Chapter 35 Amelia
amelia
. . .
I’m running away from him, like a stupid bitch. Well, Amelia, why don’t you put your big girl panties on and communicate with him?
No, I can’t do that because I’m too stubborn and prideful to believe he’ll be like every other man and hurt me.
Shaking off those thoughts, I stare down at the emerald ring on my finger.
Sunlight streams in from the kitchen window, hitting it just right and scattering green light across the wooden countertop.
“I just... I keep waiting for him to fuck up. To turn into Jax. Like there’s some countdown until he becomes this.
.. this monster who tears me down until I’m nothing.
” My voice cracks before I can stop it. “I don’t know if I’m being smart or if I’m just broken. ”
Catalina sets the spoon aside and crosses to me, her hands warm on my shoulders.
“I hate to break it to you, bitch,” she says with a soft but confident smile, “the only bad thing about Maverick is his attention span. But other than that? He’s got a heart of gold, and he loves hard.”
Her hands pause for a moment before she moves back to the pitcher, pouring the tea into a tall glass, with ice clinking against the sides.
“They all lost their mom at a really important stage in their lives,” she says, stirring once more. “And they all coped differently. Maverick… he copes with humor. But lately, since you’ve been here, since you’ve been together, I’ve seen him in a different light. He’s more at ease.”
She slides the glass toward me, the condensation damp against my fingers.
“Amelia, you’ve saved him in a way he’ll never admit loud. That man loves you loudly. Don’t be afraid of it.”
I swirl the tea, watching the ice drift in slow circles. Her words settle somewhere deep, but my chest still feels too tight, my breath catching on all the memories I can’t shake.
“I’ve been through this before,” I whisper, my throat sore. “I believed once. I trusted once. And it destroyed me. Maverick—he’s… he’s too good. I don’t trust it. I don’t trust myself.”
Catalina doesn’t flinch as she leans back against the counter with her arms crossed, watching me with that intense gaze of hers. “You’re not broken. You’re traumatized. There’s a difference.”
Her words hit me like a gut punch.
I grip the glass tighter, blinking through the burn behind my eyes.
“Look at him,” she presses. “Really look. Maverick is not Jax. Jax took and took until there was nothing left of you. Maverick? He’d bleed himself dry to make sure you never felt empty again. You don’t punish a man like that for the sins of the last asshole who didn’t know how to love you.”
A tear slips free before I can stop it.
“Learn to let him love you,” she says softly. “Yes, we’re all human and make mistakes, but I promise you, Maverick will dedicate his life to making you happy. He’s an idiot sometimes, sure—but he’s your idiot. Don’t run from that.”
I drag my thumb across the tear, shaking my head slowly before giving her a small, curt nod. I can’t make any promises—not to her, not even to myself. But her certainty sinks in enough to make my chest ache.
Catalina watches me for another long moment, then her mouth curls into that sly grin. “Okay, but… since we’re being honest—how’s the sex?”
I choke on my tea, almost spilling it on the counter. “Catalina…”
She smirks wider. “What? I’m allowed to ask.”
Before I can get another word out, Carter steps into the kitchen, his broad shoulders filling the doorway as his blue eyes narrow in on his wife. “The hell are you pryin’ into my brother’s sex life for?”
Catalina lifts her chin, “Relax, cowboy. I’m just making sure your brother is satisfying my best friend.”
His jaw flexes, that dangerous look crossing his face. “You don’t need to know a damn thing about what my brother’s doin’.”
She grins into her iced tea. “Aw, look at you. All jealous.”
He stalks closer, his big hand wrapping around her jaw, tilting her head back. His voice drops into that gravelly drawl that makes my cheeks heat even though it’s not directed at me. “Remember what that smart mouth gets you, darlin’.”
Catalina smirks right up at him, not breaking a sweat. “Yeah, me bent over the counter, screaming your name.”
“Fuck, Catalina,” Carter growls, so low it vibrates through the room. He crashes his mouth against hers, kissing her like he doesn’t care I’m sitting two feet away, trying not to throw up into my hands.
I groan, covering my face with both hands. “Oh my God. Can you two not?!”
Catalina laughs against his mouth, pulling back just enough to shoot me a wink before she turns her attention right back to him. He mutters something hot and low against her lips that I can’t even process, because my brain is short-circuiting from watching their chaos.
Catalina looks back at me, smug as hell, she says, “See, Amelia? That’s love. Messy, loud, a little unhinged. You should try letting yourself have it.”
I scoff at that. Love... Love is just something to hold over someone and use as a crutch to fucking hurt you.
Catalina’s eyes narrow again as she studies me. I’m swirling the ice in my glass like it might drown out my thoughts, but it doesn’t. The ache in my chest only grows louder.
“Catalina…” My voice cracks, and I hate it. I squeeze the glass tighter, staring at the emerald sparkling on my finger. “I can’t do this. The marriage isn’t even—”
I snap my mouth shut, panic flaring hot in my chest.
Her brows lift, her whole face sharpening. “The marriage isn’t what?”
I shake my head, eyes darting down. “Nothing. Forget it. I just… I can’t do this right now.”
She places her glass down with a sharp clink, arms crossing as she pins me with that look. “So what, you’re going to ignore him? Pretend he doesn’t exist?”
“I just need—” My throat closes. “Can I stay here for a couple of days?”
Her expression shifts, the hardness softening for a breath because no matter how fiery she is, Catalina’s still my best friend.
She exhales, moving closer and setting a hand on my arm. “Fine. “You can stay here,” she says, her tone sharpening, “but Amelia, he’s also my brother-in-law.” Don’t fucking hurt him. Because if you do, I’ll have to hit you. And you know I’ll do it.”
I nod, forcing a tight smile, but my chest sinks under the weight of her words. I glance away, unable to meet her gaze.
Inside, the truth cuts sharp as glass in my chest.
This is what I do best. I ruin good things. So I do what I do best.
I run.
The next morning, sunlight streams through Catalina’s kitchen window, reflecting off the emerald ring as if it’s mocking me. I hold a mug between my palms, steam rising, but I haven’t taken a single sip. My stomach has been in knots since last night.
My phone buzzes against the counter. Again.
Maverick
Morning, dollface. You alive?
Maverick
I miss you
Maverick
Come home.
The last message makes my throat tighten.
I flip my phone face down, pressing my palms tightly against my eyes until stars burst behind my eyelids.
My chest aches because Catalina thinks I’m just shaken and nervous about commitment.
She doesn’t know the whole truth—that none of this is real.
And yet… the way Maverick looks at me, the way he touches me—it feels real enough to destroy me.
“Still ignoring him?” Catalina’s voice cuts through my spiral. She leans against the counter, a glass of matcha in her hand, eyes sharp as she pins me down.
I don’t answer, as I keep tracing the rim of my mug with one finger.
“Amelia,” she says more firmly, setting the glass down with a little clink. “You can’t go silent on your husband. He’s going to worry himself sick. I’ve seen the way he is about you; that man would crawl across glass if you asked him to. And you’re here hiding out?”
My chest tightens. The word husband makes me flinch. “I don’t know what to say to him,” I exclaim.
“Then say that,” she snaps back, fire sparking in her eyes. “Be honest. You don’t punish someone for loving you.”
Her words hurt because she doesn’t know the full story. She’s unaware of the deal we made, how I agreed to go along with it, and how, at some point, it stopped being pretend for him, and maybe for me, too.
I avert my gaze, avoiding Catalina’s eyes.
Catalina says nothing as she walks into the living room.
I look at the ring again; the emerald glimmers softly in the gentle light filtering through the blinds.
My phone buzzes once more, and I pick it up again because it’s eating me alive.
Maverick
You good? Just tell me you’re okay.
Maverick
If I did something, tell me. Please don’t shut me out.
Maverick
Dollface, you’re killing me here.
Maverick
Please.
I slam the phone back down, pressing both hands over my face until my eyes sting.
My chest feels like it’s caving in, guilt weighing me down.
He doesn’t deserve this. Not after everything he’s done for me— for Georgia, for the ring, for every stupid way he tries to make me laugh when he knows I’m two seconds from breaking.
But the louder truth lies deep in my chest: none of this was supposed to be real.
The marriage. The promises. The look in his eyes when he told me I was the one for him. He’s fully committed, and I can’t let myself be, because if I do, everything will fall apart.
It always does.
My phone buzzes again, and I don’t look this time.