Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
MAYA
“W hat do you think that was about?” I whispered to Mum after she sprinkled the chicken with cheese and slipped the dish back into the oven. Ruby and Drake were arguing about something as they made the salad.
Mum leaned against the counter. “I’m not completely sure.”
Tearing my eyes away from the hallway, I faced her. “But you have an idea?”
She sighed. “Sweetie, we all heard Texas call you ‘babe.’”
I threw out a hand. “So? He’s always called me something.”
Drake groaned and turned to us. “Tell me you’re not that dense? Anyone can see what’s right in front of you. Shit, Texas is here all the time, and it’s not to see Dad. Them talkin’ was bound to happen.”
“Drake, don’t be an ass about it,” Ruby snapped.
Staring at the floor, I gripped the counter behind me, my knees suddenly feeling weak. Drake was right. I was being dense. I’d even managed to push Swan’s words to the back of my mind. Every time they tried to pop back up, I forced myself to think of something else.
I had to. If I didn’t, I’d be a nervous wreck, knowing there was a high chance Texas liked me.
Somehow, I’d managed to text normally after what Swan had said. I’d wanted to make sure to keep our new friendship in case she was wrong. It was why I invited him over after getting back. Besides the fact that I missed him, I needed to figure out how to act around him. If I hadn’t organised to see him straight away, my overthinking would have made everything too awkward.
But then he’d gone and hugged me. And not just any friendly hug. The hug was tight and strong, possessive… as if I’d been gone for a year and not two weeks. If it hadn’t been for the way I’d lost my ability to think, I would have been calmer. I wouldn’t have thought of Swan’s words. I wouldn’t have let hope blossom.
“Swan—” I cleared my throat. “—told me what her dad saw that night when I…. She told me how Texas acted,” I said softly to the floor.
Mum took my hand in hers, and I looked into her heartfelt gaze. “I saw him at the hospital, sweetheart. You’ve guarded your heart for so long against him, knowing he was blind to you. Now he sees you. His eyes are wide open, and now it’s up to you if you want to take the chance on him.”
My already racing pulse kicked up to another speed.
“I… I….” I wanted to dive headfirst into something with Texas. I did. But I couldn’t ignore the doubt whispering through my mind.
He doesn’t really want you.
He’s just being nice.
People are reading into something that’s not there.
He’ll see someone else and drop you.
He’s not looking for his forever.
He’ll break your heart.
Mum squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to make a decision now. There’s no need to rush.”
Nodding, I released Mum’s hand and went to the refrigerator. “Um, do you want the dressings out for the salad?”
“Sure, sweetie.”
I heard Ruby and Drake muttering back and forth. I was worried Drake would say something in front of Texas, but I knew Ruby would have my back. Honestly, I feared for my own reactions when Texas returned, but more than that, I wondered what they were talking about in that room.
Was it really about work or was it something else?
Could it really be because Texas had called me “babe” in front of Dad? I was sure Texas had used endearments on me before in front of him. I was used to hearing “baby” or “babe” from Texas, so I didn’t take notice of who he said it in front of.
Then again, why would Dad care? He’d used “babe” or “darlin’” for other women. They really didn’t mean anything. Not that I needed to worry about this. It wasn’t like Texas was in there confessing his feelings for me to my father.
That was, if he does—
All right, I was 80 percent sure Texas liked me. The clues kept piling up.
But dear God, the thought of it, of knowing, drove my mind and body into a tailspin.
I didn’t know if I wanted to vomit or sit on the toilet for the next half hour, crapping myself, since my body was in that much of a state.
Texas was into me.
After all these years.
After placing the condiments on the table, I pressed my hand against my twisting belly.
I really loved getting to know him these past few weeks. I also regretted getting my feelings involved when we were young. If I hadn’t crushed on him, we could have been good friends back then too.
What happened if I took the chance now but it ruined our friendship?
God, even the thought of diving in caused havoc to my system. I wanted to laugh, to scream, to cry, to smile so wide there was a risk my face would crack. I was over-the-moon happy, yet scared, and also surprised at the fact I was turned on, and worried, and turned on some more.
Okay, it was good to say the thought of being able to kiss, to hold, and even be intimate with Texas was wild.
If I started something with him, I would get to touch him. I would get to run my hands over his smooth, inked skin. Curl my fingers in his trimmed beard and get to tug his head down so I could finally kiss his sweet lips again.
Would he taste the same?
Could the kiss be more than what I remembered? It had been blow-my-socks-off amazing when I’d been sixteen. What would be blown off this time?
If it happened.
If I took the chance.
Groaning inwardly, I went back to grab the salad bowl and placed it on the table.
I was getting ahead of myself. I didn’t completely know Texas wanted more with me. But then, if he did, when would he make a move? Then again, if he made a move, was I ready to jump?
My heart skipped a beat when I heard Dad’s office door open and their pounding footsteps come down the hall shortly after. When they entered, I froze on the spot, standing beside the table. I listened to them laugh about something, but didn’t hear what the words were.
At least they were chuckling. That was good, right? Then again, I didn’t really know what they’d been talking about in the office.
When Texas glanced my way, I stupidly lifted my hand and pointed to the counter and yelled, “Dinner.”
The room quieted, except for Drake’s snickering. I winced, blushed, and rushed to the counter.
“What the…?” sounded from Dad.
“Honey, come place the dish on the placemats on the table for me,” Mum said. “Texas, take a seat. Do you need another beer?”
“I’m good, thanks.”
“Okey-dokey. Ruby and Drake, grab the rest of the things and let’s eat.”
Everyone moved while I stood, holding up the counter, or it held up me. That was until I felt heat at my back.
“All right, Maya?” Texas’s quiet tone caressed my ear as he placed a hand on my hip.
In a panic, I picked up the spatula and swung it around, nearly clocking him in the head. Thankfully, he grabbed my wrist in time.
“Yep.” I nodded. “Just needed this. Sorry. Let’s go eat.”
Drake snorted, and I heard a slight slap, then my brother mumbled under his breath. My wrist dislodged from Texas’s grip, I moved over to the table and took a seat next to the one Texas had vacated. Drake sat on my other side. I didn’t pick the spot to begin with, but I had to leave seats open on the other side for—
“We’re here,” Cody yelled from the front of the house.
Leaning into Texas a little, I ignored the flutter and pushed the nerves aside to try and act normal as I whispered, “We better get some food before he gets to the table, or it’ll all be gone.”
Texas grinned down at me, and my breath caught.
A hand settled on my neck. “Too right, sister.”
“Hi, everyone,” Channa greeted, and we all replied as she moved around the table to sit next to Ruby. My gaze widened slightly when I took in her crazy hair and what looked like a fresh mark on her neck. Cody, after he kissed Mum on the cheek, took the only spare chair left on Channa’s other side, which was also next to Dad who was at the head of the table. Mum sat at the other end.
“Looks and smells amazing, Zara,” Channa commented before she added, “Sorry we’re late. I had to take the dogs for a walk and then we ran into an old neighbour.”
Was that a leaf in her hair?
Discreetly and while the others chatted, I tugged on my own hair and gave Channa wide eyes. She didn’t catch on right away. Even looked at me as if I’d lost my mind until I mouthed, “Hair.”
She quickly fixed her hair, and heat hit her cheeks when the leaf fluttered to the table. “Thank you,” she mouthed.
“I’m thinkin’ of gettin’ some ink,” Cody told Texas.
“What would you get?” Mum asked.
“Not sure yet, but I wanna cover an arm.”
“Sure you can hack the pain?” Dad teased with a smirk.
“If you can do it, Dad, so can I.”
I glanced down at my plate just as I picked up the tongs for some chicken but noticed my plate already had food on it. I paused for a beat, dropped the tongs, and glanced at Drake. He tipped his chin towards Texas and I looked there, but he was busy telling Cody to drop by his shop.
He’d filled my plate.
He’d served me like Cody did Channa. Like Dad would Mum, if they sat closer.
My belly fluttered.
“You should drop by one time too, Maya.”
It was another clue he liked me, right?
Another clue that he wanted me in his life as more than a friend, right?
None of my other male friends served up my meal.
“ Maya’s off with the fairies tonight,” Mum said.
“Sorry?” I called.
Cody snorted. “Too much sun in Queensland.” Cody, like my whole family, had checked in with me every now and then while I’d been away.
I nodded. “That’s got to be it.” But what had I missed?
“I asked if you wanted to drop by the shop one time?”
Swallowing thickly, I nodded. “Yeah. Yep. Sure. Sounds good.” I’d get to see where Texas worked all his magic. I could even make it a time when he was working so I could see him in action.
“How was Queensland?” Cody asked. I drew my eyes to his concerned ones.
I was acting like a wanker. I needed to get myself under control and push all romantic thoughts of Texas to the back of my mind.
“You already know how it was by calling me all the time.”
“It was lucky I did that one time or that guy—”
“What guy?” Texas blurted.
All eyes went to him, and I didn’t miss Cody’s satisfied smirk.
Texas stared down at me. “There was a guy?”
“No. Cody’s being an idiot.”
Texas faced Cody. “What guy?”
“Just a douche at the coffee house Maya had been in.”
“Yes, and tell everyone what you yelled through the phone, please.” I sat back and glared.
Cody started chuckling. “I yelled that her gonorrhoea test results came back positive.”
The table erupted into laughter. Dad even reached over and patted Cody’s arm.
Texas turned to me and dipped his chin down while they talked about it. “Were you gonna go out with him?”
I jerked my head back in shock, eyes wide. “What? No. Not at all.”
He studied my face and then nodded before he went back to eating, contributing to the conversation when needed.
If my stomach wasn’t in such a state, I would have eaten more, but I couldn’t. I also skipped on dessert. Still, I enjoyed the night. It was always good to sit down with the whole family for a good meal. Even more so when Texas was beside me.
Goddamn, I was treading in thick water, and the surface led me to Texas each and every time.
Especially when he grinned at me like he was doing as we stood in the doorway while we said goodbye to everyone who had to leave.
“Hey, Maya, Texas. Cody and I are going to check out a band early tomorrow night at a local pub. Do you guys want to join us?”
“Oh, um….”
“I’ve got nothin’ on. Sounds good,” Texas said. He knocked his hip against mine. “You’ll come?”
Smiling, I nodded. “Sure.” Back to Channa, I said, “Thanks for the invite.”
“No problem. Thanks again for dinner, Zara,” she called.
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Drive safe, Cody.”
“Will do, Mum.”
“Later,” Texas called with a salute, his gaze on me for an extra beat before he spun and walked away. I closed the door, turned, and leaned against it. Dad had already disappeared, but there stood Drake, Ruby, and Mum.
“You were really smooth, sis. Didn’t act any different,” Drake said.
“Really?” I asked, brows high.
He snorted. “No.” He chuckled, shaking his head as he walked off. “Night, all.”
We all called back good nights, mine a little grumblier than Mum’s and Ruby’s.
Ruby smiled brightly. “This is going to be epic. I can’t wait until you two get together.”
“I’m not sure that’ll happen.” There went that hope again, doing somersaults in my belly.
Ruby laughed, and even Mum cackled as she stepped close and kissed my cheek. “Get some rest. It’s good to have you home.”
“Thanks, Mum.” It was good to be home. Though, when it came to Texas, I wasn’t sure my heart or head could take what could happen if we continued to dance around this unspeakable thing between us.