Keeping You Away - Kennedy Fox Page 0,88

says from behind me and stops. “Oh, sorry, didn’t realize you were on the phone.”

I turn to face her. “It’s fine. I’ll be off in a minute.”

She nods and walks to the break room carrying our bags of food. Once she’s out of sight, I look back at the screen where Maddie’s eyebrows are lifted. She’s waiting for an explanation. “Excuse me, who is that?”

I roll my eyes at her. “It’s not what you think. Her dad is my new boss.”

Her voice is nearly a whisper. “Gemma?”

I nod once.

“Oh. Em. Gee!” I turn down the volume because she’s on speaker. “The plot thickens.”

Brushing my fingers through my hair, I groan. “There’s no plot. We’re…friends.”

She snorts and nods because she doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. Hell, I’m not either, but I’m not going into that story right now. “Yeah, I remember when Liam said that for years, too. Good luck with that.” She gives me her infamous smirk.

I tilt my head at her, hoping Gemma can’t hear this conversation. “For someone who just gave birth, you’re awfully energized.”

“Don’t change the subject,” she teases. “When are you gonna ask her out?”

“Jesus.” I blow out a breath, wishing she’d stop. “I gotta go, Mads.”

“You liar! You're just trying to get rid of me.”

I throw her a boyish grin. “I’d never.”

“I want details, you hear me? Text me all the juiciness.” She points her finger at me.

Scrunching my nose, I shake my head. She’s just as bad as Everleigh. “I think you’ve confused me with one of your gossipy girlfriends again.”

With narrowed eyes, she tries to persuade me, but it’s not going to work. “Liam and I won’t be able to have sex for six weeks. I need your dating life to hold me over.”

“Maddie, I didn’t enjoy hearing you guys in the next room for three weeks, so I most definitely don’t enjoy hearing you talk about it.” It’s as bad as finding my sister’s clit massager.

“Geez, you’re so dramatic.”

In the break room, I can hear the plastic bags rustling and the fridge closing.

“If you want a girl to gossip with, I’ll give you my sister’s number,” I mock, but regret it the moment I say it.

“Really?” She perks up. “Good. She’ll tell me all the details of your love life.”

“Shit. I really shot myself in the foot by saying that. Never mind. My sister doesn’t have a phone.”

“I gave birth today, but I wasn’t born today. So nice try,” she retorts

Seconds later, I hear Liam and nearly jump. “Quit hassling the man.”

“What are you doing here? Where’s Tyler?” Maddie panics as Liam comes into view and presses a kiss to her forehead.

“Relax. My dad is sleeping over. I didn’t want you two to be alone.”

The way they look at each other is something I desperately wish I had. “Aww,” I sing-song. “You two are disgustingly adorable.”

“Dude.” Liam moves closer. “How are things down in the South?”

We talk often, but he likes to ask these basic questions when Maddie is around, just so the conversation doesn’t move to Victoria.

“Fuckin’ hot, that’s what. Especially in the garage.” I groan, still wearing my sweaty clothes from today. I can’t wait to go home and take a damn shower.

“Hey, no bad language around the baby!” The moment the words leave Maddie’s mouth, she chuckles.

“How are the new jobs going?” Liam asks. I told him last week about getting hired at the gym.

“Not bad. Keeps my mind occupied, which I like, and off other things.” I don’t mention what those other things are, but nothing gets past Maddie.

“Like Gemma…” she whispers and grins.

“No, like the mafia princess who put me in prison,” I say sternly, but she was right. Gemma is always on my mind too. I just can’t admit that with her so close. But considering I’m going to Vegas this weekend for my deposition on Monday, it’s hard not to think about Victoria.

“Tyler, you better not be thinking what I think you are,” Liam states firmly.

I shrug, fully aware my food is getting cold in the next room. “I really do have to go, though.”

“We love you!” Maddie tells me. “Please call me soon. You know I’ll be bored on maternity leave!”

“I will, Mads. Don’t worry,” I promise with a sincere smile.

After we say our goodbyes, I hang up, take a deep breath, then enter the break room. Gemma really did pull the whiskey from her dad’s bottom drawer and opened it.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t wait,” she tells me around a mouthful. I move