Chapter Thirty
Rocky
The bedroom I was assigned is right beside Maverick’s, which makes me wonder how involved he was in the arrangement. It doesn’t matter though, the rooms are huge and each have their own bathrooms. I mean, the house is insane. Not long after seven o’clock, there’s a knock on my door, and I call out for whoever it is to come inside. When I see it’s Maverick, my heart nearly explodes. He’s already dressed for dinner, dark jeans, white sneakers, and a white short sleeved button-down. Mitch and Jo are having a chef over to cook for all of us, so I opted for casual as well and went with a white wrap dress with ruffled sleeves, that’s a little short, but not too short, and white thong sandals. Misty and Jo are also wearing similar wrap dresses and Jo’s is definitely sexier than mine so I feel comfortable with my choice.
“Wow,” Mav says as he shuts the door behind him and walks forward. He brings a hand from behind him and walks toward me with a red rose in his hand. “I stole this from one of Jo’s arrangements. Don’t tell on me.”
“I don’t think she’ll miss it.” I smile, pulse racing as he reaches me and hands me the rose. “It’s beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He searches my eyes as he says the words.
“Mav.” I quiver and take a breath. “You can’t keep saying things like that to me. I gave you a list to woo other women, not me.”
“You’re the only one I want to woo, though, Keke.”
“You told me to date other guys.”
“I know what I said, but I don’t know if I can do this. I don’t know if I can watch you with other guys anymore and act like I’m okay with it.”
“Act like you’re okay with it? So, you weren’t okay with it before?”
“Of course not. I mean, I was fine with it because I love seeing you happy, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t also wildly jealous.”
“But you were my first.”
“I know.” He shuts his eyes in an exhale, as if savoring that. When he opens them again, they’re lava. “Which is why I was trying to resist this. Part of me wants to be an asshole and tell you that you’re mine and never let you go, but you deserve to be with other guys. You deserve to be wooed and taken out.”
“What if I don’t want other guys? What if I want you to be that guy?”
He brings a hand down to cup my face, my neck. “What if you regret that later on?”
“Later on?” I let out a laugh. “You’re talking like we’re getting married.”
“Like I said, what if you regret that later on?”
“Maverick.” My chest flutters. “How will I know you’re not going to change your mind again?”
“Because I’m telling you I won’t.” He reaches into the collar of his shirt and pulls out the necklace he’s wearing.
“How did you . . . you still have it?” My eyes widen when I see the broken half heart that says BEST.
“I’m sure I do, but this is a new one.” He reaches into his pocket and gives me the other half. I smile at the word FRIENDS. “You know I would never do anything to destroy what we have, right?”
“Our friendship, yeah, I have no doubt about that.” I clasp the necklace in my grip. “But what about everything else?”
“I can’t imagine I’d ever do anything to hurt the love of my life.” He looks into my eyes. “Especially since the love of my life happens to be my best friend.”
My bottom lip starts to quiver. “Mav.”
“If I had it my way, I’d make you my wife right now, this second, but I know that sounds crazy and—”
“I like crazy,” I say, smiling as I wipe my tears. “But I don’t mind savoring this. We have a lot going on right now.”
“I know.” He licks his lips. “That’s another thing I want to talk to you about. I know you’re going to do your try-out and I know you’re going to get offers from a lot of places, so I want you to pick whatever team you feel is best for you and I’ll—”
I wrap my arms around his neck, pull my legs up and wrap them around his waist, and kiss him. “Stop being so serious for once, Mav.” I pull away and smile. “By the way, I’m in love with you too. I’ve been in love with you for a while now, even if you’re too blind to see it.”
“Dammit, Rocky.” He kisses me again, so deeply that I feel like I’m going to combust. When he pulls away, we’re both breathing heavily. “I’m not letting you go. I hope you know that.”
“I’m totally okay with it.” I smile.