Chapter Seven

MADDOX

"Boss! You got company!"

I pick my head up from the couch and open my eyes to find my best friend shaking a bag of food.

"There better be a burger in that bag."

"I know what you need and I'm here for you." Issac tosses the bag my way and I can already smell the mushroom cheddar burger that I love from Love Beach Brews. Sitting up straight, I pull the burger from the bag, unwrap it and take a bite.

"So good," I mumble around the food in my mouth. He sinks into the recliner, throwing the legs up and pushes the back flat, putting his arms behind his head in a relaxed manner. "What's going on? Shouldn't you be at the bar?"

"I just needed a break for a minute." He looks tense and it makes me wonder what's going on.

"My sister giving you a hard time?"

His eyes cut sharply to me but a moment later he relaxes. "Her and Vienna are holding the place down pretty well. I'm going to miss the help when they both leave at the end of summer."

I take another bite wanting to avoid this conversation. Despite my lackluster attention to her, I don't want my sister to leave Love Beach. Recalling the conversation years ago where Isaac got drunk and told me that Reece left and stayed away because of me, still hurts. He said she told him she needed to get away… away from me… she didn't want to follow in our parents footsteps.

Turns out everyone knew she wanted to forge her own path but me. Why wouldn't she talk to me? Was I that domineering over her life? I just want the best for her.

It hurt that she didn't think she could come to me. We're twins, we shared every excitement, every celebration and every hurt growing up. So when she decided to not return to Love Beach, and leave Isaac here alone, I felt that, too. He was distraught at her departure, and I couldn't help but feel responsible. She was leaving us both because I was overbearing.

So on that final day, to ensure she didn't hurt either of us again, I made them promise never to go back to their relationship. I wasn't going to watch them both hurt. And I definitely did not want to lose either one of them. Selfish on my part? Probably. Do I regret it? Maybe.

When I don't answer, he continues talking, "How's the party planning coming along?"

Rolling my eyes. "She put you up to coming here?"

"No!" He barks out a laugh. "I have no ulterior motive."

"Sure." I finish my bite. "I'm trying to do what I can, but I'm always here. They've got me training the new guy. Plus that damn bakery alarm won't stop ringing."

"But I heard you're the first one there each time." He eyes me with a smirk. "Even when you're not on duty."

"It's only been twice that I wasn't on duty. I have an oath to uphold you know." He laughs at me, seeing right through the bullshit I'm spitting. "Whatever, bro. She's hot. And she doesn't like me so you know what happens then."

"I do know. And why do you say she doesn't like you? Just because she's not dropping at your feet?"

"Well, yeah."

He shakes his head and pushes up from the chair. "From what I heard she just came out of a break up. It's why she ended up here. And your sister and her are like this…" he crosses his fingers.

"I know. She's got me going to the bakery tonight after my shift to taste test."

"Sounds like a great idea. Make sure you shower and work extra hard on that charm, Mads."

I roll up the tinfoil my burger was in and throw it at him. "Who can resist all this?"

"Not me!" he calls out as he leaves the station.

I hum to myself. And not Goldie, either, if I have anything to do with it.