Nick really wouldn’t have faulted Maddie if she had gone after the kid, he would have deserved it after a remark like that. But she was relieved when the other didn’t, and a part of her was counting her lucky stars that the older girl hadn’t lashed out at her when she had placed a hand on her shoulder.
Although even if she had, Nick wouldn’t have really blamed her for that reaction either. Tempers ran high and that kid was pushing all of Maddie’s buttons. Which, it was a little bizarre to be on the same side as Maddie in something, and she wondered if this was what it looked like when the two of them would hurl things back and forth at each other. Did they sound this juvenile whenever they took digs at each other? Probably.
When Maddie shrugged her hand off, Nick let it fall to her side. She didn’t say anything; instead continuing to let whatever was going on between Maddie and this boy play out. Surprised registered on her features when the older girl began talking about her siblings. It wasn’t that she didn’t think Maddie could, it was just that it wasn’t really something the Johnson family seemed to do much of – but this situation kind of called for it.
Catching the other girl’s gaze when she glanced over at her, she hoped her expression had lost the shocked look. Nick sighed softly at Maddie’s words. She hadn’t wanted to be right, but it was pretty clear these boys were idiots. “That’s only because they’ve got the comprehension of a flea,” Nick remarked, her gaze flicking over to the boys. “And for the record next time I won’t stop Maddie from kicking your ass if you make a comment like that again.” Normally she wouldn’t threaten middle schoolers, but the remark about the Johnsons had been uncalled for and he would have deserved whatever Maddie would have done to him.
“Maybe we should threaten to get Security involved if they don’t stop…” Nick suggested only loud enough for Maddie to hear.