Chapter Five

The door jingles, and Emalyn walks in, plastic bag in hand.

"Joey made chicken soup and wishes you a speedy recovery from this nasty cold." She places the bag on my side table before wandering to her side. "Mav asked me to work the lunch shift because of the party tonight. Please make sure you're showered and ready for hair and makeup."

"I don't know if I'm well enough for the party tonight." I force a cough. 

"You owe me this favour, Willow. I've endured all your shifts this week, and I've had to watch my brother make out with women. It's disgusting. Please come to the dinner party with me, I beg you!"

Just the mention of Maverick, and the fact he's been kissing other girls, has my stomach in knots. I don't know if I can attend a dinner party and pretend I'm fine. 

Emalyn drops to her knees and clasps her hands together.

"Why do you need me? You have Maverick and your boyfriend."

"Because the more people there, that I actually like, which will be you and the boyfriend, will make this entire party a little less lame."

"Fine." I sigh. "Let me rest and hopefully, I'll be feeling much better this afternoon."

"Thank you! Get some rest, I'll be back soon." Emalyn whirls out the door and I'm left in silence. I slide further under the blankets, slipping back into oblivion. 

I'd been replaying our kiss nonstop all week, but now the mention of him kissing other women has left a sour taste in my mouth. 

I can't believe I let him kiss me, or the fact that I allowed myself to enjoy it.

* * *

Emalyn's boyfriend drives us to the party, which is an hour away from the college campus. It would have been a nice drive of the sun setting and the views, but it's hard to third wheel a brand new couple in their honeymoon phase. Lucky for them, I don't get car sick.

What's even worse, being ditched straight away. Emalyn bounds through the streams of guests to show her new boyfriend off to her parents. I have no interest in watching that scene unfold, so I wander around the party, adapting to my new environment. 

It doesn't take long until I feel his gaze on me and the burning desire that accompanies it. I look up and meet his eyes from across the backyard. Maverick's eyes are blazing with desire as they trail over my curves. One hand is shoved into the pocket of his trousers, while the other one is holding a drink.

He's wearing a two-piece suit and a silver tie, which almost matches the silver of my dress. He looks exquisite. 

Wait, he looks like an arsehole because he promised me I was different, but when my back was turned, he's kissing other women. 

I cross my arms and shoot him a glare.

Fuck him. 

I don't care if he's one of the only people I know here; I don't want anything to do with him.

I twirl around in search of a bar or somewhere I can find some alcohol. 

There's a makeshift bar, consisting of a pop-up table and some flexible buckets filled with ice. I join the queue and just as I reach the point of ordering, Maverick appears and interjects. 

Arsehole!

"Two glasses of champagne," he orders.

"One for your date?" I grit.

"Yes." He takes the glass from the server and holds it out to me.

I turn back to the server.

"Whisky on ice, please."

I shoot Maverick a curt smirk before sauntering off. I feel his gaze burning into me, so I brush my curls to the side so he can see the naked curve of my back. 

There's a section of the yard that dips down to a fire pit, which isn't on. There's a few younger people, perhaps around my age, gathered around chatting. I take a sip from the glass and look around, hoping to catch part of the conversation. 

One of the guys close to me pulls a packet of cigarettes out of his pocket.

"Hi there, any chance I can have one?" I innocently smile.

"Um, sure." He shrugs.

He hands me the one he was holding, then digs around in his pocket and hands me a lighter as well. I place the cigarette between my lips and light the end. I pass the lighter back and notice his features somewhat resemble Maverick. I think they have the same nose.

I take a breath and exhale a cloud of smoke. 

"Thank you for this." I hold the cigarette up. "I'm Willow, by the way."

"Thomas." He nods. "It's nice to meet you! How do you know this lot? I don't think I've seen you around before."

"It's my first Knoxx family event," I admit. "I'm friends with Emalyn. We're roommates at college."

I catch a whiff of a familiar woody musky scene before I feel his touch. He drapes his arm around my waist, clutching my hip. I know it's Maverick without looking, but I steal a glance anyway. He's glaring at Thomas, who finds it amusing.

I subtly brush Maverick's hand off my body and place some distance between us.

"You've met my cousin, I see."

"Yep." I nod.

Maverick steals the smoke from between my lips and takes a drag from it.

* * *

"Maverick? Are you here?" Emalyn calls, her voice somehow louder than the music and chatter.

I take the cigarette back before Emalyn approaches us. She glances at the smoke and frowns.

"You smoke? How didn't I know that about you?"

For a small stick, it weighs a little heavier in my hand under Emalyn's gaze. I only started smoking after I met Maverick in Italy. He'd offered me a cigarette, and I was willing to experience everything with him. 

"Only occasionally," I explain.

And apparently around Maverick, but I can't say that.

"The MC is requesting we all take our seats, so I wanted to find you."

"Cool, where are we sitting?" I smother the end of the cigarette in the fire pit and turn to her.

"So, here's the thing." She nibbles on her lower lip. "You're sitting with Maverick, but we'll be on the same table. We had to move you so I could sit next to my boyfriend."

My mouth drops.

"What?"

"Okay, sorry, bye." Emalyn whisks the boyfriend away, leaving me stunned and staring at a smirking Maverick.

"I'm not sitting with you," I growl.

"You can join me," Thomas offers.

"Thank you, I'd much prefer that."

I purse my lips and take a deep breath before following Thomas to our table. There are a few tables meticulously placed throughout the yard, dressed in white cloth and silvery blue accent pieces.

Emalyn and Maverick's tables are situated further to the front of the house, while Thomas and I are on the outskirts. It's a nice view of everyone else, and far enough away, I can finally breathe.

Thomas is friendly and the life of the party whilst we're seated. He shares interesting stories about his college days, which gives me the assumption, he's around the same age as Maverick. He keeps my wine glass filled, but not enough to distract me from searching for Maverick, which I do too often in between silences. Every time our gaze meets, I take a sip of wine and pretend to laugh at something Thomas has said.

By the main course, either I'm spinning or the world is. I stand up and stumble back, so Thomas jumps up and places his hand on my lower back to help steady me. His touch is friendly, but because there's no fabric on the back of the dress, it feels more sensual than it should be.

"Ops, silly me! I told Emalyn I can't walk in heels very well, but she insisted it would be a crime to wear Converse with this dress."

"You look beautiful, so I fear she's correct." Thomas chuckles. 

"I need to pee." I hold my hands out to steady myself in this spinning world.

"Do you need help?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Are you sure?"

"Where's the bathroom?"

"Just follow the arrows." He points to a sign attached to a glass sliding door.

"Thank you for your assistance."

I take my time walking to the bathroom so I don't fall over in front of everyone. Once I'm inside, I lock the door and brace myself against the counter. My cheeks are flushed and my stomach is churning. I haven't eaten enough today to sustain the amount of alcohol I've consumed.

"Shit, I'm so drunk." I chuckle.

At least I'm a happy drunk, just hope my legs don't give out.

I take a moment to fan my face, but the alcohol blush doesn't budge. I exit the bathroom and Maverick is waiting for me. His arms are crossed and when his eyes trace my body, it's to ensure I'm okay. I feel much smaller under this gaze.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

"Just too much wine and not enough food. I've been sick these last few days."

"Can I make you something to eat?"

"Yes, please."

I take a step forward, and my knees wobble. His arms are around me, and he's guiding me to the kitchen. He helps me onto the stool, then works around the caterers to make a sandwich. 

When we return to the party, they're collecting the dessert dishes. People are up and mingling, so we take our time and linger on the outskirts of the party. I'm relieved I don't have to sit with Thomas anymore, but I think that's masking the feeling of being wrapped up in Maverick's arms again.

We're approached by a couple, which has Maverick pulling me even closer to his side. His hand grips my side and I'm suddenly very aware of the high split and just how low-cut this dress is.

"There you are, we were wondering where you went," someone says. 

"Just helping Willow."

"Willow? The Willow? It's a pleasure to meet you."

I look at Maverick, and he chuckles. 

"Sorry, these are my parents."

"It's lovely to meet you both! I'm Willow, Emalyn's roommate."

"Oh, you're friends with Emalyn?" His mother comments. 

"Yes."

 "Well, it's lovely to finally meet you. We've heard such wonderful things," his father comments. 

"Thanks for having me." 

His parents move on, and I sigh with relief. I'm far too drunk to be meeting anyone's parents. 

"Do you want a cigarette?" he asks. 

"Please." I nod.

I would push Maverick's hand away, but it's the support I need right now. He leads us around the corner of the house, and we sit on the retaining wall. He lights up a cigarette and hands it to me. I take a draw and exhale a breath. 

"Hate me all you like, but promise me one thing." We look at each other, and he takes the cigarette back. "Don't fuck Thomas."

"Why would I promise that when you have no regard for my feelings?"

I take the cigarette from Maverick and wander back to the party.

I should quit smoking before this habit gets out of hand, but some addictions, no matter how consuming, are hard to kick.