12. Mav
TWELVE
MAV
Everyone, save for Reign and Allegra, is gathered in the living room when Mckenna enters.
Dressed in black leggings and a hoodie, her face devoid of makeup, and her hair pulled back from her face, she looks younger. Paler and more innocent than usual.
Aiden frowns when he sees her. “Mckenna? What are you doing here?”
I narrow my eyes. How the hell does my lawyer know Mckenna? Sure, she’s been around the band a few times, but since she’s not my biggest fan, she usually steers clear.
Mckenna ducks her head sheepishly and lifts a hand in greeting. “Hey, Aiden. I’m, uh, I’m crash?—”
“She’s my roommate,” I interject.
Surprise washes over Aiden’s face, but he clamps his mouth closed.
“She’s in Derek and Allegra’s room,” my brother adds. Of course, no one would want Aiden to get the wrong idea. An unfavorable impression.
Mckenna Byrne would never be living here because of me .
“Hi.” Kimberly holds out a hand. “I’m Kimberly, the band’s publicist, and this is Jess, the band’s manager.” She gestures toward Jess, who gives a little wave.
“We’ve met,” Jess adds.
“Yes,” Mckenna says, recognition flaring in her eyes. “Good to see you again. And it’s nice to meet you, Kimberly.” Mckenna shakes Kimberly’s hand before sinking into a chair on the periphery of the group huddle.
The second she’s seated, all eyes zero in on me.
“You fucked up.” Jess’s voice cuts the air, focusing on the matter at hand. Jess is brutal, direct, and unflinching. A great manager and a constant pain in the ass. “What the hell were you thinking, Mav?”
I run a hand through my hair. “It was a mistake.”
“Too fucking many,” Levi quips as if he’s a fucking saint. As if a few years ago, his shit didn’t end our European tour early and nearly destroy the band.
“Blow me,” I mutter.
“I didn’t realize you were hard up,” he counters.
My brother rolls his eyes. “Can’t keep doing this shit with you, Mav.”
I lift my eyes to my brother’s and cross my arms over my chest. My default position. Defensive as always, protective as hell, even when the world thinks I’m laughing. “Doing what?” I challenge him, even though I know exactly what he means.
Can’t keep bailing you out.
Can’t keep cleaning up your messes.
Can’t keep dealing with your bullshit.
But he should know I’d turn out just like Dad. Except he doesn’t. Because Jameson has no clue that the man who bailed on us is my blood—and not his. He doesn’t realize that I carry the fucked-up genes, the kneejerk reaction to run, and he carries…untainted DNA. A moral high ground.
“You put the band at risk,” Kimberly explains, her tone softer than the others.
I avert my gaze and try to school my features. I struggle to tamp down the guilt that explodes in the pit of my stomach because she’s right. I put the band at risk. The only real family I have—and I jeopardized that.
“What’re we looking at, legally?” Jameson asks Aiden.
“Strictly in a legal context?” Aiden asks.
Jameson nods.
“Nothing.” Mckenna shrugs. “The Massachusetts Adultery Law was repealed in 2018. And even then, it wasn’t much of a precedent to sue someone for sleeping with their spouse. If anything, there could be implications if the senator and his wife file for divorce.”
“Exactly,” Aiden agrees, giving Mckenna an encouraging smile I don’t like.
How well do they know each other? And why?
“Which they’re not going to do,” Levi tacks on. “Divorce would kill his reputation as a family man. No, if anything, they will double down and work through this.”
“At least publicly,” Jess agrees.
“And that’s where you’re at risk,” Aiden says, glancing at me, Levi, and Jameson.
“Our reputation is going to take a hit,” Levi groans.
“We’re fucking rockstars,” I mutter, shaking my head to clear it. “Aren’t we supposed to drink, do drugs, and fuck?”
Jameson tosses a throw pillow that Allegra must’ve bought at my head. I swat it away.
“It isn’t the eighties.” Kimberly wrinkles her nose.
Jess shakes her head. Even Mckenna looks disgusted.
Whatever. I close my eyes. I’m too tired for this shit. I hate that everyone is here, glaring at me like I’m the only screw-up in the group. As if I’m solely responsible for the reputation of The Burnt Clovers.
Like Derek hasn’t pulled shady shit in the past. Did they forget about the mind games he played with Allegra? Suddenly, everyone has amnesia regarding Levi’s stint in rehab that screwed over our tour. Or how about when Jameson’s fallout with Marisa Mella was splashed across tabloids?
Instead, they’re looking at me like it’s just me. Always Mav. The forever fuckup.
“You need to improve your reputation,” Jess states matter-of-factly.
I force my eyes open and slowly turn my neck to stare at her. “Huh?”
“You fix your reputation, it will positively impact the band,” she speaks slowly as if I can’t process her words. Shit, part of me can’t.
“You owe us that, man,” Levi mutters.
“I don’t owe you shit,” I clap back.
Jameson sighs heavily through his nose, his nostrils flaring. “You a part of this band, this family, Maverick?”
“Is that a rhetorical question, Jameson?” I growl.
“You need to lay off the partying,” Jess says. “Be more…wholesome. Less drinking, drugs, and fucking. More?—”
“Dating, cuddling, and hand-holding?” I cut in, sarcastic as hell.
“Exactly!” Kimberly grins, happy I caught on.
“Fuck,” Levi groans.
“I was kidding, Kimberly,” I snap.
Aiden chuckles.
“We need to find you a girlfriend. Someone who would be believable, so anyone you’re acquainted with is clearly out.” Jess flicks a wrist dismissively in my direction.
“Someone with a good head on her shoulders,” Aiden ponders.
“A woman my parents would approve of,” Levi mutters.
“She should be career- or goal-oriented,” Jess tacks on.
“Smart, responsible, friendly,” Kimberly offers.
“These are the most cliché and boring adjectives I’ve ever heard,” I drop in my two cents.
Everyone ignores me.
Everyone except Mckenna. She’s staring at me with a strange expression. It’s almost as if she pities me, which is infuriating because—“What the fuck are you looking at, Mckenna?”
Mckenna drops her gaze, and everyone in the room looks at her.
The forlorn, pale, swimming-in-her-too-big-hoodie Mckenna Byrne.
The room stills, painfully quiet. Mckenna wrings her hands together. The muscle under my left eye ticks.
Jess snaps her fingers. “Perfect!”
“She’s in law school,” Aiden shares.
“She’s already living here,” Kimberly agrees.
“And Kenny can’t stand Mav.” Annoying-as-fuck Levi laughs.
“No way,” Jameson says.
Mckenna’s eyes widen, her features frozen as she stares at me. She looks like a deer caught in headlights, and it takes me a second to realize that I’m the oncoming traffic.
I’m the SUV about to run her over, flatten her to the cement, and crush her life as she knows it.
“No,” Mckenna and I say in unison.
Levi chortles louder this time. “See, you guys can agree on something.”
“No fucking way,” I state.
“I don’t have time for, for…this.” Mckenna waves a hand in my direction. “I have classes.” She turns her pleading eyes on Aiden. Why does she look to him—and not me—for help? “You know how stressful 3L year can be. I’m applying for jobs. Clinical programs. And working at the café, practically around the clock, and?—”
“Why’re you working there?” Levi questions.
Mckenna snaps her mouth closed, a blush blooming on her cheeks.
Jameson glances between Mckenna and me. “You’re living here now…” he trails off, letting the implication dangle in the space.
If Mckenna isn’t paying rent but still working her ass off, she must need the money.
I close my eyes, knowing what’s coming. They’re going to interrogate her. And yeah, their concern is coming from a good place but…knowing how proud and private Mckenna is, dread drops in the pit of my stomach, heavy as a stone. A shiver runs through my body as quiet reverberates throughout the living room. The type of quiet that is on the cusp of shattering. Like a goddamn grenade with the pin pulled.
“Shit,” my brother murmurs.
I open my eyes.
“Why do you need money, Kenny?” Levi’s voice is laced with worry that causes Mckenna to wince.
Mckenna shakes her head, her eyes darting between Aiden, Jess, and Kimberly. Embarrassment makes her cheeks burn.
But my brother and Levi, used to speaking freely about everything in front of our team, don’t read her distress.
“Is everything okay?” Jameson asks gently.
“Did something happen?” Levi inquires, his brows pulled together.
The fact that they care guts Mckenna. It’s evident in how her eyes bleed with anguish while she holds her frame perfectly still. Her lips quirk up in a pleasant smile.Only her hands give her away. She wrings them, her knuckles turning white.
“I’m fine,” she says finally, her voice strained. “I’m…figuring things out.”
Jess fucking grins. “Then this is perfect. You can figure them out here while pretending to be Mav’s girlfriend.”
“And you can cut back, or even quit, working at the café.” Levi nods enthusiastically as if this stupid suggestion solves everything. Instead, it’s making everything worse.
“Absolutely,” Jess chimes in again. “All your financial needs will be taken care of if you accept this position.” Her words land hard, matter-of-fact.
Mckenna’s eyes widen, then narrow. She looks like she’s about to be sick. Or black out.
“Obviously,” Levi declares, waving a hand as if financial matters are beneath his consideration.
“And shit, this would really help the band,” Jameson breathes.
Mckenna winces again, and I swear under my breath. Anger toward my brother mounts—fucking Jameson. Why would he put her in this position?
Now, I know Mckenna will agree. Jameson’s hopefulness just solidified her decision and sealed her fate. Because at her core, Mckenna Byrne is an annoyingly good person.
The kind that does stupid shit to help others. Even fuckups like me.
But she shouldn’t have to.
We shouldn’t ask her to. None of us!
“Mckenna—” I say, blocking everyone out but her.
She meets my gaze slowly. The confusion that mars her expression pulls at something in my chest. She plucks one thread, and the whole damn thing starts to unravel. “Mckenna,” I try again.
You don’t have to do this.
This will never work.
I will fuck up a fake relationship like I’d fuck up a real one. Instantly.
You will drive me to fucking drink, and I will ruin you.
You deserve better; I don’t deserve you.
My mind whirls with thoughts. With reasons to shut this idea down. With ways to give Mckenna an out.
“This arrangement will free up your time for your studies,” Aiden says thoughtfully. “Especially if you plan to intern with a firm or an agency next semester.”
Quiet resignation ripples over Mckenna’s face as the spark in her eyes dims.
“Mckenna—” I clear my throat, a warbled sound of pain and frustration. Of fucking regret.
Because while she’s a do-gooder, I’m a taker. And right now, she’s my best option. I shouldn’t ask her to do this. It’s wrong. It’s crossing a line. I know better.
Her text message from last night flickers in my mind.
I’m sorry.
Her words from this morning.
I get what it’s like to screw up. Badly.
Dammit, I need her. She’s too good for me but she could be good for me.
I work a swallow. Am I selfish enough to ask?
“For fuck’s sake, no wonder he’s never had a girlfriend,” Levi snickers.
I close my eyes and inhale sharply.
If she stays, if she agrees, I’ll do everything I can to help her.
I’ll be her fucking friend. Lord knows she needs one.
I exhale. Look straight at Mckenna. Hold her gaze and read the resignation mixed with desperation in her irises.
“Will you do this for me?” I ask. “Will you be my fake…girlfriend?” I choke on the last word. The edges of my vision blur, black spots dancing in the corners.
Jameson pounds me on the back, and the room spins as I wait for her reply.