Page 13 of Protecting Maggie
Unknown, Unknown + 1 more: I wonder if there’s someone we can get a hold of to see about clearing you. Because the whole thing sounds like BS to me.
Maggie’s eyes instantly filled with tears. She literally didn’t know these women, had only met Remi once, and they’d already shown more faith in her than people she’d known for years. When she’d been arrested, all of her so-calledfriendshad disappeared into thin air. Everyone except for Adina.
She quickly added the numbers of the women into her contact list.
Wren, Remi + 1 more: So…lunch?
Maggie:I’d like that, but I don’t have a car at the moment. Ironic, huh?
Wren, Remi + 1 more: No problem! We can pick you up. Bo got a ride to work with Flash today, so I can use hisWrangler.
Maggie: Okay.
Wren, Remi + 1 more: Send me your address later. We’ll be there around noon. Will that work?
Maggie: Yeah. Without a car, I’m not working anyway.
Wren, Remi + 1 more: Okay. See you at noon then!
Wren, Remi + 1 more: This’ll be fun!
Wren, Remi + 1 more: I have one more cartoon to sketch out then I’m done for the day. Can’t wait to see you again, Maggie!
Maggie felt as if she were in an alternate dimension. She couldn’t really afford to go to lunch. Having people interested in being her friend didn’t make her money woes disappear. She had a little bit of the money left that Remi had tipped her, but fixing Adina’s car wouldn’t be cheap. The three women were so welcoming and nice though, it was impossible to say no.
She missed having friends. People to hang out with. To laugh with. To just coexist with. Maggie had no problem being alone, she liked it actually, but she’d spent the last two years while incarcerated locked in her own head. It would be nice to hang out with someone other than herself for the first time in a long while.
Inevitably, her thoughts went back to Shawn. He’d been the one to give the other women her number. What was his angle? He’d said he wasn’t looking for sex, butallmen wanted that…didn’t they?
Deciding to turn him down flat if he offered to pay to fix whatever was wrong with Adina’s car made Maggie feelbetter. She didn’t need a guy to “save” her from her life. A man had put her in the predicament she was in now, and she’d be damned if she repeated her past mistakes.
She’d figure out a way to pay for the car herself. Somehow.
Right at noon, through the window of her apartment, Maggie saw a black Jeep Wrangler pull into the parking lot. She could see three women in the vehicle, so she quickly sent a text to the group, letting them know she was on her way down. She grabbed her purse and locked the door behind her before heading down the stairs.
She’d second-guessed this decision a dozen times since she’d agreed to go to lunch, but she couldn’t back out now. She exited the building and saw Remi standing by the Jeep.
“Hi!” she said happily as Maggie approached.
“Hi,” Maggie returned. Then, to her surprise, Remi stepped forward and hugged her. Unexpected tears sprang to her eyes. How long had it been since she’d been touched with kindness? Since she’d gotten a hug? Years.
“We thought Hob Nob Hill sounded perfect for today. I hope that’s okay?” Remi said when she’d pulled back.
Maggie shrugged. “I don’t eat out a lot. I’m sure it’s fine.”
“It’s more than fine!” the woman behind the wheel of the Jeep said. “I’m Wren, by the way. And it’s amazing. Laid-back comfort food and not a pretentious atmosphere.My favorite is the Iowa Porker. It’s a huge, deep-fried pork tenderloin sandwich. I can never eat it all, but Bo doesn’t mind because he gets the leftovers.”
Maggie couldn’t help but smile at that. She climbed into the backseat next to Remi.
“I’m Josie. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Same,” Maggie said.
The talk on the way to the restaurant was casual, and Maggie was relieved that she didn’t need to participate much in the conversation. The three women seemed to genuinely like each other, and she got the impression that it had been a while since they’d gotten together. She said as much and was surprised when Remi laughed.
“I saw Wren two days ago, when we worked together in the morning, and Josie came over last night and we watched a movie.”
“Oh,” Maggie said. “I just thought…it seemed as if you guys hadn’t talked in a while.”
