“This is probably the hardest thing you’ll ever have to deal with, honey,” Mom said. “He’ll want to be there for you... you’ll want him there for you.”
“Mama, he’ll stop his whole life for me. You know he will. I just can’t let him do that.” I bit my lip. “I have to break up with him.”
“That boy is gonna lose his fucking mind,” Kayla ground out.
Mom shook her head. “I wish I could give you some sage advice and make all of this better. Are you sure you want to do this?”
Kayla just groaned.
“When he comes home, he’ll want to see me,” I continued. “I’ll probably be bald, or look like some kind of ugly molting bird, which will give away the fact that I’m dying, and then he’s going to freak out and be the good guy and quit college in order to be with his dying girlfriend. No. If I dump him—really break his heart—then he’ll move on, play harder than he’s ever played, get drafted for the NFL, win a hundred Super Bowls, and be happy.”
“I thought he wanted to be a vet,” Kayla argued.
“If he makes it to the NFL, he won’t need to be a vet,” I snapped.
Mom burst into tears and shook her head. “Okay, first, you’re not going to die, and I swear to God, if you say that in front of your dad, I will slap you! Second, I think you’re overestimating Maverick’s ability to overcome a broken heart. Third, if you say you’re going to die one more time, I’m going to go postal on your ass.”
I sighed and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m sorry.”
She held me tight. “You’re forgiven.”
“I have to do this, Mom.”
“What about Poppy?” Kayla challenged.
Poppy was my closest friend next to Maverick. She was also our neighbor, and her dad was a Dog, so that could pose a problem. “She and Maverick don’t talk, so it’s not like he’ll find out from her, and as long as Dad doesn’t say anything to Hatch and you don’t say anything to Maisie, I think we can keep the secret. Poppy won’t rat me out, Mom.”
Mom let out a resigned sigh. “Honey, we’ll support you in whatever you need. But I’m going on record to say I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Me too,” Kayla said.
“Noted.” I brushed away my own tears and nodded. “But I have to protect him. I love him too much to let him throw everything away.”
Mom raised her hands in surrender, and then she and Kayla left me alone. I mapped out my plan for Operation Save Maverick’s Future, and after calming myself and putting on a little makeup, I powered up Skype and made a call.
* * *
Maverick
Maverick had just stepped out of the shower when the Skype call sounded. He grinned. God, he missed his girl. He sat in front of his laptop and answered. “Hey, beautiful.”
“Hey.”
He frowned. Lily didn’t look happy. “What’s wrong?”
“I have something to tell you and... well, I...”
“Just tell me, baby.”
“I’ve kind of met someone,” Lily said.
“Yeah? Made a new friend?”
She shook her head. “No. I’ve met a guy. Someone I’m really attracted to. He asked me out, and I kind of want to go, but I didn’t want to cheat, so I...”
His heart raced. “You want my fucking permission to go out with another guy?”
“Well, no. I’m thinking that if I’m feeling this way about someone else, you and I should probably break up.”
“Who the fuck is he?”
“You don’t know him.”
“What’s his fucking name, Lil?”
“Brad,” she whispered. “He just transferred into my school, and we’ve been talking.”
Maverick dragged his hands down his face. She was messing with him. He forced a laugh. “Nice one, Lil. Stop messing around.”
“Maverick, I’m really sorry. Seriously. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I really hope you’ll understand.” She wiped tears away from her cheeks. “I need to go help Mom with dinner. Please don’t hate me,” she begged and hung up.
Maverick sat staring at his screen for several minutes, his stomach churning, and his heart shattering. He couldn’t wrap his brain around any of it. They had plans. There was no way in hell some asshat named Brad was gonna mess up those plans. He grabbed his phone and called the only person he knew he could talk to about it.
“Hey, buddy,” his dad said after one ring.
“Hey, Dad.”
Carter ‘Ace’ Quinn wasn’t his biological father. Ace and Hawk were officers in the Dogs of Fire MC, and Ace had adopted Maverick when he’d married Maverick’s mom, Cassidy.
“You doin’ okay?”
“Lily just dumped me.”
“What the fuck?” his dad retorted. “Hold on. Gonna go somewhere away from the kids.”
Maverick had a younger brother, Liam, and younger sister, Tillie. Liam was almost ten, and Tillie was almost eight.
“Okay, tell me everything.”
Maverick filled his father in on the conversation and tried his best to keep it together.
“I’ll talk to Hawk,” his dad said.
“Dad, I’m not some twelve-year-old girl who needs my daddy to fix this.”
His dad sighed. “Still your dad, bud. Kinda feel the need to.”
“I know, but I’m going to let this ride out for a week or two. Lily’s smart. She’s probably just missing me and having a moment of insanity. Let her go out with this Brad pussy. She’ll figure out who the real man is and come crawling back.”
“I’ll talk to your mom. See if she can find out what’s going on.”
“Do not get Mom involved,” Maverick insisted. “Not yet, anyway.”
His dad chuckled. “Okay, bud. Got your back.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
They chatted a bit about football and classes and then hung up. Maverick felt better and was ready to wait out Lily and whatever emotional crisis she was dealing with... well, he was ready for about a day. But when she changed her social media status and started posting pics of her kissing some asshole who wasn’t him, he was no longer Zen.
He was enraged. He forced aside his pain and anguish and focused on the pure, unadulterated hatred, which served him well on the field. Not so much in his interpersonal relationships, but by the time he was due to return home for Thanksgiving, he didn’t really give a fuck about anyone anymore.
Lily
I LEANED OVER the bucket and puked for the umpteenth time, groaning at the pain in my stomach as I sat back in the hospital bed. I was on day three of my five-day chemo regimen, and it sucked. Dad was at Church; I didn’t know how he was keeping all of this from his “brothers,” but he’d made me a promise not to breathe a word. And when Dad made a promise, he kept it.
I’d had no contact with Maverick over the past few weeks. I’d roped Brad (who was very, very gay) into posing as my boyfriend for social media purposes because I knew Maverick would see the pics and rage. I also knew, because of said rage, he wouldn’t delve into it too much further because he didn’t really know anyone at my school. Maverick didn’t text me, and I didn’t text him, so Liverick was officially over.
His mom, Cassidy, was a problem, however. Admittedly, I didn’t plan that part out well. Cassidy was my dance instructor and, although the ballet session hadn’t started yet, she still gave me private lessons. I’d had to “break up” with her as well, and that was almost as hard as breaking up with Maverick. She’d been sweet, but I knew she wanted to know why—the real reason—but she didn’t press, and I loved her more for it.
Poppy was a trooper, as I knew she would be. She didn’t talk about it with any of our other friends at the club; she just played dumb. She wasn’t a liar, so she just directed people to ask me if they wanted to know anything. I, on the other hand, just stayed away.
Mom settled a cool washcloth on my forehead and handed me a clean bucket.
“Thanks,” I whispered.
“I’m going
to get you some stronger nausea stuff. I’ll be right back.” She left the room, returning quickly with Martha, my day nurse, who plunged a needle into my IV. My stomach calmed, and I took a ragged breath.
“Better?” Martha asked.
“Yes. Thanks,” I said.
“Good. Don’t be a hero, honey, okay? You need more, you let me know.” Martha patted my arm. “I’ll get you some Sprite.”
I nodded and closed my eyes. I couldn’t help myself from thinking back to Thanksgiving. Maverick didn’t come home, and I’d been both sad and relieved. His parents said he’d had a big game, so they went to him, but I knew his schedule, and knew that wasn’t true. That was okay, though, since it meant I didn’t have to pretend to be happy and healthy, but at the same time, I ached to see him. I wanted to make sure he was okay.
We’d spent the holiday with Mom’s parents, and we made the choice not to tell the family until after the holiday was over. I was glad because Thanksgiving was always so fun with all the cousins, and I really didn’t want it ruined. I wasn’t sure how I was going to get through Christmas, but for now, at least, I had one happy holiday to help sustain me for a few weeks.
“How’s my girl?”
I opened my eyes to see my grandma, and I gave her a tired smile. “I’m good, Grams.”
“How’s my other one?” She hugged my mom.
“I’m okay, Mom.”
Grandma leaned over and kissed my cheek. “Only you could go through chemo and still look like a supermodel.”
I giggled. “Thanks, Grams.”
That was my grandma to a T. Always positive. She looked like a supermodel herself. She was in her sixties and looked more Christie Brinkley than typical grandma. Granddad called her his G.I.L.F. (Grandma I’d like to... well, you get the picture). It was both sweet and gross at the same time.
“Boys okay?” Mom asked.
Hunter and Cash were with Granddad for the day.
“All good, honey. Your dad took them fishing after school.” Grandma sat on the chair beside Mom’s and set her purse on the counter. “They’ll be exhausted by the time he drops them home.”
“Perfect.”
“How’s Hawk holding up?” Grandma asked.
“He’s doing okay,” Mom lied.
“No, he’s not,” I countered, keeping my eyes closed. The light hurt, and I was tired, but I couldn’t quite sleep yet.
“No, he’s not,” Mom agreed. “He wasn’t going to go to Church tonight, but he’s got to keep up appearances for the moment, so he’ll be here in a few hours.”
“All this deception over a boy,” Grandma mused.
“Grams, he’s not just any boy.” I tried to keep the irritation out of my voice, but I didn’t think I succeeded.
“I get it, honey,” she said, but I wasn’t sure she really did.
“You should try and rest, Lil,” Mom said. “Grams and I’ll just hang out and be quiet while you do.”
I felt like she was saying that as more of a warning to my grandmother than anything, but I appreciated it just the same. Now that the nausea had subsided, I was able to fall into a dream-filled sleep.
* * *
Twelve years ago...
“Ow!” I cried out. Ethan Walker was squeezing my arm really hard. He kept trying to kiss me, but I didn’t want him to... He was gross. I was in kindergarten, and Maverick and I were at the same after-school program, but we hadn’t been here long. So far, I didn’t really like it very much, but at least, Maverick was with me. I had just turned five, and he said he was there to protect me.
“Let go of her!” Maverick demanded and rushed up to him.
Ethan squeezed harder.
“Stop!” I screamed. My arm burned.
Maverick hit him, but Ethan wouldn’t let go. Even though Ethan had a bloody nose, he just held me tighter.
“Maverick,” I begged with a whimper.
Maverick wrapped his arm around Ethan’s throat and held him until Ethan let go of my arm. I wiped the tears out of my eyes and watched as Maverick dropped Ethan on the floor. He was asleep.
Maverick pulled me in for a hug. “Are you okay?”
“I’m okay, Mav,” I whispered.
Ethan groaned and slowly sat up.
“What’s going on?” Ms. Smith demanded. “Maverick! What did you do?”
“He was hurting Lily,” Maverick said with a scowl. “He wouldn’t let her go.”
“All of you, come with me.”
After Ms. Smith had made sure Ethan was okay, she led all three of us down to the director’s office where they promptly called our parents.
“You go sit over there.” Maverick shoved Ethan into the chair by the window then came and sat next to me, keeping himself between Ethan and me.
Our parents arrived, and my dad looked really mad. Madder than I’d ever seen him. The lady who ran the daycare left Maverick and me with Ethan while she took our parents into her office.
“What the hell happened to your face?” an angry man’s voice growled
I peered around Maverick to see Ethan staring up at a big old fat guy. The fat guy scowled at Maverick. “Did you do this?”
I squeezed my eyes shut because the man looked like he was going to hit Maverick, but then I heard a grunt, and I opened my eyes to see the man on the floor. Maverick was standing in front of me, and my dad was yanking Ethan away.
Maverick faced me and took my hand. “No one will touch you again, Lil.”
Mom and Cassidy took us out to the car, but before I got in, Maverick laid his hands on my upper arms and asked, “Hey, you okay?”
“I’m okay, Mav.” I smiled at him because I thought he was the biggest hero on the planet, and I was pretty sure I was in love with him. “Thanks for helping me.”
He kissed my forehead and gave me a hug and then Mom drove me home. I remembered thinking that I’d never love anyone more than Maverick.
* * *
Maverick
Maverick awoke with a start, the memories from his dream flooding his heart. Sitting up and climbing off his bed, he walked to his window. He was home for the Christmas holiday, but he wasn’t feeling overly festive. His eyes drifted to Lily’s window, which was directly across from his, and he took a deep breath. Goddammit, he missed her... ached for her.
Pressing his palm against his chest, against the tattoo of her name over his heart, he sighed. Something was off. After one week of bombarding social media with photos of her new crush, Lily had gone silent. Ghost town silent.
She’d also dropped his mother’s dance class. Lily loved to dance—breathed it—so it just didn’t sit right that she’d dumped him and his mom within a few days of each other.
What the hell is going on, baby doll?
He saw her drapes flutter and hope flared, but only for a second. He didn’t know if he’d be able to handle much more of this. Pulling on a pair of running shorts, he headed downstairs and yanked open the fridge.
“Can’t sleep?”
“Shit!” Maverick slammed the fridge and spun to face his father who was sitting at the kitchen table swigging a beer. “You scared the crap out of me.”
His dad chuckled. “Sorry. Just waitin’ on your mom.”
“She’s not home yet?” Maverick glanced at the clock over the microwave; it read two twelve a.m. “Why aren’t you out dragging her home?”
“I know where she is, bud.” He looked at his phone and shrugged. “She’s at Maisie’s. Girls’ night in.”
Maverick smiled. “So she’s got about thirteen minutes before you head across the street to get her.”
“Somethin’ like that.” Dad swigged his beer again. “What’s up?”
Maverick grabbed a root beer and sat at the table. “Just can’t figure this thing out with Lily.”
“Yeah?”
Maverick nodded. “Something’s not right. I can’t put my finger on it... Shit, I don’t know. Maybe I’m talkin’ outta my ass.”
“I get it,” his dad sai
d. “Your mom’s not feelin’ it either.”
“Really?”
His dad nodded. “She could tell Lily wasn’t giving her the whole story when they talked. Especially since it came so soon after she was granted that scholarship money for dance.”
Lily had performed in the showcase that had scared the shit out of her, but she’d been perfect (no surprise there) and was awarded the five-thousand dollar scholarship.
“Have you asked Hawk?” Maverick asked then took a sip of soda.
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause if he wants to share, he’ll share.”
Maverick frowned. “Not really good enough.”
“But all you’re gonna get for now, bud.”
Maverick took another angry sip of his soda. He hated this part of the Club. Unless you were “in,” you had no access to anything to do with it. Even though his father was an officer in the Club, Maverick knew almost nothing about the day-to-day goings-on. He wasn’t interested in “patching in”; therefore, he was kept in the dark. It was frustrating as hell at times.
The beep of the house alarm sounded, and his dad rose to his feet and headed toward the front door. Maverick heard his mother giggle and a low voice that wasn’t his father’s (obviously a recruit walking his mom home), then the front door clicked, and the alarm was reset.
“Mav?” His mom walked into the kitchen and leaned down to kiss his cheek. He could smell something fruity on her breath, and he figured she’d imbibed. “Hey honey, why are you up?”
Maverick smiled. “Just can’t sleep.”
She cupped his chin. “Are you sad about Lily?”
His mom knew him better than anyone did, but he didn’t want to talk to her about it when she was obviously tipsy. “I’m good, Mom.”
She sighed. “We’ll figure it out.”
“But we won’t tonight,” his dad piped in, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her neck. “Tonight, I’m taking you to bed.”
Maverick made puking sounds. “Don’t need to know.”
His mom giggled. “‘Night, honey.”
“Night, Mom. Night, Dad.”
His dad gave him a nod. “Night, bud. See you in the mornin’.”
The Promise (Dogs of Fire: Wolfpack Book 1) Page 2