Chapter 23 The Choice
THE CHOICE
ZEKE
Maggie suffered silently the entire drive back to River’s Run, that much was obvious, but I didn’t know how to snap her out of it.
Not everyone existed the way I did; I couldn’t exactly fault her for having a past. She already told me that she had multiple partners before and that sex was something important to her.
Until she sucked my cock like it was a damn Olympic sport and she was the reigning gold medalist, it hadn’t occurred to me that sex would be important to me, too.
But now that I knew what sex with Maggie entailed, sign me up.
I itched to return the favor and use my tongue on her.
Every inch of her body needed to be embedded and permanently imprinted to my brain.
I just wanted to guarantee that I could be enough for her. A girl like Maggie must have expectations and I didn’t want to disappoint her with a subpar performance. What if I couldn’t do that? What if she preferred this other dude over me?
“Marla texted me that Harry is there and wants to start working on the bathroom. Are you going to help him?”
“Definitely. I told them both I would help.”
Maggie smiled and gave my arm a grateful squeeze. “I’ll let her know we’re almost there. And I’ll ask about you staying for a few days.”
“I don’t mind getting a hotel room,” I reminded her. Maybe then we could pick up where we left off in the fitting room.
She grimaced. “There aren’t any decent hotels in River’s Run. And traveling to the closest one would be the same as going back to Fort Stewart, so that would be a waste. I’m sure it’ll be fine if you stay with us.”
“Whatever you want, Trouble. As long as I get to see you.”
Marla downright refused to let me stay at a hotel when I offered after returning to River’s Run. She insisted I would stay with them and sleep in her room, while she slept on the couch.
“No disrespect, ma’am, but like hell am I taking your bed from you.” I frowned, which made Maggie snort. She quickly covered her mouth to stifle the giggle when Marla shot her a look of annoyance.
“We can decide the sleeping arrangements later. But there’ll be no funny business under my roof, now, y’hear? Y’all are just starting out and I know everything’s coming in hot, but keep your hands and mouths to yourselves!”
Now Maggie had to step a few feet away after Marla swatted at her for the giggles that burst forth. I couldn’t look either of them in the eye, too horrified by Marla’s accusations…that were completely spot on.
“I’ll be on my best behavior,” I agreed. I grabbed Maggie at the waist with both hands, tickling her enough to make her outright laugh. “Let me go up and change, and I’ll get started with Harry.”
Eavesdropping was rude, but as I walked out of the shop, I couldn’t help but overhear Marla as she declared, “Y’know what, Maggie? Happiness looks real good on you. Better keep this one.”
She better, indeed.
Working on the bathroom kept my hands busy and my mind idle.
I continued to fixate on Maggie’s revelation, wondering if I could be enough for her.
I wanted to always be the reason for the smile on her face, whether that came from teasing her, supporting her, or whatever happened behind closed doors.
Harry and I were nearing supper time when I decided that what I felt wasn’t jealousy.
Maggie agreed to be my girlfriend—which I proudly told Marla the moment we arrived back—and I knew I was her first relationship.
We got to grow and learn how to do this together.
But what bothered me now was the uncertainty of it all.
I didn’t want to lose a competition I hadn’t meant to enter.
Maggie had gone upstairs to continue sending out resumes rather than staying down with us to work. Being apart wasn’t nearly so bad when I knew how soon I would get to see her.
When Harry said he needed to leave in order to make it to his bowling league, I offered to finish with the drywall.
There wasn’t much left to do anyway. A text from Maggie told me she would head down to The Comfy Cushion to grab us something to eat, making me grin like a fool, so I planned to keep working until she told me to stop.
Silence enveloped me as I carefully applied a joint compound to all the seams to smooth out the wall surface.
It would dry overnight so that we could paint and apply the beadboard trim tomorrow that Marla picked out.
I didn’t notice anyone joined me until someone cleared their throat gruffly behind me.
“Ah, the boyfriend,” he said when I turned around.
I knew instantly that this was the guy Maggie had slept with.
Dark hair rolled in greasy waves down his forehead and several skull earrings lined both ears.
He had on a grungy black t-shirt and baggy black pants, and I could tell he thought the effect made him look dangerous.
While he might’ve been slightly taller than me, I easily had a good thirty pounds on him in muscle.
The faintly acrid smell of stale cigarettes and weeds roiled off him.
“You don’t have any business here,” I stated firmly. For good measure, I folded my arms across my chest, flexing my biceps to remind him who had the real advantage here.
He smirked at me. “Wherever I can find Mags is my business. She here?”
Fury ripped through me, that same animalistic level of protection and claim needing to put him in his place. I stayed silent instead, not trusting myself to say anything.
A knowing grin spread across his face. He shuffled towards the open door, hiking a finger over his shoulder. “Just let her know that Spencer Church stopped by. Trust me, she knows where to find me.
“Oh, and Boyfriend?” Spencer paused to ensure he still held my full attention. “The money has to come from her, not you. Make sure she knows the rules.” He spun on his heels and disappeared down the street.
What money? Why would Maggie owe him anything?
Anxiety burned through my gut because I knew that no matter what Spencer meant, it wouldn’t be good.