“Tanya broke up with him because she wanted him to take her to prom and he didn’t want to.” I roll my eyes.
“Right, and who did he take to prom?”
I bite my tongue.
“Who’d he take, Rocky?”
“Me, but that was because I didn’t have a date and he felt bad for me.”
“Really? That’s the hill you wanna die on?”
My eyes pop open and I sit up straight. “I don’t want to die on any hill. I’m just telling you the facts.”
“The facts.” Mom laughs again. “Yeah, okay, you let me know how you like it on that hill.”
“Mom,” I groan. “Please don’t tell anyone about this, especially not Dad.”
“I definitely will not be telling your father. He’ll make you move out of that house in a heartbeat.”
My eyes widen. I hadn’t even considered that. My parents aren’t extremely strict, but my father is definitely the stricter out of the two. He’s a guest pastor at our church on weekends and definitely had more than a few serious talks with me about saving myself for marriage, something my mother is completely tickled by since they had me out of wedlock. Still, my dad’s my dad, and as it is, my living with two guys is something he doesn’t comprehend. Adding love to the equation would be the ultimate no-no, even if it is with Maverick, whom he adores.
“Well, darling, I personally think you should go home and tell him how you feel. Otherwise, you’ll be subjected to watching him date other women for the rest of your lives.”
“Yeah, because he doesn’t like me.”
“I’m never wrong about these things. Besides, Milly is his mother and you know how protective of him she is, so if even she knows he likes you, you know it’s real.”
With a groan, I say goodbye to my mother and hang up the phone. I already packed my bag for Leyla’s before I even asked her or Ashley if I could stay over. They won’t care. It’s not like they haven’t crashed at my place a million times, but as I get out of my car and walk up the stairs to their second-floor apartment, I’m replaying my mother’s words in my head. Maverick doesn’t like me. She’s definitely wrong about that. I know him. If he did, I’d know. Sure, he looks at me and watches me, but he does that to everyone. Mav is the guy at the bar where if he doesn’t have his tongue down anyone’s throat, he’s lost in deep thinking. He’s an old soul. I used to make fun of him about that until I realized how similar we were. I knock on the door and wait. When Leyla opens it, she looks at me, looks at my duffel bag, then looks back up at me.
“Do we have an away game I don’t know about?”
“Nope. I was wondering if I could stay here tonight. And maybe tomorrow.”
“What?” She frowns, holding the door open for me to walk in. She shuts it behind me and faces me. “What’s going on? Did something happen with Mav and Col?”
“No, they’re fine. I just need a break.”
“From Maverick?” Leyla’s frown deepens.
“Oh my God. Yes, from Maverick.” I let out a breath. “Why’s that so hard to believe?”
“Well, you guys are like attached at the hip, Barnes.”
“Do you think I can stay here?”
“Of course. You know we always have room for you.”
“Thanks.” I set down the duffel bag beside the couch. “Where’s Ash?”
“I think she stayed at Trey’s house.”
“The basketball player?”
“Yep.”
“Oh. Wow.” I feel my eyebrows rise. “What happened to Matt?”
“Who knows.”
“So, I guess the Trey thing is on again?”
“It’s Ashley. She was a full-on vegan last week and went to Outback and ordered a steak two days ago. Who knows what goes on in that girl’s head?”
I laugh because that is definitely Ashley, and spend the rest of the day with my bestie.
Chapter Fourteen
Where are you?
I stare at the text from Maverick for a second before I respond, Staying at Leyla’s tonight.
I’m not at Leyla’s right now. She dragged me out to a frat party and I’m currently waiting for none other than Brian, who happens to be part of this fraternity, to bring me a drink.
Maverick sends a slew of question marks, ??????
Me: Girls’ night
Mav: I thought you didn’t like girls’ night
Me: Sometimes they’re necessary
Mav: So you’re not coming home?
Me: Nope
Mav: Okay. I’ll tell Colson
I roll my eyes because we both know Colson doesn’t give a fuck where I am, but whatever. Then I type, Have fun on your date with Rebecca.
Mav: Thanks. I kind of wanted your input on what I’m wearing
My heart drops and I hate that it does because of course he’d ask me for advice on what he’s wearing. Even though his style is on point, he likes to stand in front of the mirror for the longest time. Finally, I type, What are you wearing?