This is not for real—or even if this chemistry is very much for real (because it has to be), this it not for forever.
Nick takes a deep breath, as if pulling himself together, shakes his head, and pulls away his hand, stepping back and crossing his arms.
It’s like the cold wind from outside snuck through any cracks under the windowsill and grabbed me in its icy embrace.I step forward.
“No.I also don’t want to kiss you for the first time in my mom’s house,” Nick says.
For the first time…
And if I’m really a terrible kisser…for the last time.
I step back.
“There’s not enough privacy,” Nick says.“Why don’t I tell my mom that I snore and you have an important meeting tomorrow, so you need your sleep, and then I’ll take the couch?”
Nick looks incredibly pleased with himself, nodding as he sits down at the edge of the bed.“Unless you want to be the snorer?”
Chapter nineteen
Nick
Maddiedidnotvolunteerto be the snorer.I chuckle and receive a glare from a library patron seated nearby.
We woke up early to drive back so we could be at the St.Agnes Library on the Upper West Side when it opened, after a stop at the apartment of Uncle Tony, Maddie’s friend’s uncle.He works as a costume designer on Broadway.Now we’re in disguise, sitting at two computers in the center of St.Agnes Library.Bookcases are on either side of us.At the front by the big windows is the children’s section.
We’re dressed as two older adults who have seen better days.But then, as Uncle Tony explained, there must be a reason why we’re spending the entire day in the library.At first, he was excited that he could use his rag stash (fromLes Misérables), but then Maddie reminded him that it might scare the children.The library is hosting a pre-Valentine’s Day crafting event for the community.In the back, a planting station has been set up, run by Maddie’s friend Lily, where children are planting seeds in cups.In the front is a crafting session, where they’re making Valentine’s Day cards with a lot of construction paper, glitter, and glue.A little girl comes by with a large card filled with button flowers and glitter, and Maddie looks disappointed that she can’t participate.
“I’m sure they’ll let you make a card,” I say to her.We can’t see the crafting tables from where we’re sitting because our view is blocked by bookshelves, but a number of adults have walked by with handmade missives.
She glances at me and shakes her head.“I should stay in character.”Uncle Tony has given her a sort of Mrs.Haversham vibe, with flowing gray curly hair and this floaty white outfit, but she still looks adorable.I’m wearing a worn blazer, wool pants that are a bit loose on me, and this peppered-gray wig, which doesn’t look half-bad on me.
“I can’t believe I’m finally going to get a break in this case,” Maddie whispers to me.“I can’t believe he signals to his accomplice via his Instagram posts.”
“I’m impressed you figured it out,” I whisper back.
Maddie nods and resumes typing.
Iris and Bella are on the lookout upstairs.Maddie showed them photos of the three deputy commissioners and Beatrice so they know what the potential suspects look like.Bella is working on her next novel on her laptop, and Iris also said she could easily work from here as well as from home.Maddie said she didn’t believe that since Iris seems to have an elaborate home computer setup, but she appreciated the help.
Meanwhile, we sit here and wait.Maddie is working on an article, and I’m doing the books for January for our band and for the few businesses I freelance for.I also text back and forth with Amira about the logistics for our concert next weekend.I shift in my chair again.I’m not cut out for waiting.What if Ward doesn’t show up?Those clues seemed solid.He’s going to show.
“Can I ask you a question?”I whisper to Maddie.
“Sure,” Maddie says.
“Why did you say yesterday that living in a cookie factory was every child’s dream ‘at first’?”
Maddie’s eyes look at me out of a face that seems aged with wisdom.“Because my mom was obsessed with making her cookie business a success, and that was her priority, and because I was a bit chubby in middle school and the kids teased me that it must be because I was eating all my mom’s cookies.It was hard, and I didn’t want to tell her that they teased me because she was working so hard.I was also proud of her.It was impressive that she made it a success.Especially as a single mom after my dad died.And then she was upset when I didn’t want to work for the business.I can understand your frustration with your mom’s pressure to have a different career.I’m lucky that my sister is happy to work with my mom and will take over the family business.But that also means that they’re super close, and sometimes I feel like I’m on the outside.”She pauses.“That’s probably more than you wanted to know.”She ducks her head.
I touch her arm.“I’m sorry.”
She shrugs.“I love being a reporter.Like that high yesterday when a piece of the puzzle finally clicks into place.”She faces me.“Your mom.I’m trying to picture her falling for a musician, and I actually can kind of see that.”
“You can?”I ask.
“She was dancing in the kitchen while making pancakes before you were awake and before she knew that I’d come down.That’s why I went back up and waited until I heard you.”Maddie’s eyes look at me with concern, and my chest warms with how much she cares.“What happened with your dad?”
“They met at a concert, and you know what happened next.She traveled around with him on tour until I arrived.He didn’t want to settle down.He had said he’d take care of everything, but as she explained it, she soon realized he was too addicted to the rush of a performance and to alcohol, later drugs, and he would get antsy staying at home.He couldn’t do it, and he began to resent both of us, blaming her for tying him down when he was on the cusp of success.Not that I think he was.”
