Hail Mary (The Mavericks Series)

by Julianna Marley

  “It was one time,” he barked as Shay and Rory threw popcorn at him mumbling about it happening every time.

  “And no getting so damn excited that ye’ yell it out before your teammates can have a chance to guess.” Tommy raised his brow as they all looked at Holly.

  “I’m sorry, it’s a lot of pressure okay,” she said, shaking her head and Whitney giggled taking a sip of water.

  “And no helping ye’ teammates by trying to whisper because of their lack o’ drawing abilities.”

  “Ma!” Everyone accused looking at Fiona as her mouth opened and then closed again. Clearly they had played this game a few times before and she thought it was nice. She never had family game night growing up. When Georgie had finally been old enough to play Candy Land, she had lasted a whole eight minutes before she got bored and left to go read a book. She couldn’t even remember all the times she’d played Sorry all by herself. Yep, she had played every color, switching spots and moving the pegs and popping the dice.

  But this.

  This was nice.

  “Alright, team one. Patrick, Cian, Erin, Finn & Holly.” Uncle Tommy pointed to one side of the room and he quickly pointed to the other. “Team two. Fi, Siobhan, Rory, Whitney and baby boy.” Grabbing a card, Tommy instructed them all, “Choose one player to draw first.”

  Taking a long pull of his beer, Shay set it back down on the table as Rory did the same, every precise movement identical. Scooting over as Siobhan nudged her so that Fiona could join them on the couch, she felt her body press harder against Shay. Her belly fluttering, she felt so silly. Like she was in grade school again and avoiding eye contact. Avoiding the clean scent rolling off his skin and ignoring that he had shaved his face. She was even ignoring the heat coming off his body like a furnace and how solid his leg muscles were even beneath his jeans.

  “Oh, can I go first? I’m really good,” Siobhan pleaded, her big red curls bouncing in Whitney’s face.

  “How good?” Shay asked, leaning over her shoulder, her heart hammering inside her chest. She refused to move. Refused to turn her head slightly at the risk of nearing joining lips.

  “They’re putting Finn in first,” Shay jerked his chin as Finn stood up to the giant pad of paper.

  “She’s got this,” Rory said firmly, his eyes not moving.

  “Alright.” Shay grabbed his beer taking a slow pull. She shouldn’t be wondering why he was so close and why he wasn’t moving and how much she liked it. He made her head dizzy all day between watching the sunrise and playing with Quinn and helping her down the hills and rocks. His story about Rory and showing her all the spots he favored as a child. Finn and Siobhan both looked at the card that Tommy held and she clenched her fists.

  “How,” she stuttered, clearing her throat as Siobhan stood next to a large board. “How do y’all play this game?”

  Shay froze with a fistful of popcorn in his mouth looking at her like she had four heads while Rory shook his head slowly.

  “You don’t know how to play Pictionary?” Shay asked over the popcorn, washing it down with his beer.

  No. She didn’t know how to play Pictionary. Her family didn’t do this stuff. Didn’t play games. Didn’t enjoy family.

  “Alright, speed session here,” Rory jumped in closer. “You got a word and it is either a person, place, object or phrase,” he said, glancing at Siobhan. “And judging by how confident Siobhan looks, I’m going to go with a place. She’s pretty good at drawing structures.”

  “And watch out for Erin. She likes to inch close to her team and sneak keywords out,” Fiona whispered loudly, determination on her small face. The woman was adorable.

  “They will each draw what’s on the card and the first team to guess it, wins that round. Got it?”

  “I think so,” she shook her head as Shay’s hand closed over her shoulder. Looking up at him quickly, a quick smirk played at the corners of his mouth and her breath hitched.

  “You’ll be fine, Sunshine.”

  Siobhan began drawing frantically the moment Tommy screamed Go as both sides yelled at her and Finn. Watching her draw three circles, one much bigger than the others she wasn’t quite sure where she was going with the drawing.

  “Disney World?” Rory yelled, inching closer off the edge of the couch.

  “Disneyland?” Shay spewed, getting in closer as Siobhan drew small knobs on each circle.

  “NASA!” Fiona yelled out and she had to bite her lip.

  Rory and Shay both standing tall, their mannerisms mirrored each as they both looked down at their mother at the same time. “What?”

  Siobhan was treating the object like a work of art and Whitney watched the timer trickle down. Rory had been right. It seemed to be a place.

  Place. Place. Place. Plac-

  “The Taj Mahal!” Whitney shot up from her seat, throwing her arms up.

  “Yes!”

  Turning around, Shay’s face lit up. Laughing he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her against his solid chest as his lips rested against her hair. “Good job, Sunshine.” His voice was like butter and she hated how her body reacted to him. Even more ashamed of how he affected her while being in a room with nine other people.

  “Alright country, you’re up,” Rory announced pointing to the board.

  “What?” she asked looking up at Shay, his grin matching his brother’s.

  “You’re up,” Shay repeated, unwrapping his arm from her waist, the weight of him gone. “You guessed it correctly, so you draw next.”

  Oh no. No. No. Her drawing abilities didn’t exceed rectangles and circles on wedding mockups indicating stages and tables. She wasn’t going up there. “I’m no good at drawin’,” her voice cracked, grabbing Shay’s hand.

  “Just focus on me. I’ll stay right with you,” he winked nodding towards the board. And it was almost the most romantic thing any man had ever said to her. Yikes, she really was silly. And sort of pitiful. Looking at the card Uncle Tommy held out for her and Patrick, she chewed the inside of her lip.

  Happily ever after.

  Well how in the world was she supposed to draw that? It’s what she did for a living. It was also what she wanted one day, sure, but how was she going to draw that? Patrick looked confident as they went to their boards, her hands beginning to shake. Picking up his beer, Tommy drained it before shouting. “Ready, set, GO!”

  Turning towards the white board she stared at it. Her mind wasn’t working as fast as she needed it to while the other team began screaming almost getting the first word. Turning around, she shook her head as Rory and Shay inched in closer waiting for her to draw something.

  Just focus on me.

  Looking at Shay he zeroed in on her, his eyes so blue and unwavering. “First word.”

  Agreeing, she drew a big happy face and got out of the way of the picture.

  “Happy,” Siobhan and Fiona yelled at the same time and she motioned her hands for more, but they looked confused.

  “Second word,” Shay said slowly.

  Ever.

  Shrugging her shoulder, she shook her head watching him. “Draw the action out,” Shay looked over at the other board as Patrick blew through another sheet of paper. Holding up a finger she drew a sun, hoping Shay would get it right away.

  “Sun,” Rory yelled out.

  “Sunshine,” Shay said steadily, “you.”

  “Yes!”

  Alright, maybe she had this. Drawing a man with a hat, Siobhan yelled out and Fiona shushed her so the other team wouldn’t hear. Drawing her best stick figure of a bride, she added a veil and flowers.

  “Married,” Rory said. “Bride and groom,” he corrected moving in closer. Shaking her head wildly she drew another figure in representation of herself off to the side. Adding wild hair and a clipboard, well as far as stick figure props went, she drew an arrow from herself to the couple and looked at Shay. The corners of his eyes crinkling, he looked at the picture and she could almost see his mind working.


  “Happy,” he said, watching her as she nodded her head like a lunatic. “Happy couple,” he continued, as she motioned for him to keep going, “happily ever after!”

  “Yes!” she shouted as the other team groaned yelling at Patrick. Bouncing up and down, she threw her arms around Shay and he picked her up with one arm. Gosh, this was so much fun. She didn’t know what had gotten into her, but feeling his arms around her felt good. Sliding down the side of his body, she smiled up at him. He was so close. Smelled so good. She didn’t know what it was but she felt like she was looking at a whole new man. A good, lighthearted, family man. But one with the same heart stopping grin and assurance that she had come to expect from him. Searching his eyes, they twitched before falling to her mouth, the air leaving her lungs.

  “Let’s go baby boy,” Erin yelled. “You and me.”

  Winking at her, he unwrapped his arm from her waist before moving next to Tommy and looking at the card. Clearing her throat, she looked around wondering if anyone had noticed the few seconds that Shay had left her breathless.

  Again.

  Taking a sip of water she watched him rip the cap off the marker with his teeth nodding his head at them.

  God he was arrogant.

  And delicious.

  Nearly groaning into her glass, she focused on his drawing and not on how wonderful his butt looked in those jeans as he moved around drawing what she was pretty sure was a graduation cap. Or the way his forearms tightened as he drew a bunch of circles in a row. Gripping Rory’s arm, Fiona moved closer while Shay drew a number sign with the number one beside it. Connecting all the pictures, he pointed to each picture with the marker taking another slow draw of his beer, not an ounce of concern.

  “Graduation,” Rory called out. “Class. Number one. Valedictorian!”

  “Boom,” Shay pointed at him as the other team yelled throwing popcorn at them. Shay met Rory’s hand for a high five like they had done it a million times before. Easy and natural. The way it was supposed to be. The way she hoped it could be for them again. For Shay. After another two rounds, the other team gained speed, but it still hadn’t been enough to catch up to them. After throwing in the towel, Tommy and Patrick headed into the kitchen to make coffee infused with whiskey.

  “Oh Whitney, I would just love your opinion on my gown for Siobhan and Rory’s wedding,” Fiona gushed, bringing the bowls of popcorn into the kitchen.

  “Oh yes and you have to see the bridesmaid dresses that I chose for the girls,” Siobhan nodded to Erin and Holly. Looking past her, Erin shook her head as Holly’s nose scrunched up and she wondered how much time she still had to turn Siobhan’s rainbow themed wedding into a classic affair. With Charlotte and Ross blowing up her phone with plans for the fashion show, she really needed to lock Siobhan into a direction before she returned home.

  “Let’s have a fashion show,” Siobhan squealed, grabbing her arm. Silently gagging behind her back, Erin shook her head and she couldn’t help but laugh. Siobhan was a lot to handle, but she didn’t mind it. They were leaving in less than twenty-four hours, the thought making her sad and she wanted to enjoy this family as much as she could. “Oh come on, it will be fun. Like a slumber party!” Siobhan cheered, before pulling on Erin’s arm.

  “And that’s my cue,” Rory pushed off the kitchen counter.

  Smirking, Shay followed his brother out the kitchen door. “Mine too.”

  Closing the door behind them, Shay inhaled some cold air inching towards the railing off the deck. Man, he forgot how incredible this place was at night. The sky was filled with stars while the peacefulness of the night spread out before them for miles and miles. As impressive as the dark sky above the mountains was at night, nothing compared to sunrise today. With Whitney. God she was breathtaking and he enjoyed spending some time alone with her. Enjoyed it a little too much.

  “That woman is trying to kill me with this damn wedding,” Rory rubbed his face, leaning against the railing.

  “It’s a chick thing,” Shay shrugged. “Plus Whitney will take care of you guys. She’s good. Real good.”

  They were quiet a minute and he couldn’t remember the last conversation he actually had with Rory.

  “What’s the deal with that anyway?” Rory asked, not looking at him. The cold air clouding around his mouth. “With you two?”

  Truth was, he had no idea. And he didn’t like that. Bracing his arms against the railing he looked out into the darkness, small splashes of lawn fixtures lighting up his parents’ yard. “You like her?”

  “Well, if it’s a tossup between you or her for Christmas,” Rory shrugged. “We’ll take her.”

  Snickering, he shook his head. “We’re friends.”

  Scoffing, Rory cut him off. “Seriously? That’s what you’re going with? I see the way you look at her. She ain’t no friend, baby brother.”

  Why was everyone saying that? They were quiet again, Rory’s words hanging between them. He hadn’t thought about her like that. Although two nights of restlessness and thinking about that mouth and running his hands through that hair called his bluff.

  “She’s too good for you,” Rory said after another minute.

  Curling his fingers tighter around the railing, he stretched taller. “I know.”

  Her voice replaying in his head, he stretched his back. That damn southern drawl that he was coming to admire, both slow and sexy, he thought about all the things it would say to him in bed. She had been on his jock nearly the entire trip down the mountain about talking to Rory. Maybe she was right, but there was too much history. Too much distance. The fact that they were inches apart and just shooting the shit was more than he had with his brother in years and he wanted to chalk that up as progress. But then again, what if she was right?

  “I’m sorry for the disappearing act,” Shay admitted, gripping the railing again before he had a chance to overthink it. Aside from it all, Rory was right. Regardless of their issues he should never have taken that out on his parents. But keeping his distance and doing his thing in Charleston had been easier for everybody. At least that’s what he had told himself to be able to sleep at night.

  Squeezing his mouth together, Rory stood straight digging a pack of cigarettes out of his back pocket before slipping one between his lips. Lighting it up, he inhaled as they both looked out onto the land where they had grown up. Where they had ran and caused more havoc than any other kids in town. Summers at the lake, playing under the lights on Friday nights together during the fall, and somewhere out there was the road where they had both nearly died. Blowing out another puff, Rory ran his hand across his mouth, a habit they both shared. “Yeah, well I didn’t exactly make it the easy on you when you did manage a visit.”

  True.

  Rory had been a total dick in fact, but it was his own conscious that had kept him away.

  “It’s hard for me to come home and see you,” Shay admitted, rubbing his hands together. All Whitney had done was nag him about honesty while he was trying to enjoy his favorite place of solace at the mountain. She had gone on and on about being upfront with his brother and putting it all out there.

  Alright.

  He’d try it her way.

  “I know. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t suck,” Rory said, glancing at him quickly before looking away again. “I’m stuck in this small town driving a truck, making minimum wage with a woman who wants the world.”

  Chuckling, Shay dug his hands inside his pockets.

  “They all want the world,” they both said at the same time. Something their pops had said their entire lives.

  “But it all worked out how it was supposed to I guess,” Rory muttered, taking another long drag of his cigarette. “Cian’s around to give them more grandchildren than they can handle. Finn to manage their finances,” he trailed off, passing the cigarette to him. He hadn’t taken a drag in years. Aside from his inherited drinking tolerance that he would go to the grave with, he took care of his body. Taking the cigarette, he i
nhaled, easing it in. “Plus, it’s better that I’m here watching out for them. Pops is slowing down.”

  Agreeing with his brother, Shay wondered where that left him. What his role was in his family. As great as it was living out his dream and a life that millions would never experience, it was also lonely. Very few friends stayed true without selling pictures and fabricated high school stories to local blogs for some extra cash and women were easy to come and go wanting only what he had. But not him.

  And that was fine.

  For now.

  “And what about me?” Shay asked, looking at his brother. His best friend and the one he missed more than anything.

  “Bank rolling us all,” Rory smiled for the first time all week.

  “You asshole.”

  Laughing, Rory flicked the cigarette out onto the lawn. “You’re the example to all those kids upstairs that dreams do come true. Well, for some.”

  They were both quiet again, a howling of a wolf far off in the nighttime air. He’d change it all if he could. Give it all away to have switched places with Rory. He wasn’t as mentally strong as his brother and living every day with the guilt was beginning to be too much. “Siobhan seems like she’ll make you real happy.”

  He wanted to see his brother happy; more than is own happiness, he wanted his brother to enjoy life. He sure as hell had earned it. He’d been thrown to hell and back. Both of them had, but Rory had never really came out the other end and he deserved a good woman. One who would take care of him.

  “She’s a good girl,” he agreed, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, a script tattoo that matched his own running up his forearm. Standing straight, Rory slapped him on the shoulder. “You got yourself a lifer in there, Hollywood,” he nodded towards the house. And he didn’t need to ask whom he was referring to. “Don’t screw it up.”