Say Yes
Griff
I hadn't planned to be asking questions. Maisie's private life was her own. And me? I was just passing through. In a few weeks, I'd be gone, leaving all of this behind.
Not my circus. Not my monkeys.
Even so, I didn't like the thought of Maisie facing those assholes on her own.
Call me sentimental. Sure, nobody else ever had. But now? Maybe I was going soft. Or maybe this was personal. Either way, I wasn't about to let it drop.
In the quiet shop, my questions hung unanswered as Maisie shifted from foot to foot. Finally, she said, "It's a long story."
Nice try. "Good. I've got the time."
"Honestly?" She hesitated. "It's a little embarrassing."
I studied her face. "You mean private."
She grimaced. "Not for long." She gave the front door a furtive glance. "Not with Sierra on the loose."
Not just Sierra. I recalled the douchebag at Sierra's side. Whoever the guy was, he'd been eying Maisie with far too much interest. Yeah, I'd noticed – even if Maisie hadn't.
Next to me, she let out a long, resigned sigh. "The funny thing is, it shouldn't be a big deal. It happened back in college. And it's not like I did anything wrong."
I stated the obvious. "But they did."
"It depends what you consider wrong." She gave a weary shrug, like an invisible weight had settled onto her shoulders. "I mean…they seem happy together, so…" Her words trailed off, and she looked away.
I couldn't let it drop. "Just tell me this. Are they gonna be back?"
She chewed on her lower lip. "Probably."
"Alright then, it's settled."
"What's settled?"
"When they're here, I'll be your boyfriend." Now that I'd said it, I was liking how it sounded.
"Oh, come on," she said with an unconvincing laugh. "You don't want to do that."
The hell I didn't. "Why not?"
"Because what if you want to date someone else?" She said it like I had someone in mind – or a list of someones a mile long.
Neither was the case . "I don't."
She gave me a skeptical look. "But it's a small island."
"So?"
"So word'll get around. I mean, it's not like you could be my boyfriend only when they show up."
"So?" I repeated.
"So, let's say you hooked up with someone. And let's say you wanted to do stuff around town."
I didn't get it. "What kind of stuff?"
"You know. Tourist stuff." She glanced away. "And maybe some PDAs." Her cheeks reddened as she continued. "You know…hugging and kissing…and whatever."
Public displays of affection. The only such display I'd made on the island had happened right here in this shop. With Maisie.
I was okay with that.
In fact, I was more than okay.
An unfamiliar tightness gripped my chest – not pain, but something else. What was that about?
Maisie was still talking. "So I'm just saying, it would be really strange if you were seeing someone else." She gave an awkward laugh. "And if someone saw you with another girl, you'd be the guy cheating on me." Her voice grew quiet. "And I'd be the one getting cheated on ."
I was a lot of things, but not that. I looked into her eyes and told her the unvarnished truth. "I'm no cheater."
"Yeah, but technically you wouldn't really be cheating." Her voice was light, but her expression wasn't. "You know, because we're not together."
For half a second, I wished we were. But this was about her, not me. "Trust me, I'm not worried. The offer stands."
"Or let's say the girl is really nice," she went on as if I hadn't spoken. "I mean…the one you're dating. She would never go for a guy who's taken."
"Except there is no girl," I reminded her. "Nice or otherwise." My thoughts strayed to the couple who had just left. That girl wasn't nice. And the guy? He was a coward – the kind who'd shiv you in your sleep and then blame the knife.
Was he a cheater, too? Probably.
And here was the bigger question. What was he to Maisie?
An ex-boyfriend? Based on what little information she'd shared, along with her comments about cheating, that seemed the way to bet.
Then again, he could be a random asshole looking to trade up from the blonde, because let's face it, Maisie was worth a dozen of her.
I was still assembling the pieces when Maisie said, "But there could be – someone else, I mean. You're here for what? Another three-and-a-half weeks?"
Back in the beginning, I'd been counting the days. Lately, not so much. "Something like that."
"So I'm just saying, that's a long time."
At the start, a month had seemed like forever. Now, it wasn't seeming long enough – well, except when it came to the shithole where I slept.
That place, I was ready to leave now.
But I could stay on the island for the whole summer if it came down to it. I'd simply ditch the boathouse at the end of my term and move someplace better.
It would be no hardship, especially once I had my own cash, credit, and the rest of it.
Maybe I'd buy that boathouse and burn it to the ground. Hey, it wasn't that far-fetched. I mean, I liked a good bonfire as much as anyone.
To Maisie, I replied, "Time's not a problem."
"But let's say there's someone who catches your eye." Her blush deepened. "That's a long time to resist."
The only girl who'd caught my eye was standing next to me. And even that wouldn't be a problem, because I wasn't here to stay.
A month? Definitely.
The summer? Possibly.
Beyond that? Not a chance.
I told her, "Hey, a lot could always happen, but not that."
"Why not?"
"Because I wouldn't let it." And that went double for the girl I was looking at. She wasn't the type for a fling. I knew this, just like I knew that I wasn't looking for anything more. "Tell me something."
"What?"
"Who was the guy? You do know, him, right?"
Something in flickered in her eyes – surprise, regret, maybe both."Uh…yeah."
I considered the scenario and played the odds. "Your ex?"
She blinked. "How'd you know?"
"Call it a hunch." And just like that, the pieces slid into place. The girl – Centipede – she'd wanted some sort of revenge. But the guy? He wanted Maisie.
Or rather, he wanted Maisie back.
Newsflash. He wasn't gonna get her. A guy like that didn't deserve anyone so sweet. And Maisie? She deserved a guy who'd stick.
True, the guy wasn't me. But it sure as hell wasn't him. And I'd make damn sure of it.
It was time to seal the deal. "Hey, do me a favor."
"What?"
"Say yes."
"You mean to the whole fake-boyfriend thing?" Her smile wobbled into something between a laugh and a frown. "Why is that a favor to me?"
"Because I'm not gonna let it drop." I grinned. "The only question is, how long you're gonna make me wait."
"Oh, stop it," she laughed. "We both know that if I really wanted to do you a favor, I'd let you off the hook right now – for your own sake."
"Except there is no hook," I said. "And maybe I'm bored."
She rolled her eyes, but said nothing. Still, I saw it simmering just beneath the surface – the urge to play along.
I sealed it with a wink. "Trust me. It'll be fun."
Fun for me.
Fun for Maisie.
But for them?
Not so much.