Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 62972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62972 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 315(@200wpm)___ 252(@250wpm)___ 210(@300wpm)
“Football…is…king,” says Raven, and I grin behind my popcorn.
Skye laughs. “Well, aren’t you just the little spitfire?”
Raven turns her head to Skye. “Spitting…is…gross.”
“It means you’re sassy and smart,” I add.
Raven grins, her big eyes finding mine.
I nod.
Raven leans over on her knees, propping her chin up, laser focused on the team as they line up. Maverick barks out encouragement and when the blue team snaps the ball, his team flows into motion and tackles the quarterback.
Two more downs, and each time the red team stops the running game before blue can get the ten yards needed for a first down.
“He’s…good,” Raven murmurs as she crams a handful of candy into her mouth.
“The best,” I say, running my eyes over those sure, confident shoulders. He’s the focal point of every eye in the stands.
“He…deserves…best,” she adds slowly, and I look at her with interest, noting the quiet tone of her voice.
“Of course he does. You do too.”
She squints up at the sun that’s beating down on us. April in Mississippi can either be humid or freezing, depending on God’s sense of humor, and today he must be happy because it’s a beautiful seventy degrees.
“I…know…what…he’s…doing…is…wrong.” Her hands twist at the box of Skittles.
I stop chewing my popcorn. Does Raven know something?
“What’s he doing that’s wrong?”
A pensive look crosses her face. “Heard…phone…call…at…my…house.”
“About what?”
“Fighting…football…players…in…casino.”
Skye’s eyes have widened and she puts her phone down, a confused expression on her face. “No, a casino is where people go to gamble—”
I clear my throat, cutting her off. I haven’t said a word to her about what I know. “There’s no casino here, and no fighting, I promise.” Skye nods then turns back to the game, and I grab Raven’s hand. “Don’t worry about Maverick, okay?”
She nods, and I turn to watch him run off the field.
I keep my eyes on the game, but my brain flies. I’m sure Raven will keep this to herself, but Martha-Muffin is going to be a problem. How much longer before she tells someone? How much longer before it all hits the fan?
The game is over and I wait near the team entrance to the locker room, just outside the tunnel at the end zone. Maverick comes running out, wearing a pair of slacks and a blue button-down shirt with the cuffs rolled up, obviously dressed up to see the scouts at the meet and greet, and then he’ll be off to the party at the AD’s house.
He’s stopped at a couple of young boys wanting autographs who’ve been standing here with me for the past half hour. Skye and Raven have gone on ahead, and I don’t plan on being here long. I’ve made up my mind to say what needs to be said, and once it’s out, I’m done.
“Congratulations on the win and a great game,” I say as he nears me, stopping within a few yards.
He runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I played well.”
I huff out a laugh at his honest assessment. There’s no pretense to Maverick when it comes to his abilities. He looks around for Raven.
“Don’t worry, they’re waiting for me. We’re going to get pizza.”
He nods. “Thank you for today. She really wanted to come, and my dad…well, you know how that goes.”
“Yeah. I’ll make sure she gets home okay.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
I nod, my emotions tugging at me, clogging up my throat. I swallow. “I also wanted to tell you that I…I don’t think we should see each other for a while. You’re not being truthful with me, and you haven’t been for weeks. Also, I’m not even sure how you feel about me, and if you can’t talk to me or tell me what’s going on with you, something isn’t right.” I take a big breath. “We need a break.” There, I’ve said the hard words, and I turn to leave before the tears that are brimming in my eyes fall.
“Delaney, wait!” he calls out as I walk hurriedly across the field. He catches my hand and turns me around. “I’m sorry,” he says softly. “For putting you through this, for Muffin hounding you, for lying about the bruises…”
I bite my lip, not able to stop the admission. “For making me fall in love with you?”
“Delaney?” His voice is torn and he swallows. “Is that true?”
God, yes. I do love him. Maybe I have since the moment he admitted he was He-Man. Maverick is in my blood, my skin, my bones. He’s the light, the sun I want to orbit.
But, I make mistakes when it comes to love—every damn time.
This time, it hurts way more than it did when Alex cheated on me.
If Maverick cared about me, he’d have told me he loves me back by now instead of just standing there with an uncertain look on his face.
“I always fall for the impossible guy.” I clench my hands, trying to keep it together.