Chapter Four

MADDOX

"Sissy!" I bang loudly on the door to her cottage, turning the knob once again. "Why is the door locked?"

Since my sister moved back to Love Beach, I haven't spent as much time with her as I'd like to. I've been forcing myself to stay away and let her have her time to settle back in. I know I was part of the reason she wanted to go far away to college. She needed her own identity and in a small town like ours, being a Baylor twin didn't allow her to do that. But I wasn't prepared for her to graduate and stay away. She got a job as a teacher in her college hometown and stayed there.

I filled my time then, and now, with the fire department. I take care of everyone around here, it's just in my nature to do so. Growing up, I watched my dad dedicate his time as an LB Fireman. He went out of his way for everyone, young and old in town, and now, they expect it of me, too. This town knew from the time I was a little kid I've always wanted to be a firefighter. I was going to follow in my dad's footsteps and I knew doing so right here in Love Beach was my calling.

We all expected Reece to become a nurse like our mom. It just seemed natural for both of us to learn from them and start the next generation right here. But when Reece changed her course, it threw me for a loop.

I can hear her moving around inside. "Hang on, Mads!" She sounds out of breath. She throws open the door and leans against it, not allowing much room for me to walk through.

"What's wrong? Why are you breathing like you just ran a marathon?"

She swallows hard, pulling her robe tighter around her body. She still won't open the door wider. "I was trying to jump in the shower but then I heard you banging on the door like a lunatic."

"Why's the door locked?"

"Maddox. Seriously? It's my house. I lock my doors."

"We live in Love Beach. No one locks their doors."

She glances behind her, then opens the door and steps back, allowing me to walk right in. First thing I do is head to the kitchen to dig through her cabinets.

"You don't have food at your own house?" She follows me in and takes a seat at the table.

"I don't keep snacks at mine. I need to stay in shape, ya know." I flex for her before grabbing the bag of chocolate chip cookies. I waggle my brows and slide into the chair at the kitchen table.

"You've got such a sweet tooth."

Biting into the cookie, she tsks me as crumbles fall onto the table. "I'll clean it up, relax." She shakes her head at me as I jump up to grab some milk from the fridge.

"Speaking of sweet tooth—hey!" I freeze with the carton to my lips when she yells at me. With a sheepish shrug, I grab a glass and pour instead.

"Sorry, bad habit."

She rolls her eyes at me. "Anyway, I heard you've found a new sweet place to hang out at."

I sit back down and slump in the chair. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"No? You didn't almost shut it down before she could even open it?"

"That place is a hazard," I grumble while shoving the rest of the cookie into my mouth.

"That place is going to make Mom and Dad's anniversary cake. Marigold is the only decent bake?—"

"How do you know her?"

She gives me a sly grin. "Marigold and I go way back."

"From what I was told, she just got here. You know her from school or something?"

"Checking up on her already?" She raises a brow at me. "No, we met a few weeks ago, reaching for the same peach flavoring. Isaac needed it for the bar and she needed it for her shop." She shrugs. "It was love at first reach." She turns her head. "Or, was it love at first peach?"

Groaning at her corny joke. "You're so ridiculous. And since when is she making the cake? She didn't tell me that."

"Knowing you, you didn't give her a chance."

Narrowing my eyes. "What's that mean?"

"Nothing!" She sing-songs the word and stands from her seat at the table. "Listen, I've let you off the hook with this party planning so far but I need your help. Vienna is already doing a lot and it's not even her parents. Even Isaac is helping more than you."

My eyes narrow at the mention of my best friend. "He's been helping?"

"Yes." She stares back at me.

When I found out my sister was coming back for the summer, I asked Isaac to give her a job at his bar - Love Beach Brews. She's a hustler and a people person, so the bar was a perfect fit. I just hope there isn't more going on. Those two were on fire for each other when we were seniors in high school. Their love was strong, and it continued when we all went away to school together. But when Isaac and I were set to come home, I assumed Reece would follow. It broke me when she had found a new plan that didn't involve the two of us. I hated that it felt like I had to choose between my sister and my best friend. But he was here, and she wasn't. So I pushed my own agenda and jumped in head first to firefighting.

"Speaking of, Isaac treating you alright at the bar?" She drops her eyes from me, quickly nodding. I notice her hesitation. It's slight, but it's there.

"It's fine. It's a passing thing until I know where I'm going."

"You're looking to leave again?"

She shrugs. "I'm not sure what's happening, but yes, the plan is to apply for open teaching jobs in North Carolina."

"Talk to me before you make a decision. Please." She pulls her robe tighter and I feel like it's my cue. "Listen, I know I've been slacking on party patrol. You said Goldie is making the cake? Let me go with you when you taste test," I huff. "I'll probably be there already. Her damn alarms keep going off. I'm getting tired very quickly of her dragging my department out all hours of the day and night."

"Yeah, I bet it's a real hardship saving the beautiful new girl in town." Her sarcasm is thick.

Standing from my seat, I stretch and twist around, loosening up my back. "No hardship at all for me."

"Cut her some slack."

"I am! Anyone else and I would've shut the place down by now." My sister ushers me to the door, placing a sloppy kiss on my cheek.

"Okay, big brother-by-fifty-seven-seconds, I'll call you!" And with that, she pushes me out and slams the door.

Click.

I hear the lock snap back into place. Did she just give me the brush off?