
She heard Stacie sigh. “It’s okay, Maddy. I was the one who told you to take it easy since you hadn’t been feeling well these last few days. It’s you who insisted.”
“I know, I know. I just didn’t want to be a shitty friend.”
“You couldn’t be a shitty friend if you tried. So what are you up to?”
“Oh, um,” she stalled eloquently.
“Wow that’s a very good answer, Maddy.”
“Well, actually, I’m not alone right now. Nate is here.”
Silence.
“Stacie? Are you there?”
“I wanna squeal so hard in your ear right now, but I’m a good friend, so I won’t.”
“Appreciate it.”
“What do you mean he’s there?” she fake-whispered as if anyone could hear her.
“Well, I needed some help with some things and he came to help.”
More silence.
“Ooh. Help huh? Did he help you nice and right?”
