by D. K Lake
"Okay?"
"I might have seen you at school before I left for Italy."
"What?" I smile.
"Yeah, I remember seeing you on the way out of calculus one day. You were with Emily and you had your glasses on."
I touch my face as if to push my glasses back up my nose and forget I'm not wearing any tonight.
"I thought you were cute back then, too."
"And now?"
"Even cuter."
I feel a blush in my cheeks and turn away and look across the water. "What were your parents doing in Italy?"
"My mom is half Italian and we have family over there so we went over to visit them and ended up staying for longer than expected, and my dad bought a boat for us to live on for a while."
"You lived on a boat? Like a cabin boat?"
"No, more like a yacht. We had staff living on board as well."
Wow.
"What does your dad do again?" I ask.
"He's a famous attorney for criminals."
Then it hits me. I have seen his dad on TV.
"Ohmigawd. Your dad's been on TV." I say, remembering a recent murder trial that was all over the news.
"Yup." Maverick says, but he doesn't make a big deal out of it.
"So, where's your mom?"
"Um...Brazil? Spain? Somewhere warm." He shrugs.
"You don't know?"
"Not really. She goes wherever she wants, whenever she wants."
"You don't see her much?"
"I saw her at the beginning of the year right before my birthday but that was the last time."
"Do you keep in touch?"
"I can find her on Instagram if I want to see her." He brushes something off his leg. "And Dad's so busy with work that he rarely comes home. He has his own apartment in New York that he stays at mostly."
"Is it just you and your brother?"
"Yup."
"Is he living in the dorms as well?"
"No, he's in one of the fraternities."
"Why aren't you in one?"
"That’s not my thing." He slides off the wall and stands in front of me. "What do you want to do?" he asks changing the subject.
"You don't have to babysit me."
"I know, but I invited you here so I could talk to you."
"So I'm stuck with you?" I tease.
"Is that a problem?"
"Hmm."
"Hey," he laughs, and lifts me off the wall and sets me on the ground in front of him.
I look around at my options and see Dario watching me.
"Come on," I take Maverick's hand and lead him down to the dock and we wander along the wooden walkway and sit at the end with our feet dangling over the side.
I'm annoyed with Dario for trying to ruin my evening. He didn't need to come here. He could have asked Spencer to make the deliveries. It's like he purposely crashed the party because he knew I would be here.
You did make a point of saying you were going to message Maverick about the party. I remind myself.
Whatever.
At least over here, I can't see him stalking me with his eyes. But it's as though I can still feel them on me. All over me. I shiver and Maverick notices.
"Are you cold?" he asks.
"No." I assure him.
"I can run inside and get you one of my sweatshirts."
"No, really. I'm fine." I pull him back down before he can run back to the house.
He sits back down next to me. A little closer than before. He's so close his denim jeans brush against my leg.
"It's nice here." I comment.
"My dad bought it last year. The last owner had it seized by the bank and it was sold off. Dad got it at a fraction of the cost it’s valued at, so he was super pleased. Not that he couldn't afford it. I think the guy it used to belong to, his son was in my year at school before I got put back. They owned a hotel and everything before they lost it all."
"Are you talking about Stephen Conrad?" I say, remembering what I had heard about my sister's best friend and her brother. They had lost everything because their dad had been dishonest and had been caught for tax evasion, fraud, and even stealing money from charity. It was all over the newspapers at the time.
"Uh...yeah, I think that was his name. Do you know him?"
"Kind of. My sister is best friends with Stephen's twin. I think this is the same place she used to come to for their birthday parties." I say, looking back at the house.
"Small world." Maverick says.
"Yup." I grumble, watching Dario as he strokes the girl's chin, smiling up at her yet his eyes are focused solely on me.
"How about one more drink and I might be ready for that dance." I look back at Maverick. "I'm feeling brave."
"All right, but I have to tell you now, I only know how to do the Robot."
I laugh as he stands up and offers me his hand. We walk back to the house hand in hand and Dario's smug smile soon disappears when he sees our joined hands. Inside, Maverick finds me another drink and another beer for himself.
"I'm going to be drunk after a few more of these." Maverick says. "The percentage is higher compared to what you're drinking."
"You better slow down then."
"I was trying to keep up with you." he says, popping the lid off his beer.
We stay in the kitchen and I sit on the counter and we talk about college and he tells me that he's here on a football scholarship which I didn't know. I remember Em saying he played football in high school.
The party is kicking up a notch and more people have turned up. The music is louder. The house is buzzing. The smell of smoke and weed lingers in the air. The lights are off and there are fairy lights on in the living room with a disco ball. I'm still wondering who decorated the place when Maverick lifts my empty bottle out of my hand and places it on the side.
"Ready for that dance?"
I take his hand and slide off the counter.
"I don't know. I've never really danced in public before." I admit.
"What?" Maverick laughs. "Well, we have to change that."
He leads me into the living room where the music changes to something a little slower and I suddenly lose my nerve. I watch as people pair up and start moving together in time to the music. One couple is so lost in the music, grinding and rubbing up against each other. I turn to Maverick but I'm not sure what to do. I want to dance with him, but I don't know how. I've only ever danced with one other boy and it was more hugging than dancing. And the other times, I've only ever danced in my bedroom for fun and only ever in front of Em.
"It's okay." Maverick tells me, hooking an arm around my waist and pulling me to him. "If you feel awkward at any time, just give me a signal and I'll do the Robot."
He makes me laugh and I press my hands to his chest. He smiles back at me and takes my hands and lifts them over his shoulders and I find myself pressed up against him. He rests his hands on my hips and we sway to the music.
"How's this?" he asks, his breath tickling my ear.
"This is perfect." I tell him and turn to face him, and we nearly bump noses we're so close.
"What's the name of the perfume you're wearing?" he randomly asks.
I didn't spray much on. I didn't even think anyone ever noticed it. I treated myself to it last year.
"It's called Impulse."
"Is that so?"
"You smell like fruity gum." I throw out there.
"Not bad, I hope?"
I shake my head.
"Can I tell you something?" he says.
"Hmm?"
"I really have an impulse to kiss you right now."
"Then what are you waiting for?" I say bravely.
He leans in and I close my eyes, waiting for the kiss...
Chapter 12
It never comes.
Maverick is pulled away from me, and the fabric of his top slips through my fingers.
I open my eyes and see Maverick on the floor with Dario on top of him. People start shouting,
some even cheering. Everyone stops dancing and moves out of the way as a fight breaks out.
"Seriously?!" I groan, shoving some random girl out of the way so I can get to the boys as they squabble on the floor.
"Dude, what is your problem?" Maverick asks, dodging another punch from Dario.
"You're my problem! Putting the moves on her."
"On whooo?" Maverick barely misses another punch.
"Dario!" I yell but he doesn't hear me.
"You had your hands all over her!" Dario barks.
"Yeah, that was the idea. She wanted my hands on her." Maverick half laughs, not understanding why Dario is acting the way he is.
Another punch, only this time, Dario hits Maverick in the face and he clips his jaw.
"Fuck. Get off me, man!" Maverick yells and manages to shove Dario off him.
Spencer darts around me and drags Dario away.
"Let it go!" Spencer says firmly, holding onto Dario.
"What the hell is going on?" Ethan booms, stalking through the crowd.
"Fuck knows?" Maverick says, climbing to his feet.
"What's the problem?" Ethan asks, looking back and forth between Dario and his brother.
"He's crazy. He just attacked me." Maverick says, rubbing his jaw.
"She didn't ask you to grab her like that." Dario growls.
Grab me like what? Oh, wait. Did Maverick cop a feel before he was ripped away from me? I think he slid his hand over my bum, but that was hardly grabbing.
"Dude, you've got it all wrong. We were dancing. Together." Maverick waves his hand in my direction.
Everyone's looking at me now. I hate attention and now half the party is staring at me.
"Did my brother grab you?" Ethan asks, turning to look at me.
"What? No. Of course not." I turn to Dario. "I asked him to dance with me." I hiss.
Dario mumbles something and shrugs Spencer off.
"Everything okay, then?" Ethan asks.
Dario doesn't bother to respond and just stalks over to me. I half expect him to drag me out of the party, but instead, he leans down to my height to speak to me. "If he puts his hands on you again, I'm gonna break them." he warns.
"You're insane." I manage to say before he walks off again.
Ethan turns to everyone. "Show's over! Back to the party." he says loudly and gives me a look before leaving the room. Everyone soon loses interest and goes back to whatever they were doing before.
Maverick comes over to me and touches my arm.
"Are you okay?" he asks as the music shoots up a few notches.
I nod and he gently takes my elbow and guides me outside to the wooden decking which overlooks the fire pit.
"I'm sorry." I say, looking at his jaw.
"Don't be. I don't know what his problem is. He's probably high or something."
"Yeah, maybe." I scan the garden but can't see Dario anywhere. Spencer is getting comfortable on the outdoor circle bed. It's one of those outdoor beds with pillows and a canopy. Em's under there with him and they look pretty cozy. He was quick to get back to her. I don't know if I like the idea of her snuggling up to a drug dealer. She must know what he is. She saw him show up with Dario.
"Is it just me or can he not stop staring at you?" Maverick says, gesturing to a scowling Dario down below.
"I hadn't noticed." I frown, turning my back on Dario.
"You said you went to school with him." Maverick probes.
"He was in my sister's year."
"So how do you know him?"
"I don't." I reply automatically and Maverick raises an eyebrow at me. "We uh...worked together for a bit."
"Is that all you did together?"
I look up and catch his eyes. "It's not what it looks like." I say with a frown.
"And what does it look like? I see a guy that can't stop staring at you. Like you two have a history together."
I shake my head. "We were friends…sort of."
"Sort of?"
"We worked at the same supermarket in the produce department together. We used to mess around and have a laugh at work. He's probably just being weirdly overprotective."
"How long have you known him?"
"I remember him from school when we were younger, but I didn't get to know him until we started working together when I was fifteen."
"Did you keep in contact with him when you moved?"
"No." I laugh it off, hoping it will cover my lie. "I hardly know him."
Maverick keeps his eyes on me. It makes me nervous.
"Really. Nothing is going on there."
"But there was before?" he asks, and it floors me.
He knows I’m lying. Am I that transparent?
My lack of response answers his question.
"So you do know him?"
"No. Not really. I had a crush on him, nothing more." I lie through my teeth, but it tastes like sour lemon on my tongue. I don’t like lying to Maverick, it doesn’t feel right.
"Am I going to get my face punched every time I try to kiss you?"
"No," I smile, but Dario's warning from earlier comes back to haunt me.
If he puts his hands on you again, I'm gonna break them.
"Are you sure you even want to kiss me after that?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because he's crazy. He might hit you again." I throw my hands in the air before hugging them around my waist.
"You're worth the risk." He surprises me by leaning in and I quickly stop him, pressing my hands to his chest, afraid of what might happen if Dario catches us locking lips. I shouldn't feel this way. I should be able to kiss who I want. Dario doesn't own me. Why can't he just leave me alone?
I want to kiss Maverick…but I'm afraid of the consequences. My eyes bounce around the garden, but I can no longer see Dario anywhere and decide to risk it.
Maverick is still waiting for me. I meet him halfway and give him a quick peck on the lips. It's just a quick kiss and he smiles at me as we break apart.
"That wasn't a kiss, Paige."
"I know, but get me another drink and I might let you have another one." I say playfully.
Damn those apple drinks have gone straight to my head. I’m not usually this confident or playful around a guy.
"I get the feeling you're going to be bad for my health, Paige Moon."
"Well, if you call me by my full name again you might end up with a few broken toes."
"Ouch. You hate it that much?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I won't bring it up again." he chuckles. "Do you want the same drink?"
"Yes, please."
Maverick leaves me alone for five minutes to fetch us some drinks. I wander along the decking and watch Em and Spencer getting to know one another. His hand disappears under the towel she has draped over her body and she bites her lip, watching him as he moves his hand lower. She falls back on the pillows and he leans over her, kissing her, his hand working its magic under the towel. I check around to see if anyone else is watching them, but no one has noticed them getting hot and heavy.
"At least someone is getting what they want." Dario whispers in my ear. I whip around and bump into him, and he steadies me before I can topple over.
"What are you doing?" I hiss. "I thought you left?"
"Do you really think I'm going to leave you alone here?"
"I'm not alone. I'm with Maverick."
Dario rolls his eyes. "He's an idiot."
"No, he's not!"
"Yes, he is. I went to school with him. He's a big idiot. He's one of those superhero freaks that wears Superman t-shirts and listens to bad music."
"So? That doesn’t make him an idiot. I like him."
Dario scoffs. "You don't even know him."
"Well, I was trying to get to know him a little better but you put a stop to that."
Dario's eyes darken and he takes a step closer and I find myself backed into the railing behind me.
"You can't stop me from seeing him."
"I can try." He narrows his eyes at me.
"If you touch him again, I-I will..." I stutter.
"You'll what?"
"Just don't." I warn.
"What is it? Is it ‘cause he's got money? Drives a nice car? Wears an expensive fucking watch?"
"No. I like him because he's not you!" I stand up tall. "He's not a drug dealer. He doesn't beat people up for a living. He doesn't lie and hide what he is. He's a good person."
Even though I have only known Maverick for a week, I already know he's not a bad person. He's one of the good ones. He's kind, sweet, friendly, and genuine. He's an open book. Unlike some.
"He's normal." I ground out.
"Normal is boring." Dario looms over me, bracing his arms on either side of me and holding onto the railing behind me.
"I like normal." I say, edging back and the rail digs into my back.
"You'll get bored."
"You need to leave me alone. I didn't come back here to be bothered by you."
"Then why did you come back?"
"You know why."
"Using your family as an excuse is bullshit ‘cause most of them are in Nebraska. You know why you came back. It's because you still think about that night we shared in the motel together. Nothing has changed."
"Everything has changed!" I push him away and he lets me. "Leave me alone!"
"Fine." he gruffs. "Have it your way…but I won't go far." he warns and jogs down the wooden steps and disappears around the side of the house.
Maverick reappears a moment later and hands me a drink.
"You okay?" he asks, noticing my frown.
"No, I uh...just saw my best friend getting it on with that guy over there. I just hope no one else saw it." I say, looking back at Em and Spencer. They're both laughing and kissing, and his hand is no longer under the towel. She was quick.
"You don't like him?" Maverick asks, referring to Spencer.
"He's a drug dealer." I point out. "And she's my best friend."
"She's also a big girl." he reminds.
"I know, but she's impulsive."
"She just knows what she wants." Maverick says, running his fingers up my arm.
"Hey, Maverick?"
"Yes?"
"Will you kiss me again?" I say out of annoyance, hoping Dario is watching us this time.
"When?" he asks, the corners of his lips lifting into a smile.