Silence filled the bedroom. They were going to be totally useless today.
“Well, should we go help Maizie with chores?” Christian stood up and pulled on a shirt.
“No. We are doing them ourselves. Maizie and Lindsay went to Vegas.” Jayce responded without opening his eyes.
This was news to him. “What are they doing there?”
“Some girls trip,” Jayce said.
“When are they coming back?”
“Tomorrow.” Jayce opened his eyes. “Why? Is someone eager to see my cousin?”
Christian didn’t answer as he tugged on some socks and ran a comb through his hair.
“Come on man. You know you are. Don’t worry, she probably won’t find a new boyfriend in Vegas.” Jayce gave him an evil grin.
Of course, Maizie would never go for a guy she found there, but the thought bugged him more than he cared to admit.
“There’s probably a ton more attractive guys than you there. Maybe you should be worried Lindsay will trade up,” Christian threw back at him.
“All right. Truce. We’ll go shoot some stuff and play some ball tonight. That is if Eric doesn’t kill us off first.” Jayce laughed and threw on his own shirt.
Christian sent a quick text to Maizie before heading out the door.
Christian: Have fun in Vegas, princess.
* * *
“He’s so obnoxious,”Maizie said more to herself than to Lindsay as the lady doing her pedicure rubbed the sugar scrub on then massaged.
“Why?” Lindsay asked, her voice barely audible over her massage chair.
“He always calls me princess.” Maizie tried to sound like it was a bad thing, but even she had to admit, it was growing on her.
“What are you talking about? That’s adorable. I should make Jayce call me that.” Lindsay said.
“He’s just being sarcastic,” Maizie explained.
“No boy calls you princess without meaning it.” The lady at her feet spoke up.
“I agree,” Lindsay said.
A little flicker of hope began to bloom in Maizie’s chest before she remembered to stamp it back out.
Maizie: When will you stop calling me that?
She didn’t get a response until a few hours later when she was burning in the sun by the pool.
Christian: Never.
Maizie: You are so annoying.
Christian: You are so beautiful.
Her cheeks warmed. Was it ridiculous to get butterflies from a text? She couldn’t fall for him—it was too dangerous. Even if Lindsay was right, it didn’t matter. It would hurt too much to lose him. She’d only just outgrown the nightmares she used to have about Mack. But one little accident with Christian and she’d had the same morbid dream the last two nights. And always at the end, Mack turned into Christian, and Maizie couldn’t save him no matter how loud she cried.
“Let’s get back in the pool.” Maizie poked Lindsay’s side. She needed to cool off and chill out.
