It was good to have the old Carly back. Holding her in my arms reminded me of why I had to be careful not to do anything so stupid again. I had no clue how I was going to control my feelings for her, so I turned to the only tactic I knew, avoidance. I’d focus on what I could handle, interfering in someone else’s life.

Carly thought that a united front was important. We needed to talk to Colin together, but we also had to be careful to make sure we didn’t make him suspicious. I knew we’d be fine. She was his sister and I was Maddy’s best friend. Who better to meddle in his proposal?

We drove over to Colin’s place that night when we knew Maddy was already at work. Carly kept playing with her hair the whole way over. I’d learned that was a nervous habit of hers.

As expected, Colin was working when we got there. Carly had used her key to get in, and she shouted upstairs to get his attention. We waited in the foyer for Colin to join us. He seemed open, yet wary to our suggestions.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t take her on a trip? I thought you guys were going to laugh at my first idea, honestly.”

“She’s going to love it.” I decided to lay it on thick. “Maddy’s a sucker for nostalgia. You need to play up your past to show her how it connects to your future.”

Carly grinned. I’d promised her I’d make sure our plan worked, and I wasn’t going to let her—or Maddy—down. Colin wasn’t a perfect guy, but he was head over heels in love with Maddy. He also made her happy again. He was the right one for her, and I wasn’t going to let her own insecurities, or his perfectionist tendencies mess anything up.

“So you really think I should do it this weekend? That isn’t rushing things?”

“How long have you been planning on proposing?” It was Carly’s turn.

“Since we were still in Paris.”

“Exactly.” Carly touched his arm. “Why wait?”

“Ok, what’s going on here?” He turned to Carly first, but I was next.

“What are you taking about?” Carly asked.

“Why do you care when I propose? I know you like Maddy—but this is excessive even for you. And Macon, you don’t even like me.”

“That’s not true… I like you for Maddy.” He really did make her happy.

“Fine. Something is still going on.” He crossed his arms. “I’m not doing anything until one of you tells me what that is.”

This was it. My moment, my chance to cinch the deal.

Carly beat me to the punch. “I want you to do it while I’m still here.”

“What do you mean? Where are you going?” His tone went from suspicious to concerned.

“I’m thinking about leaving next week.” She bit her lip nervously.

She was a horrible liar, and Colin knew it. “Leaving? Why?”

“I don’t want to feel like I’m messing things up between you and Maddy. I don’t want to be in the way.”

“You made this clear when you moved out. You’re not in the way, Carly.” Colin eyed her warily.

It was time for me to jump in. “Bottom line, Colin. Your sister thinks she’s cramping your style. Once you and Maddy are engaged she’ll realize she’s being ridiculous.”

“And why do you care?”

“Because I care about both of them.”

“Both of them?”

“Yeah. Maddy’s my best friend, and Carly’s a pretty cool roommate. I don’t want her moving away because of you.” Calling her a cool roommate was quite the understatement, but considering who I was talking to it seemed like the right choice of words.

He shook his head and sighed. “It’s not like I want to wait until next month. If you want me to do it this weekend, are you guys going to help?”

“Of course.” Carly popped up on her toes. “Anything you need.”

“I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Do that.” She hugged him. “All right, I have to get to work. Call me later and let me know what I can do.”

“See ya, man.” I started to follow Carly out.

“Macon?”

“Yeah?”

“Can I talk to you for a minute?”

“Sure… but I have to drop Carly off at work.”

“She can take my car.” He leaned out the front door. “Carly, catch.” He tossed his keys to her.

She caught them. “What ever happened to me not being allowed to drive your lease?”

“It’s a one-time exception.”

She grinned. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“Don’t total it.” Colin smiled before walking back inside.

“What is it you want to talk about?” I already knew it wasn’t about Maddy. If it was he would have said it in front of his sister.

“What are you doing with Carly?”

“Excuse me?” I tried to play dumb.

“I see the way she looks at you, the way you hold yourself around her. What’s going on?”

I went with honest. “I don’t know.”

“Figure it out, and make sure you don’t hurt her in the process.”

“That’s the thing. I’m trying to figure out how not to hurt her.”

“Do you like her?”

This conversation was bordering on impossibly awkward. Talking to a guy about his sister was just about as bad as it could get. “Yeah. I like her.”

“Then it shouldn’t be too hard.”

“Are you giving me permission to date her?”

“Were you waiting for that? Do you really care what I think?”

“Surprisingly yes. She’s too good for me, and we both know that.” I glanced at the door that beckoned me.

“No. She’s too good for the way you usually deal with girls, but I’m assuming you’re not stupid enough to treat her that way.”

“I’m not that bad.” It was one of those moments when I wished I’d worked harder to combat the player reputation. Normally it was convenient.

“Either way, respect her.”

“Of course I’m going to respect her, but I don’t know what she wants.” Maybe Colin had some insight into Carly. I certainly didn’t know what to make of her.

“Then find out. We both know I had no idea what I was doing with Maddy in the beginning.”

“All right, I’ll do that.”

“Good.”

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?”

“Mostly.”

“What else is there?”

“She loves surprises. Don’t forget about it.”

I smiled. That was very important information. “Thanks. I’ll have to remember that.”

---

I wondered if this was how stalkers felt. I’d been standing off to the side of the outdoor tiki bar for a full five minutes and neither Maddy nor Carly had noticed me yet. I probably could have said something, but honestly I liked watching Carly. She was studying everything Maddy did like a hawk, and she was even taking notes on her phone. There was something ridiculously cute about that.

“Can we help you, creeper?”

I’d been so busy watching Carly that I didn’t notice Maddy’s attention move to me.

“Oh, hey.”

Carly glanced at me and she smiled. “What are you doing here?”

I could tell she was dying to know what Colin had said to me.

“Carly left before I could tell her something.”

“And what’s that?” Carly settled a hand on her hip. She was wearing a couple of bangle bracelets in bright primary colors. I hadn’t noticed earlier. She had a quirky sense of style I was starting to get used to.

“I signed us up for an online bartending class. We’re starting tonight.”

“What?” Maddy eyed the crowd forming around the bar. “Is that a joke?”

“Didn’t Carly tell you about our first attempt at teaching ourselves?”

“Attempt? Are you actually admitting you’re not good at something, Macon?” Maddy unsuccessfully tried to bite back a smile.

“Completely. I suck at it, we both do. We’re going to change that though.”

“Are we really starting tonight?” Carly’s question was loaded. She was asking me whether I thought it was a good idea or not. It was. I was going to be prepared this time.

“Yes. We’re all set.”

Maddy opened a couple of beers. “I so need to watch this.”

“Nope. You’re not invited.” I loved Maddy, but this was just for Carly and me.

She handed out the beers and pulled out two martini glasses. “You can’t keep me out.”

“Sure we can. You don’t live there anymore.”

Maddy groaned. “Whatever you say.”

“Exactly.” I winked at Carly. “See you at home.”

She shook her head. “Bye, Macon.”