Free On the Rocks by Alyssa Rose Ivy

it’s possible to feel as strongly about him as I do.”
    “But that’s a good thing, right? I mean isn’t it great to feel that way?” I wouldn’t know. I’d never been in love before. At least not the kind of ‘I want to spend my life with someone’ love.
    “It is, but it’s also terrifying. It’s like suddenly my decisions, and the things I want aren’t just mine.” She looked away for a second. “I’m afraid of letting him down.” She whispered the last words.
    “Letting him down?” I turned toward her. “How would you do that?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Is this about your parents? About not getting into med school?”
    Maddy had ended up in Corolla after getting rejected from med school. I didn’t know all the details, but from what I gathered, I wasn’t the only one who used a summer in the Outer Banks as a post-graduation escape.
    “Maybe. I feel like I’m all over the place lately.”
    “Yeah, I know the feeling.” I put an arm around her. “He’s so in love with you it’s crazy.”
    She smiled. “I know. I feel the same way.”
    “Then finish getting packed.”
    “Are you trying to kick me out?” She wiped her eyes.
    “Possibly.”
    “In that case, I guess I should go.” She stood up.
    “I’m coming with you.” I hopped off the bed.
    “Why? What are you afraid of? Didn’t you bring half your stuff with you?”
    I laughed. “I figured I should probably tell Colin before I officially move.”
    “Why? He’s your brother, not your parent. You’re an adult anyhow.”
    “You don’t think he’d care if I didn’t come back tonight?”
    She played with a loose string on her cover up. “I never said he wouldn’t care, just that it’s not his decision.”
    “What about the rest of my stuff? And my car?”
    “It’s up to you, but we can definitely bring everything by. Just give me the keys.”
    I tried to get a read. Did she want to get me out of the house? That just didn’t feel like Maddy. Maybe she didn’t want me to chicken out or something. Either way, staying made the most sense. “Ok, you’ll have Colin bring my car and stuff over later?”
    “Absolutely. You know he’s going to want to come check on you anyway.”
    “Okay, good luck.”
    She laughed. “Shouldn’t I be saying that to you?”
    “Any last minute advice you have about living with these guys?” I lowered my voice hoping Brody wouldn’t over hear.
    “Don’t sleep with them,” she said completely seriously.
    “What?” I’m sure my mouth was hanging open.
    “You heard me.” She grinned before heading to the door.
    “You don’t know that from experience….” I really doubted it.
    “The only experience I’m speaking from is living with them. They can be annoying and full of themselves as is. If you get in their beds it will probably just be worse.”
    “Colin would freak if he heard you say that.”
    “I guess it’s a good thing he didn’t then.” She laughed again. “I’ll call you before we come over later. Enjoy the new place.”
    “I think I will.”
    “I know you will.” She disappeared through the doorway.
    I braced my hands behind me on the bed. What had I gotten myself into?

Chapter Ten
    Macon
     
    I pushed open the door to Maddy’s room, ready to give her a hard time for listening to electronic-pop music. It wasn’t her usual taste. “Hey, Maddy, what are you—” I stopped mid-sentence.
    “Hey.” Carly gripped a towel tightly around her.
    “Oh.” I forced myself to turn away despite the pleasant view of seeing her in just that blue cotton towel. Her skin was slightly red from the hot shower she must have just taken.
    “Yeah… could you give me a second?” Her cheeks were red, but otherwise she seemed unconcerned with my entrance. That probably meant she was really embarrassed. She was trying hard to hold it together.
    “Oh, sure.” I backed out of the room awkwardly. “Sorry.”
    “It’s okay.”
    I closed the door securely behind me and walked