Chapter Seventeen

Maverick and I load the dishes into the dishwasher after dinner, while Emalyn places a popcorn packet into the microwave and gathers additional snacks. I'm stuffed after the smorgasbord of Chinese food for dinner, but I guess there's always space for popcorn, right?

He adds the soap to the dishwasher before joining me beside the kitchen counter. His arm subtly brushes against mine which makes me smile. The microwave beeps and Emalyn upends the popcorn into a bowl. Mav steals a handful and tosses a few pieces into his mouth.

"Hey, that's not for you." Emalyn shoots him a glare.

"What are you two doing with all of this food? Didn't you eat enough at dinner?"

"We're having a movie night, so of course we need some snacks."

"Some?" He scoffs, looking at the pile of snacks gathered on the table.

"I like options." Emalyn rolls her eyes.

"Lucky you have options. I have no snacks, no bed, and no TV."

"Do you want a medal or something?" Emalyn chuckles.

Maverick shoots her a glare.

"I guess I can just sit on the couch and enjoy my cocktails in peace and quiet." He smirks.

"Fine." She sighs. "What if you joined us? You can sleep on the trundle bed and Willow and I can sleep on the bed. You have to keep making us cocktails, though."

"Okay." He nods.

"Is that okay with you?" Emalyn looks at me and I nod.

That's very okay with me!

"Great, we need some new drinks then." Emalyn flutters her eyelashes.

Mav rolls his eyes but nods.

"Let's take these snacks upstairs and prepare the beds." We grab an armful each and I follow her upstairs. We place the snacks on the bed, and then Emalyn gets to work moving furniture and pulling the trundle bed out from under her bed.

The trundle bed equates to a single bed. With some spare pillows, cushions, and a throw blanket, it looks much better than the couch downstairs.

"I'll sleep on the right side near Mav," she comments.

"I can sleep on that side. You're always getting up for the toilet, so it might be easier for you to be on the left."

"You're right, but are you sure?"

"Yeah." I shrug.

"Let's get changed before Maverick comes back with the drinks." Emalyn locks her bedroom door and wanders over to her dresser. I change into my pjs which consist of a flowy satin shirt and shorts.

There's a knock, Emalyn looks at me and I nod before she opens the door. Maverick hands us the cocktail glasses before settling on the trundle bed. He wiggles around until he's comfortable. I can't help but think I would be more comfortable down there; in his arms splayed across the pillows with him.

I take a big sip before climbing over Mav and under the covers. I chuck some snacks down to Mav while Emalyn browses the tv catalog from beside me.

"Not a romantic comedy." He groans.

"Just be grateful, you could be starting at an empty wall."

"Hm." He grumbles.

We settle on a romantic comedy with action undertones. I hang my hand down the side of the bed and Mav holds my hand and plays with my fingers.

When we finish our drinks, Emalyn raises her empty glass.

"Maverick," she calls out.

"Already? We just got through the open credits." He groans.

"Let me help you," I offer.

I take Emalyn's glass and follow Mav downstairs. As I place the glasses on the bar, he grabs my waist and spins me around, pinning me against the bar. His face looms above mine with a sweet but cheeky smile.

"Mav." I gasp. "What if someone sees us?"

The alcohol has given us too much confidence.

His lips capture mine and I hook one arm around his neck and deepen the kiss. His tongue dances across my lower lip before exploring mine. I tangle my fingers into his hair and pull him closer.

"Well, this confirms my thoughts."

We snap apart and find his mother standing by the doorway with a cheery smile.

"We just, um." Mav frowns, scratching the back of his head awkwardly.

"Maverick told us about this woman he met in Italy, completely spellbound by her. He only mentioned once, a slip of the tongue, that her name was Willow. It's not a very common name."

"It's not." I sigh.

"Please don't say anything, even to Dad. Emalyn can't know about us," Mav says.

"Ah, so this is supposed to be a secret romance?"

Mav glances at me, then nods.

"Supposed to be." He sighs.

"I think Emalyn would understand if you told her. We could see how heartbroken you were after Italy."

"Mum." He groans.

"Heartbroken, hey?" I turn to smile at Mav.

"Your secret is safe with me... If you make me another delicious cocktail." She smirks.

"Sure." He sighs.

She looks between us with a bright smile, while I awkwardly stand next to Mav pretending to be interested in how he's making the cocktail. All the while, I feel my cheeks burning from embarrassment.

I'm relieved when she's on her way, cocktail in hand.

"So you really did tell your parents about me?"

"Yes." He nods.

"Hm." I smile.

He makes our drinks, then pats his pockets.

"I'm going for a smoke, join me?" He kisses my forehead.

"I wouldn't live to see another day if my parents caught me smoking."

"There's a section around the side of the house, nobody will see us."

"I don't think you should be encouraging these bad habits."

"You know where to find me, or not." He winks.

Maverick grabs the cigarettes from his bag and we go outside through the side door in the laundry. We sit along the retaining wall, he lights a cigarette and offers it to me.

I should stop, but I take a deep, calming breath.

"So your mother knows about us. Do you think she'll tell anyone?"

Mav shrugs.

"Probably just my Dad."

"Oh no."

"You don't need to worry about him, I doubt he'd say anything."

"Doubting isn't reassuring me."

"He won't say anything."

"You're smiling because you want them to say something."

Mav shrugs his shoulders, his sly smile only confirms my suspicions.

I hand the cigarette back to him and space the small length of the garden. The grass is soft, but cold under my feet.

"She can't find out like this, it would ruin our friendship."

"He won't say anything," Mav says.

"I shouldn't even be here." I turn for the door, but he discards the cigarette and pins me to the tree.

He looms above me and his warm breath chills my spine. Mav's hand settles on my waist and his fingers slide under my shirt and trail along the side of my waist, sending little tingles around that area.

"Stop worrying about it. They won't tell Emalyn. They wouldn't do anything to upset either of us."

He brushes some hair behind my ear and trails kisses from my forehead, over my cheek, and to my lips. When I kiss him, he tastes like smoke and alcohol and I can't get enough.

Our kisses grow more passionate and my hands claw at him. Mav pins my wrists to my side and rests his forehead against mine.

"We should go inside before you spin out of control and we do something that will get us caught." I melt into his embrace and focus on bringing my breathing back to normal.

"I've never had a good friend like Emalyn, and I've never felt this way about someone. I don't want to wreck it. Plus now our parents are friends."

"My entire family likes you," Mav comments. "Give it a couple of months, then Emalyn will be happy about the idea of us being together cause you'll be sisters-in-law."

"I hope you're right because I don't want to pick between you. You both mean so much to me."

Mav goes ridget under my touch.

"Would you pick me?" he whispers.

"Would you make me pick?"

"I shouldn't have asked." He scrambles back, but I grab ahold of his wrist and hold on as tight as I can.

"I would pick you, Mav."

Mav smiles and kisses my forehead.

"Let's go back inside before Emalyn notices we've been gone for too long."

I follow Mav inside and he steals one more kiss before we go upstairs with the drinks.

"What took you so long? I was about to send out a search party."

"We were talking to Mum and she asked me to make her a drink," he says.

We settle into our spots and I hang my hand down. His fingers weave between mine and his thumb strokes my finger.