Part 10 (1/2)
”Say his name again?”
”Why?”
”Just do it.”
”Maverick.”
”No, say all of it.”
”Maverick Samuel Tavare.”
Finley scrutinizes me, puckering her lips and narrowing her eyes. She knows something. G.o.d, I hate when she knows things. ”I've seen that look before.”
”What look?”
”When you said his name. It was like... Wait a second. Are you?” She waggles a finger at me, then begins to laugh. ”Hot d.a.m.n, girl! You have feelings for him, don't you? You like him. This isn't about Chris-I mean it is a little bit-but it's bigger than that.”
”Slow down,” I say, holding out my hand to stop her. ”Yeah, I like him. He seems like a great guy, but-”
”Uh-huh. That's not what I mean.” Finley's eyes light up. ”You. Like. Him.”
”Three days, Finley. You can't know those things in three days.”
”I didn't say you love him, but there's definitely something there. Am I right? And that's why you're having all these emotions after sleeping with him. You don't want it to end.”
”I don't know what I want.”
”Obvious.”
”Where is he now?”
”Still asleep.”
”You left him without saying anything to him?” She's shocked. Why is she shocked? It's what she does.
”Yeah ... ?”
”Okay, so let me get this straight: you went back to his room, had killer s.e.x-freaking twice!-and after he fell asleep, you snuck out?”
”That sums it up.” I run a hand through my hair and sigh. I'm in over my head. ”What am I going to do?”
”Look, Ali, you're my best friend in the whole world, and I love you. So I'm saying this as nicely as I can: Get. Your a.s.s. Back there. And once you're there, get naked and give that man a b.l.o.w. .j.o.b he'll never forget. Then after that. Don't. f.u.c.king. Leave.”
Chapter 15.
Present Day 4:44 a.m.
I hear Finley's voice before I see her. A sense of momentary relief hits me.
”Room 316,” a nurse tells her.
”Thanks,” she says, and a second later she's in the doorway to Maverick's room. ”Ali.”
I try to stand, but I fall back down into the chair. I'm exhausted and my legs are having trouble holding my weight.
”Girl.” Finn slides a chair next to me. ”You look like s.h.i.+t.”
”I'm fine.”
”Liar.”
”Really. I'm okay. It's just ... been a long night.”
My BFF blinks. Then she takes my hand. ”It's okay to be falling apart right now. You're not fine, Ali, and you're ent.i.tled to be not fine.”
Finley's words. .h.i.t hard, like she's given me permission to lose control. I'm sad, because my Maverick is in critical condition. I'm anxious, because I have no idea what's going to happen, and I'm angry. This isn't fair! Maverick didn't deserve this.
I glance at Maverick. The cuts on his face are difficult to look at. Most are little nicks, probably from shattered gla.s.s, but some are larger. One is half-concealed by the bandage wrapped around his head. The st.i.tched-up gash on his swollen lip is the hardest, because I've been staring at it, and I can't remember what his smile looks like. All I see are the f.u.c.king threads.
The f.u.c.king threads that are holding him together, that shouldn't f.u.c.king be there!
”Ali...”
I open my eyes. I'm clutching the blanket over Maverick's stomach, squeezing so hard my knuckles have turned white.
”I called him, Finn. I called his office, and the secretary said he was in meetings all day.” She's blurry through my tears. ”I didn't get to talk to him. I didn't tell him.”
”He knows, Ali.” She nods. ”He knows you love him.”
”Does he? I shut him out. It's been months since I told him.”
”Of course he does. You guys. .h.i.t a rough patch. That doesn't mean everything you had disappears.” My best friend eases me back to my chair. ”He knew you were planning that dinner. That's love.”
I nod, hoping she's right. I inhale a deep breath and let it out slowly.
”I got him a gift.” I let go of the blanket and smooth it out over him again. ”After our brunch I wandered around the mall. I was getting him something for our anniversary, but the more I looked, the more I realized I had no idea what he wanted. A watch seemed stupid. Sports stuff, but we have nowhere to put anything extra. He doesn't collect anything, and you don't buy clothing for an anniversary. I'd almost given up when I pa.s.sed the toy store. But there, in the window I saw the perfect gift. Something so silly.” I look at my husband. An oxygen mask over his mouth. Gauze wrapped around his upper arm and his head. Who we used to be seems like such a long time ago. How did things go downhill so quickly?
I run my fingers down his cheek. The beginnings of stubble sc.r.a.pe my skin, and I lean down and kiss him softly. A trace scent of his aftershave still lingers.
”It's a stuffed animal jellyfish,” I say, and Finley chuckles.
”He's going to love it.”
Chapter 16.