The moment Taylor stepped foot in the street, he pulled a box of cigarettes from his pocket and flipped one in his mouth. He dug into the pack again and pulled out a lighter. He lit the end and puffed until the paper and tobacco glowed orange.

He blew out a puff of smoke. “Have you been to Chicago before, Liis?”

“I’m from here actually.”

Taylor stopped abruptly. “Really?”

“Yes,” I said, my voice rising an octave as if it were a question.

“Huh. Millions of people in San Diego, and Thomas bags a girl from Illinois.”

“Taylor, Jesus,” Thomas scolded.

“Sorry,” Taylor said, turning to look at me.

He had Thomas’s same charming expression, one that would make the average girl swoon, and I was beginning to realize it was just a Maddox trait.

“Is Falyn at Dad’s?” Thomas asked.

Taylor shook his head. “She had to work. She’s meeting me in St. Thomas, and then we’ll fly back together.”

“Did Trav pick you up from the airport? Or did Trent?” Thomas asked.

“Honey,” I said, squeezing Thomas’s hand.

Taylor laughed. “I’m used to it. He’s always been like this.”

He walked ahead, but Thomas’s eyes softened, and he brought my hand up to his mouth for a tender tiny kiss.

Taylor nodded. “Shepley did. Travis is with Shepley all day, so I drove Trav’s car to come get you. He doesn’t know we’re in town. He thinks he’ll see us all in St. Thomas tomorrow, like the girls.”

“Are all the girls in St. Thomas?” I asked.

Thomas gave me a look. He knew exactly what I was asking.

“Not all the girls. Just Abby and her bridesmaids.” We walked into the main lot, and Taylor pointed straight ahead. “I’m all the way down by the fence.”

After hiking a hundred yards or so in the cold wind, Taylor pulled a set of keys from his pocket and pressed a button. A silver Toyota Camry chirped a few cars ahead.

“Am I the only one who thinks it’s strange that Travis has a car now?” Thomas said, staring at the vehicle.

A gold chain was looped around the rearview mirror and then separated into several strands. The ends were looped through small holes in white poker chips. They looked personalized with black-and-white striped borders and red writing in the middle.

Taylor shook his head, pushing another button to open the trunk. “You should see him driving it. He looks like a pussy.”

“Glad I’m selling mine then,” I said.

Thomas laughed and then helped Taylor load our luggage. Thomas came around and opened the passenger door for me, but I shook my head.

“It’s okay. Sit in the front with your brother.” I opened the back door. “I’ll sit back here.”