Chapter 19 #2
He walks straight to me, putting his arm around my shoulders. “Seven times nine?”
My chin dips, and I exhale a laugh. “Sixty-three.”
“Baby genius.” He scrubs my shoulder with his hand, chuckling.
“I’m not a baby.” I hug him back.
Straightening, he squints down at me. “What’s this I hear about you taking up with a hockey player? I thought we taught you better than that.”
His hand drops off me, and he extends it in Maverick’s direction. “How you doing there, Mav?”
Mav clasps it in a firm shake, and their eyes meet. “Good to see you again.”
“I’m gonna tell you like I told her daddy.” Leon’s voice is grave. “Tara Dove’s a serious person. She’s got plans, and she doesn’t fall in love with just anybody.” He steps closer, tapping his finger against Mav’s chest. “I’ll kick your ass if you hurt her.”
Silence falls in the room.
I press my lips together, looking from the two of them to my mom. I’ve never heard my uncle speak to anyone this way. Leon’s always easygoing with a beer in his hand and a grin on his lips.
But he’s not grinning now, and I’m actually nervous for Mav.
Thankfully, my dad steps forward, slapping a hand on both their shoulders. “He’s not lying either. He tried to kick mine when my sorry butt showed up again.”
“Good thing Sawyer stopped him,” Mom calls from the stove. “I don’t like all this fighting talk. Dove, help me set the table.”
I start to move as my dad bends down to Maddie, whose brown eyes are wide. “Don’t pay any attention to these old men. They’re just messing around.”
She blinks up to my dad. “My daddy says fighting is only allowed on the ice. Never off it.”
“He’s right.” Dad laughs, holding out his large hand. “Want to see some dancing mice?”
Her face brightens, and she nods. “Yes!”
The two of them head for the living room, and Mom catches his arm before he disappears, pulling him down for a kiss. “I told you. Grandkids.”
Mav’s eyes meet mine, and we exchange a holy shit face. I don’t know what to do with all of these people. Thankfully, the back door opens, and a deep voice makes my chest squeeze.
“What’s happening in here?” Uncle Sawyer enters the room with Aunt Mindy right behind him. “Where’s my little Dove?”
With a yip, I run over to jump into his arms for a hug. Then I turn to Mindy. Her corkscrew curls are pulled back in a ponytail, and I hug them both.
The rest of the evening is spent eating fried catfish and corn on the cob, toasted garlic bread and peach ice cream. I’m full and happy and sleepy, and my head is spinning as we all say our goodnights.
Maddie is asleep on my dad’s shoulder, and Mom sits beside him, petting Kelani, who is curled up asleep on her lap.
“Your parents have a gift,” Gina laughs, rising from her chair. “Maddie is obsessed with Angelina Ballerina, and I’m pretty sure Kelani is going to want to stay here when it’s time to go.”
“That sounds about right.” I put my arm around Gina’s shoulder.
“I’ll take her up to Dove’s old room,” Dad says, standing carefully.
Gina gives me a hug, arching an eyebrow as she glances over my shoulder. “It’s been a long night. I guess you two are ready to hit the hay? Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Her elbow gooses my side, and I cough a laugh.
Mom says goodnight, telling me she put Kelani’s crate in the living room. Uncle Sawyer and Mindy and Leon all retired a little while ago.
The kitchen is dim and quiet, and I turn to face Maverick, who is leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed and a hint of a smile on his lips.
Any drowsiness I felt evaporates, and my heart beats faster as I walk over to him. “What now?”
“Come on.” He takes my hand in his, leading me out the back door.
We walk down the hill to the guest cottage, and I do my best to stay as casual as he seems to be with all of this. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but I guess it’s not his family we’re fooling.
The cottage is all made up with fresh linens and a thick duvet comforter. Bottles of water are on the counter, and sure enough, the mini-fridge is filled with sparkling wine, cheeses, yogurt, and even a few apples.
Maverick leans against a desk in the corner, pulling me between his legs as the door closes.
“We’ll only be here a few days.” His large hands span my waist, and when our eyes meet, I swallow the tightness in my throat. “Your mom got the place all ready for us.”
“So we’re going to go through with this?” My voice is quiet, and I study his handsome face.
His full lips part over straight white teeth. “They’re not expecting us to get married.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” I lift my hand, putting it on his shoulder. “They’re really invested. I feel like we’d be letting them down somehow.”
“I’m sorry I got you into this.” He looks down. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. It was impulsive, and now your uncle Leon is going to kick my ass.”
“Oh my gosh!” I huff a laugh, dropping my chin. “That was intense. I’ve never seen him that way before.”
“According to your dad and Uncle Sawyer, it’s not an empty threat.”
“Now we know the only way this can end—I have to break up with you.”
His lips curve into a smile that’s a little less playful. “That’s the only way.”
Our eyes meet, and we’re quiet. A tingle is in my lower belly, and I hesitate, thinking about his words, thinking about mine.
I glance over at the only bed in the room, and nothing about our little white lie feels harmless. It feels monumental, like turning back the blankets will be opening Pandora’s box. Everything will change.
I swallow the heat in my throat, blinking up at him. “Should I sneak into the house and sleep in the guest room?”
At once he straightens, going to his bag and taking out a pair of gray sweatpants and a T-shirt. “I’ll sleep out back on the flatbed.”
“Won’t you get cold?”
“It’s almost sixty degrees outside.” He takes a crocheted blanket off the back of a chair. “And I can use this.”
“What if somebody sees you?”
“They won’t. I’ll set an alarm and sneak back in here before anybody wakes up.”
“But your concussion…” I hadn’t even realized I’d reached out, and I’m holding the sleeve of his shirt.
“I had a concussion last week. I’m fine now.” He bends down and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “No one will ever know we didn’t sleep together. Get some rest.”
My lips part, but he’s out the door before I can say anything more. My shoulders fall, and I turn to the empty bed beside me.
Making my parents think I did sleep with someone is a situation I never thought I’d encounter. Now it seems sleep is the second thing I won’t be getting any of tonight.