Right Girl, Wrong Side by Ginny Baird

Author:Ginny Baird
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Published: 2022-12-22T00:00:00+00:00

Twelve

Neither of Ryan’s parents had apparently done much talking by dinnertime. The tension in the kitchen was so thick you could cut it with a carving knife. At least the meal was decent. They’d picked up fresh shrimp from the fish market in town and his mom had steamed it, since they’d had to put their burgers on hold due to the Machados’ use of the grill. Ryan had prepared the baked potatoes, and Maddy’d made the salad. His dad had fixed the martinis, but his parents hadn’t chatted over cocktails as usual.

His dad stayed at the kitchen island glued to his tablet and grousing over the day’s stock market returns while his mom stepped out on the deck, trying to avoid Mr. Machado’s curious gaze as he sat on a sofa. Evita’s dad was supposedly working on a crossword puzzle on a folded-up section of newspaper, but he didn’t appear to be having much luck filling it in.

Maddy peeled another shrimp and dipped it in melted butter. “Good shrimp,” she said to no one in particular.

“Hmm, yes,” his dad said. He peeled a few for himself and dunked them in cocktail sauce. “Nice and fresh.” He continued speaking without looking at his wife. “Expertly prepared, Daneen.”

She harrumphed and sliced open her baked potato, slathering on some sour cream. “Did somebody say something?” She peered around the kitchen and very purposely past her husband’s shoulder.

Maddy rolled her eyes at Ryan, and he shook his head.

“Great salad, Mads.”

“Thanks, bro.”

His dad took a forkful of greens in creamy dressing. “It is good. My compliments. To you too, Ryan, on the potatoes.”

Nobody said anything else for the longest while.

“How about those Red Sox?” Ryan joked in an effort to lighten the mood.

His mom and dad stared at him, and he winced. “You know,” Ryan said. “I think I’m just about finished with my food.” He glanced at Maddy.

She abruptly scooted back her stool. “Yeah! Me too.”

They both got up, carrying their plates to the sink.

“But you haven’t finished,” his mom said.

Oh yeah, he had. Ryan was so past done with this.

Talk about an appetite suppressant. Watching his parents fight—but not fight.

“I was thinking,” Ryan said to Maddy, sending her silent signals with his eyes. “We could go out for a bike ride?”

“Sure.”

“Wait,” their mom said. “Now?”

Maddy glanced over her shoulder. “We’ll help with the dishes when we get back.”

“From having ice cream,” Ryan whispered to her as they scurried toward the door.

She raced outside ahead of him, breaking into giggles.

“I know.” Ryan shook his head. “That was bad.”

“I don’t know why Mom’s so mad,” she said. “I think it was sort of cute and flirty what Dad did.”

Ryan exhaled. “Don’t think she views it that way.”

Maddy’s blue eyes widened. “Maybe she’ll change her mind?”

“Maybe.”

They passed the grill, which emitted mouth-watering scents.

“Wow, that smells good,” Maddy said.

He unlocked the shed and they took out the bikes. “Yeah, but we’ll make up for it with a double hot fudge sundae.”

“Yum!”

He smirked. “I thought you didn’t like ice cream?”

“Love it.

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