The Rulebreaker
Without warning, my phone starts buzzing with a FaceTime call. I look around to make sure I can answer, not because I’m expecting him to be half-naked or anything, but because I absolutely hate FaceTiming in public. Thankfully, I’m in a quiet area of the yard, where I can see the back door but not deal with the ruckus. I answer the phone. Maverick is smiling, but it disappears quickly.
“What is that on your head?” He frowns. “I thought you were at Leyla’s.”
“I’m staying at Leyla’s. I’m currently at a party and this is a flower crown, thanks for noticing.”
He gives me a once-over. “You look like you’re naked.”
“I’m wearing a tube top.” I laugh.
“What the hell is a tube top?”
With a sigh, I stand up and point the phone down so that he can fully see me. I’m wearing a short beige tube top that shows off my midriff and bell bottom jeans. It’s a hippie party. I also have circular sunglasses in my hand but I opt not to show those to him. I adjust the back of my jeans as I sit back down and hold the phone in front of my face again. Maverick is oddly quiet, so I search his face for some kind of sign of what he’s thinking. Normally, it’s easy for me to read him. Lately, not so much, and I don’t know if it’s because we’re drifting apart or because I have feelings for him and am looking for other signs on his face. Either way, I don’t like it. The thought of us drifting apart feels like a hole in my chest. We’re supposed to walk each other’s weddings, not be strangers when one of us gets to the altar. Which is yet another reason I need to push all of this away.
“So, what are you wearing?” I ask, taking in the black polo.
“This with jeans.” He turns the camera so that it’s pointing at the full-length mirror in my bedroom.
“Nice to see you’re making good use of my things.” I laugh.
“It’s the only full-length mirror in the house.”
“True.” I look at him in the mirror. He always looks gorgeous, with his incredible physique and tanned skin. His curls are damp from a shower and his brown eyes are on the mirror as he looks at what he’s wearing—a black polo, black jeans, and checkered Converse. “What are your other options?”
“These jeans and shoes with the Jimi Hendrix shirt you got me for Christmas.”
“Where are you going?”
“Probably a brewery.”
“So, you can go with either one.” I shrug a shoulder.
“I know that but I want you to pick for me.” He turns the camera back to his face. “If we were going on a date to a brewery, which would you want me to be wearing?”
My heart flips. “We’re not going on a date.”
“I said if,” he says, “like if we hadn’t been friends our entire lives and I’d just met you and asked you out.”
“Oh.” The word comes out a whisper. What would that reality be like? I decide to ask, because why not continue to ruin this friendship? “If we’d just met for the first time, do you think you’d ask me out?”
“Absolutely.” He lets out a laugh. He didn’t hesitate though.
“Cool.”
“Cool?” He laughs again. “So, which one?”
“I think the black polo. It’s more serious but still casual because of your sneakers.”
“Okay. Thanks.” He grins.
“I have to go.” I look up and see Brian walking toward me.
“Why? Leyla’s coming to look for you so that you’ll actually join the fun?”
I let out a laugh. “Not exactly.”
“We only had beer. I got you a lager.” Brian hands me the bottle. “I hope that’s okay.”
“I’m sure it’s fine.” I smile wide, then look at the phone again. “Okay, have fun.”
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you were on a call,” Brian says.
“Is that . . . ” Maverick is frowning, but I hang up on him before he can finish the sentence.
“Cheers.” Brian taps his glass bottle against mine as he takes a seat beside me.
“Cheers.” I smile as I take a sip. “So, this is where you hang out? It’s pretty nice.”
“It’s really nice.” He nods as he looks around the large yard where there are people playing beer pong, drinking from beer funnels, and playing cornhole. “The guys definitely make the most of it, as you can see.”
“Are you close to all of them?”
“Most of them. I guess I’m closer to the ones I live with. I mean, they’re my brothers. I’m an only child, so this is a dream for me.”
“Living with a ton of guys is a dream?” I smile as I look over at him, but I know what he means. I’m not in a sorority, but to me, my teammates are my sisters, so I get it. As an only child, having teammates around me my entire life has definitely helped.