Maddie handed out the small appetizer plates the waiter had left when he delivered their drinks. “Sounds like things are going well.”
“We’re not planning any romantic getaways like you and Keith, but yeah, so far, things are great,” Alex answered as the waiter set down the appetizer sampler they’d ordered in addition to entrees.
Lisa’s hand froze before it reached her drink. “You and Keith just went on vacation.”
“We were only gone for three nights, and one of them we spent at his parents’ house, so I’m not sure it qualifies as a vacation. So, we’re planning a trip to Puerto Rico in December.”
“I forgot about your long weekend in Maine. Did you guys have fun?” Alex asked as she added food to her plate.
Lisa could’ve slapped Alex for asking that question because she didn’t want to hear anything about Maddie and Keith’s weekend away.
“We did. I got to meet Keith’s family before we drove up to Maine. And Keith went all out and booked us a hotel suite with a fireplace and hot tub.”
Lisa stabbed the stuffed mushroom on her plate and wished it was Maddie’s heart instead as the bitch shared the details from her time in Maine.
“He even arranged for there to be flowers, chocolates, and champagne in the room when we checked in.”
“Keith, as in the Keith Wallace we work with, did that?” Alex asked. “Are you sure he wasn’t a lookalike?”
Laughing, Maddie nodded and added a smothered potato skin to her plate. “Surprised the hell out of me too. But it’s not the first time he’s bought me flowers. Keith can be romantic when he wants to be.”
He’d never bought her flowers or booked them a hotel suite. Hell, he’d never even taken her on vacation or introduced her to his family.
“Since you had a private hot tub in the room, is it safe to assume you guys put it to good use?” Alex asked.
“Yep, as well as the large shower stall and the king-sized bed.”
Pain shot up her wrist as her fingernails dug into her palm, and Lisa forced her hand to relax. This night was rapidly going from bad to worse.
“I’ve never been to Maine, but I know Brandon’s aunt and his younger brother live there. Where did you guys stay? Maybe if we ever go up to visit and it’s close to his family, we can go there.”
“We were at the Admiral’s Resort in Ogunquit. I’d have to ask Keith for the address. But it was very nice. I think you’d like it there.”
“Brandon’s brother is in Portland, and I think he said his aunt lives in Old Orchard Beach. Do you know if either is close to where you stayed?”
“No idea. Ask Keith; he might know.” Maddie shrugged and pulled her beeping phone from her purse. “Keith said Spike’s house lost power,” she said after reading the text message. “If it’s not back on soon, he’s heading to my house.”
Keith shouldn’t be going to Maddie’s house. After leaving his friends, Keith should either be coming to see her or heading to his apartment and waiting for her. He knew that. Keith was only trying to make her jealous, as usual. And damn, it was working.
“Does he know you’re out?” Lisa asked.
Maddie finished typing a message and put her phone on the table. “Yes, but Keith has a key, so he can let himself in. I don’t have to worry about rushing home.”
If Maddie had given Keith a key to her house, did that mean she had one for Keith’s apartment?
Lisa had one. She’d found it in the junk drawer in his kitchen a few weeks before he ended their involvement. Considering all the crap Keith kept in there, he’d probably never noticed it was gone. And if he had gone looking for it, he most likely assumed he’d misplaced the thing.
And not only did Lisa have a key, but she’d used it more than once. Sitting in his kitchen or lying on his bed helped her feel closer to him.
The first time she’d let herself in had been about a month after they had broken up. She’d driven to his apartment complex, curious about what he was up to. When she saw his motorcycle wasn’t in the parking lot, she took a chance and went inside. Her next visit came after Maddie mentioned Keith was traveling for work and wouldn’t be home for a couple of days. Her most recent visit had been last weekend while Maddie and Keith were in Maine. Since she knew he wouldn’t be home until Monday, she’d spent all day Saturday there.
“Does anyone want the last stuffed mushroom?” Alex asked.
She’d lost much of her appetite when Maddie started talking about her and Keith’s time away. “I’m all set.”
“It’s all yours.” Maddie gestured toward the plate as she picked up her cell phone again.
Alex added the mushroom and a chicken wing to her plate. “Since we’re on the topic of Keith, did you decide if you’re going to ask him to move in with you?”