If You Leave: The Beautifully Broken Series: Book 2 by Courtney Cole Page A

last night, what she begged me to do. Show her that she doesn’t have the upper hand with me just because I can’t remember what I did.
    Grinning to myself, I switch seats so that I’m squarely facing her. And then I pointedly stare at her.
    This should prove entertaining.
    *     *     *

Madison
    What the hell?
    My cheeks flush hotly as I feel Gabriel’s stare burning into me from across the room. How in the name of all that is holy did I not notice that his last name was the same as Jacey’s when I looked at his driver’s license last night? That accident must’ve shaken me up even more than I realized. And why the hell is he staring at me? He’s acting like nothing happened last night at all, like he didn’t totally lose his shit. What am I supposed to do with that?
    Even though he’s very obviously trying to draw my attention, there’s no way in hell that I’m going to acknowledge it. I’d rather die before I give him the satisfaction of looking at him. Instead I concentrate even more on appearing like I’m having one hell of a good time.
    I pick up my wineglass and take another sip, before I smile broadly at my brother-in-law.
    “So, how do you like working for your grandpa? How often are you going to have to go to Hartford this summer?”
    Pax pauses mid-bite and thinks about my question. As he does, he absently rubs my sister’s back with his free hand.
    “At first I wondered what the hell I’d gotten myself into. There was no way I wanted to be surrounded by suits and ties every day. But then I settled in and found my place. I don’t have to wear a suit and tie because I own the fucking company. I’m still proving myself to my grandpa, but I think I’m gonna like it.”
    “Good,” I answer. “But I’m not going to like it when you guys move away.”
    Mila rolls her eyes. “Mad, we’ve been through this a hundred times. It’s a two-hour plane ride. You can come see me and I’ll come see you. It’s not like we’re never going to see each other again. And hopefully you’ll be dating someone soon, so that will distract you. We’ve gotta figure out something to do with your personal life.”
    I raise an eyebrow. “Oh,
we
do, huh? You’re going to have input on that?”
    Mila laughs and pats Pax’s leg. “I’m good at relationships, apparently. I can help you with yours.”
    “I don’t have a relationship,” I remind her. “That was your whole point.”
    She rolls her eyes again.
    “Fine. We’re going to start with an easy one. Ethan Eldridge. I know for a fact that he’s single. I bumped into his mom at the library the other day. She said he’s been lonely because a lot of his old friends have moved away. So there you go. You can start by dating Ethan. He’ll be good practice.”
    I hold up a spoon. “And it doesn’t matter to you that this spoon has more of a personality than he does?”
    Pax bursts out laughing, looking over at Ethan before he glances at his wife.
    “She has a point. Madison needs someone who can give her a run for her money. That guy… er, he doesn’t seem quite up to it.”
    Mila gives her husband a skeptical look. “Maybe. But Maddy has always picked guys that are too overbearing, too controlling. And then it ends in a disaster and Maddy’s pissed off at the world and at the male species in general. Maybe she needs to try out a guy like Ethan.”
    We all glance discreetly in Ethan’s direction, to find him scrolling quietly through his cell phone. He’s wearing a preppy watch, a preppy shirt, perfectly fitted khakis. He’s so neat and tidy that even his nails are buffed and cut to a neat square. Very neutral, very bland and vanilla.
    Bland and vanilla just aren’t me.
    Pax turns back around, shaking his head. “I don’t think he’s got it in him to handle Maddy.”
    I raise my eyebrows. “He can’t
handle
me?”
    Pax quickly backtracks. “That’s not exactly what I meant. You’re… shall we say… a little fierce. You need a