Chapter 23
Belle
Maverick was upset with me. When I'd walked away from Maverick with my mother, I had a pit in my stomach.
Mom had seen me embrace Maverick, and she knew that he was my boyfriend. She'd had a lot to say about our relationship, and none of it was good.
I had a feeling I should have stood up for Maverick or invited him to lunch with us.
At the very least, I should have told my mom she couldn't pop in anytime she wanted and demand I take her to lunch.
I had a business to run and customers relying on me.
And I hated the way I felt when I spent time with her.
But as usual, I went along with her wishes rather than stand up for what felt right to me. If I'd said no, she would have said I wasted her time, even though I hadn't invited her to come at all. She was infuriating.
And now I was worried that I'd broken whatever tenuous ties Maverick and I had built together. And there would be no getting them back or talking him out of however he was feeling.
He hadn't stopped by after work. We didn't discuss it, but I had a feeling that we were over. That when he came out of whatever funk he was in, he'd tell me that himself.
But for now, he was staying away. And I hadn't told him how I felt about him. It was never the right time, and now it was too late. I had a feeling he was closing himself off. Much like he had when we were teens. He'd made the unilateral decision that we were done.
I assumed it had something to do with how I handled my mother. Why would I subject Maverick to her? It was bad enough that I had to deal with her.
Was I supposed to cut my mother out of my life entirely? I couldn't see doing that. She was the only family I had, besides my father. And if I cut her out, how could I maintain a relationship with him?
This was a situation I wasn't going to win. If Maverick wanted me to choose him over my family, that didn't seem fair. I would never expect that from him.
Of course, his family was great, whereas mine was slowly chipping away at my confidence. I knew they weren't great for me. After spending time with my mother, I felt worse than I did otherwise. I doubted myself more; I wondered if the bookstore would fail.
I liked how I felt when it was just me, and no one was draining my energy. In that respect, it would be a good idea to limit their contact in my life. But I wasn't sure how that would work. And I didn't like the idea that a guy could tell me how to run my life.
Not that he was. I hadn't heard from him at all.
I'd texted to see why he hadn't stopped by, and he'd given me an excuse.
He was tired. He was always tired after work, so that wasn't the real reason.
He was upset with me, and until he talked to me about it, it probably wasn't a good idea to guess what was going on.
Tonight, I was going out with the girls. They mentioned meeting at a bar down the street. I hadn't been there yet. But it would be a good idea to be seen around town, not always tucked away in my store.
I needed to get to know the other residents and shop owners. After I closed the store, I went upstairs to change into the outfit I'd worn on my date with Maverick at his house. It was the nicest outfit I owned, unless I wanted to wear a dress, which I didn't.
He hadn't officially broken things off, even though it was looking worse every day that went by without contact. He needed to make the next move.
I held my head high, opening the door to the bar. It was crowded, but my friends were at a long table along the back wall.
Clara waved me over, and I followed, not interested in anyone who was turning to see who'd just walked in. I wasn't here to get anyone's attention.
Clara hugged me, and I greeted everyone else before sitting.
Reina poured me a glass of beer I had no intention of drinking. I wasn't in the mood to let loose. I was just here to forget about Maverick for a few hours.
At home, I dwelled on how I might have messed up and the what-ifs. Here, I could let go for a bit.
"What's going on with you?" Meg asked.
"The patio in the back is done. We're just installing the fountain next." The surrounding stone wall had been installed. Maverick had been focused on the fountain as his crew worked on the addition.
He was known for elaborate outdoor spaces, fireplaces, kitchens, walls, and fountains. But I'd asked for a simple design. I didn't want to detract from the rest of the space.
"That's so exciting," Reina said.
"I can't wait until it's done," Meg said. "We'll have to move our meetings outside in the summer by the fountain.
"That will be nice." I was so grateful for this group of women who were supportive and didn't tear each other down.
"The Sterling brothers are at the bar," Clara said. "You didn't want to say hi to Maverick?"
My heart skipped a beat at that information, and I followed her gaze to the bar where the five Sterling brothers were seated along with Cooper. They were drinking, talking, and watching whatever sporting event was on the TVs. "I didn't realize they were here."
Clara raised a brow. "He didn't tell you."
"Maverick's been distant this week. I'm not sure what's going on with him."
"Did you two break up?" Reina asked.
"Not officially. But I think that's where it's headed." My chest ached, but it felt like it was out of my hands at this point. If the man didn't tell you what was going on, how were you supposed to figure it out?
"What happened?" Clara asked gently.
"I'm not sure. My mother stopped by unannounced for lunch the other day. She saw us hugging and had some things to say about me dating my contractor.
I was excited about the completion of the patio and starting construction of the fountain and the four-seasons room, but she made me feel like I was doing something wrong with an employee. But I introduced him as my boyfriend."
Meg's brow furrowed. "Why would that have upset him?"
Reina tipped her head to the side. "Unless he didn't want to be your boyfriend?"
I shook my head. "We discussed the fact that we were girlfriend and boyfriend. So I don't think it was that."
"How did you leave it?" Clara prodded.
"I went to lunch with Mom, and he didn't come over at night like he usually did. He said he was tired. But he hasn't reached out since." I kept my gaze on the nicked edge of the table in front of me. I wouldn't look at the bar. I wouldn't have come if I'd known he was here.
Clara chewed her lip thoughtfully. "You didn't invite him to lunch?"
I scoffed. "And subject him to my mother? I was protecting him from her."
Reina frowned. "Is that how he sees it?"
I bit my lip. "I don't really know. We haven't discussed it."
"To be fair, you can't fix something if you don't even know what the problem is," Clara said dryly.
I wondered if she was talking about her last relationship that ended after dating for years.
She didn't talk about it much, other than to say she was taking a break from dating.
"It doesn't stop my brain from conjuring up all sorts of scenarios, and they all end with us breaking up.
He has these underlying insecurities where he believes that we're too different.
I think it has something to do with his job and me going to college.
It doesn't help that my mom turned her nose up at him. "
"He should tell you how he's feeling. Otherwise, how are you supposed to know what he's thinking?" Clara asked.
Reina nodded in agreement.
And now we were sitting across from each other and not talking to each other. It was awkward, and I wasn't sure how to handle the situation. "Should I go over there?"
Clara shuddered. "And interrupt him with his brothers when he hasn't talked to you? I don't think so."
Reina shook her head. "That's probably a bad idea."
"He can come over here if he wants to talk. And he should; otherwise, he looks like a douchebag," Meg said.
Reina burst out laughing." Tell us how you really feel, Meg."
"I don't have time for a boyfriend. But if I did, I wouldn't put up with being ghosted. He should man up and tell you what's going on," Meg said.
"I'm the one who screwed up. I don't think he likes the way my mother treats me or how she makes me feel."
"How is that your fault?" Clara sipped her beer.
"I think he wants me to limit contact or cut her from my life entirely," I said.
"That's not really up to him," Clara said. "That's your decision."
"He comforted me the last time she came over." It was nice. It made me fall for him even more. But now, I could only conclude that he didn't want to deal with the fallout. That he'd rather I not see her.
"So what changed?" Reina asked, her elbows on the table, considering me.
"Maybe her attitude when she saw that we were together? She clearly didn't like me being with him. Although she saved her comments for when we were alone."
"Who you date is none of your mom's business. If she doesn't like him, then you'll have to set a boundary. She doesn't get to just say whatever she wants and keep spending time with you," Reina said.
"I don't know—" I'd always found it easier to listen to her and not express an opinion. Who was it really hurting? She got her say, and I'd eventually get over it.
Reina tipped her glass. "It's either put your foot down or keep feeling bad about your decisions."
"I don't want to feel like this. And I don't want to lose Maverick. What do I do?"
Clara sighed. "You could talk to a therapist about your mom. But you can't go on like this. If Maverick still isn't talking to you, request a meeting and hash it out. If he's not willing to talk, then you have your answer."
I liked the idea of doing something, not just waiting around for him to make a move. No matter what happened, I'd be okay. I had the business to focus on. I lifted my glass. "To new friends."
Everyone smiled and lifted theirs. "To new friends."
We drank, and when I lowered my glass, I saw a couple of women talking to the Sterlings. I didn't want to see how that went, so I looked away. They were at a bar; they were bound to be hit on. But I didn't have to watch.
"We're here for you," Clara said.
"You guys are the best."
Talk turned to business and Eve's plans to bring in customers in the offseason. We floated ideas for the spring and summer. It was good to focus on something besides my problems.
It was still early when we headed out, but I was drained.
Apparently, stand-offs with boyfriends were exhausting.
Especially when you were in the same space and not talking.
I couldn't pretend it hadn't hurt that he didn't come over to talk to me.
It solidified what I already knew. Our relationship was in jeopardy.
I couldn't help but feel that he was being immature. If there was a problem, then he should talk to me. I couldn't figure it out with the silent treatment. I was done waiting for him. I would move forward with my life as if he wasn't in it. Because right now? He wasn't.
It would get easier when the addition was completed. He'd move onto another project, outside of town.
On the sidewalk, we went our separate ways. I climbed into bed alone but determined to find my happiness, no matter what guy was in my life. I didn't need Maverick and his judgy ways. He'd only proven what I suspected all along; he wasn't ready for a relationship.
He had issues he didn't want to handle, and I wasn't a part of that. I'd deal with my mother, and my future. Hopefully, he'd come to his senses. But I wasn't sure I'd still be here when he did.