Chapter 10
“I had to give your ex a facial today, so thanks for that,” Maevyn says by way of greeting when she opens her front door.
The top of her hair is gathered haphazardly in an oversized scrunchie, and she’s back to a plain silver hoop through her septum.
She’s so unlike any of the women I’ve been attracted to in the past, and I can’t put my finger on what makes her different.
Is it her eyes that seem to hold questions like a riddle, giving me all the pieces but no clue on how they fall together?
Is it the stories inked on her skin, those amazing curves, or the fact that every time she talks to me, it’s like a playful, taunting offering of a life I’ve never tasted, but am somehow starving for?
I wince. “Sorry.”
Truth be told, I wasn’t really thinking about Maevyn having to go into Parlour Tricks after Phoebe walked in because my mind kept replaying how close we got right before I left.
Her hand was on my chest, settling my frantic heartbeat, and when I leaned in to kiss her cheek, that chocolate scent of hers invaded my senses.
Like clouded thoughts swimming around my head, cocoa and a hint of mandarin.
It was sexy and complex. Mysterious. Just the way I would describe the woman standing in front of me.
“Can I come in?”
She pulls the door open with a sigh, walking back through her house, leaving me to follow. “I had to lie my arse off because she wanted to talk all through her treatment.”
Involuntarily, my eyes drop to said arse. Still wearing those tight, ripped-up jeans from earlier. There’s a tear just below the right arse cheek, perfectly shaped around the fullness.
“I didn’t know how long you’d been broken up, so I told her we hadn’t been together long, but you’re such a good guy,” she says wryly.
She turns on her heel, walking backwards, and holds clasped hands to her chest as if she’s swooning.
When we reach the kitchen, she leans her back against the bench opposite me, and I do the same.
“I’ve never been with someone who worships the ground I walk on.
” A sinister smile crosses her face. “So be ready to put on a show for this wedding, baby. I expect the display of a man who loves to be down on his knees for his woman.”
“Then you’re in luck. That’s the only way I know how to be.” I smile back.
Her confidence slips for a moment, and I’ll admit, it makes me smug as shit knowing I can ruffle her feathers. I watch the column of her throat bob with a swallow, long and exposed, begging for attention.
“Is that why your ex is still into you? Maybe I want to change the terms of our deal then.” I’m convinced she’s some form of deity with the way she looks at me, so beguiling in the way her eyes show both want and disinterest.
“You’re a tricky little flirt, aren’t you?” I ask, taking a slow step towards her. “Is that your game? Always leaving them wanting more?”
“Is it working?”
Fuck yes.
I suck in a breath, and it has the opposite effect of what I was aiming for. I’m not calm or in control. The direct shot of her perfume seemed to have woken up some form of frenzied need. “We should talk about earlier.” I push the words out, forcing a safer subject.
“We should.” Maevyn nods, then holds up a finger. “Just one moment.”
She lays her palm flat against my chest and pushes me back slowly, walking until I’m pressed into the kitchen counter.
“Did you need something?” Maevyn calls to the room, and I look around, confused, until Aurora pops her head up from behind the couch with a grin.
“Oh, hey guys, didn’t see you there.”
I jump back. “What the?”
Maevyn smiles at me as she nods to her daughter. “She has a tendency to eavesdrop, and I’m convinced she can teleport.”
“Hmm. Tricky, just like her mother, it seems,” I mutter.
Aurora climbs over the back of the couch, flouncing over to the kitchen, and sits on one of the barstools. The purple headphones hanging around her neck are still playing whatever music she was listening to. It sounds whimsical and upbeat, bringing a smile to my face. “Hi, Aurora.”
“Hey, Westley.” Aurora beams at me, before shifting her attention to her mother, then to me again. “Am I interrupting?” She lowers her voice to a whisper. “Is this a grown-up talk?”
“No.” Maevyn comes to stand beside me. “Actually, we’re in a bit of a situation, and it’s gonna need your support.”
Aurora places her elbows on the counter, steepling her hands together. “Well, you see, when two grown-ups like each other—”
“Not that,” Maevyn fires back, wearing an exasperated look I’ve been on the receiving end of a few times, but it just seems to make Aurora chuckle.
I’m transfixed by their dynamic. I already assumed that Maevyn must have been young when she got pregnant, but it seems to have worked well for her. Anytime I catch a glimpse of them together, they’re playful and at ease. It only makes me wonder what their life was like before Heart City.
“Westley was outside Parlour Tricks and ran into an ex. He needed me to pretend to be his girlfriend to save face.”
My jaw drops, horrified. “It wasn’t to save face!”
“Then why did I have to play your girlfriend?” Maevyn asks, leaning a hip on the bench to face me.
“I just didn’t want to look available.”
Maevyn and Aurora exchange a silent glance that says, I call bullshit.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say. “The point is, now your mum needs to play my girlfriend at a wedding in a few weeks.”
“And in exchange, he’s going to be your dad,” Maevyn says, looking at Aurora.
I lean down, moving my face in front of hers, while she does her best to avoid looking directly at me. “Excuse me? You said you needed a second person for some camp.”
“Why do I need a dad?” Aurora asks.
“Apparently, the stick those PTA mums take turns shoving up their arses makes them unable to detect sarcasm,” Maevyn says.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Shit. I turn to Aurora. “Sorry. I swore.”
She shakes her head. “Dude, you’re good. Mother, explain.”
Maevyn groans and stalks over to the fridge, pulling out hamburger patties, an avo, and a tomato.
“Every time that queen bee, Lydia, comes over to talk about school shit, it’s all, ‘We love both parents to get involved’ and ‘We do hope Aurora’s father is interested in her education.
’” She drops the food on the counter in outrage.
“Like, what if he died? What if I were a heartbroken widow?”
“Okaaayyyy.” Aurora rolls her wrist, encouraging her mother to continue in her nonsensical rambling.
“So, when they asked if your dad would be coming, I said yes.”
“Muuuum,” Aurora groans.
“I know.” Maevyn whimpers dramatically. “In my defence, it was dripping in sarcasm. Her detection filter is just broken.”
“Girl does not pass the vibe check.” Aurora shakes her head. “Ugh, where am I gonna get a dad?”
I watch their exchange as an innocent yet fascinated bystander until both their heads turn in my direction.
“Well, it can’t be me,” I say simply.
“He’s right.” Aurora sighs. “We just moved here. What if Westley knows one of the parents at my school? They’ll know he doesn’t have a twelve-year-old daughter, and he doesn’t seem like the kinda guy who’s not involved with his kid.
” My chest fills with warmth at her quick assessment.
“Besides, how long ago did he break up with this ex? Face it, Mum, your plan stinks.”
“Well, what do we do?” Maevyn throws her hands up, then crosses them over the counter, watching her daughter with puppy dog eyes. “Come on, you’re the brains in this operation. Help your mama out.”
Aurora raises one unimpressed eyebrow at her mother, but there’s a hint of amusement twitching on her mouth.
“Next time you see her, just correct her and say my dad’s a lowlife junkie who bailed on us, but Westley is your partner—Don’t say boyfriend!
It sounds too high school—and that he loves me like his own, and is very excited for the camp. ”
That was a lot of information in one hit. Did Aurora’s dad really bail on them? How is she so chill about it? Maevyn must be a really good mum. Also, I’m meant to not only play boyfriend but doting father figure, too?
This is what I get for not going to the wedding alone and simply facing Phoebe like an adult if the situation arose.
I guess since I dragged Maevyn into my mess, the least I can do is help her. And I’m happy to help her and Aurora. I want to. But how are we going to do this?