Hold Me Close (Ryker Falls #5) - Wendy Vella Page 0,64

that happened. I was shot. I was hospitalized and I still have nightmares, and loud noises send me back there. I’m nervous and pretty screwed up at the moment, but I’m working on that, and since being back here I’m stronger.”

“And what? You never told anyone about this?” Joe said the words softly, but she saw the anger. “Not even your best friend who happens to be my wife. Not your family?”

“I thought I’d come out of hospital and get on with my life. I didn’t want to worry anyone.”

“Not worrying someone is not telling them you’ve been hit with a parking violation, not a bullet!” Jack shook his head. “You had no right to keep that kind of thing from your family or us. No right at all.” He glared at her.

“It’s my life.” She felt cornered, and yes, guilty, because they did have a right to know. She’d lived with these people for years. They were her extended family, and she knew every important decision or thing that had happened to them, and yet she’d hidden this.

“We should have known, Maggs. Could have helped you through this when you returned.” Luke just looked sad.

Maggs felt sick, like her insides were in a blender. Fin was right, the choices she’d made had been the wrong ones, even if she’d convinced herself otherwise.

“I almost feel sorry for you when the women find out,” Dylan said.

She looked at the faces of the people she’d known most of her life. The men who had been boys. Each had overcome their challenges to be who stood before her. Good, strong men. Men who had always looked out for her, and yes, considered her one of theirs.

“I’m sorry,” Maggs whispered. “Really.”

“Well now, here’s the thing.” Joe stepped closer. “When you love someone, you expect they’re going to screw up, Maggie, and you love and forgive them anyway. I’m seriously pissed with you, as I know the others are, and that’s because we care about you, sweet cheeks. You’re my sister in every way that matters. But here’s another something for you.” He lifted her chin. “You don’t ever keep anything like this from us again.”

“I w-won’t.” The tears started then, and she fell into his arms. “And I-I don’t plan on getting shot again.”

“Good to know.” Joe kissed her forehead, then stepped back.

They all hugged her, except Fin, who just leaned on the broom and watched.

“We have to go now, but you know we still love you, even if we’re angry,” Joe said. “And that stems from concern.”

“I know.” Maggs watched her friends leave the gallery, and suddenly she was alone with Fin again. She almost wanted to run after them.

“You shouldn’t have made me tell them.” She rounded on him. “It was my right to do that, or not.”

“I don’t keep things from my friends, and they would have found out sometime—or were you planning to wear long sleeves all summer so they didn’t see your arm?”

“It was my story to tell.”

“And now you’ve told it. Feel better?”

She wanted to slap him, but the truth was, she did.

“Did you speak to your father yet?” She hit back at him.

His face tightened.

“I mean, if we’re coming clean and baring all.”

“Not happening, end of story.” He rested the broom carefully against the wall, then walked toward her.

“Coward.”

“Yes, where he is concerned, I am.”

Her heart hurt for him. “Fin—”

“Let’s go.”

“I can walk home, Fin. The fresh air will be n-nice.”

“I’m driving you to your parents’. You’re telling them, and it will be like ripping off a scab, nice and clean. Get it all done in a day.” He grabbed her arm and walked her through the gallery and out the front door. “Lock it.”

“I can drive myself. Seriously, Fin, I don’t want to hold you up any longer.” Maggs fumbled with her keys and managed to jam them in the locks. “Besides, I need to come back here later and get things ready for tomorrow so I can open.”

“The gallery part is fine. You can do the rest tomorrow.” He pulled a woolen hat out of his jacket pocket, then tugged it onto her head. “The cruiser is this way.” He took her arm again.

“Don’t manhandle me!”

“I won’t have to if you move your feet. It’s cold out, and you have wet hair.”

“I’m not going anywhere with you!”

“Think again. Right now, I’m over discussing stuff with you and not getting anywhere, so I’m taking action.”

Maggs snarled at him as he placed his hand on her head