Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
If anyone was watching, neither of us cared. We were having too much fun dancing to my girl Taylor in the parking lot.
“Okay, I’ll say after just these few songs, I like her.”
I clapped my hands and grinned. “You Need To Calm Down” started, and I used my pretend mic once again as I sang along with Taylor while Maverick smiled and enjoyed the pretend concert. It was clear to me then that maybe I had an obsession with Taylor Swift, and the fact that Maverick was all in made me fall for him a little bit more.
When the song ended, Maverick laughed. “Okay, I liked that song too.”
“I told you! How have you not heard any of these?”
The next song began—and I was stilled. The words to “I Think He Knows” drifted from his truck, and as Maverick listened, he stared at me with a look that made my entire body vibrate.
He pushed off the truck and reached for my hand, lacing our fingers together before pulling me closer.
Neither one of us said a word or moved at all. I could feel my heartbeat everywhere in my body. When Maverick’s eyes drifted down to my mouth, I felt myself lift up. I wanted to taste him. I needed to taste him before I found myself jumping on the man. By the way he looked at me, I knew he felt the same.
“Lily.”
The way he whispered my name had me releasing a small moan. He slid his other hand up my back and around my neck.
Just before our mouths pressed together, I heard my name being called out.
Maverick instantly stepped back, and I spun to see Bradly running toward us.
“Is your phone off?” he said as he ran up.
“No. I mean, I have it on silent. Why?”
“My dad just called. Tanner’s been trying to reach you—they think Grams had a heart attack. The ambulance is taking her to Bitterroot Hospital now.”
“What?” I asked as my legs felt weak, and I blindly reached for Maverick’s truck.
“Whoa! It’s okay, I’ve got you,” Maverick said as he wrapped an arm around me.
“Do you want to go with us? Duke’s going to drop me off at the hospital.”
Lily looked at me, then back to Bradly. “No, I’ll…I’ll go with Maverick.”
“Do you just want to ride with us?” Maverick asked.
Bradly nodded. “Sounds good. I’ll text Duke that I’m going with you guys.”
Without wasting a second, Maverick took my hand and helped me into the truck through the driver’s side door. I slid over quickly, turned off the radio, then buckled up.
Once we were all in, Maverick quickly made his way to the hospital. I turned my ringer back on and called my mother.
“Mom?” I said, my voice cracking the second I spoke.
“Where are you, Lily?”
“Bradly and I are with Maverick. He’s bringing us to the hospital. Grams?”
“I’m not sure yet. We’re all here waiting.”
“Granddad? Is he okay?”
She released a long breath. “You know the Shaw men. Fierce protectors. He argued until they agreed to let him stay with Stella. He’s with her now.”
“Daddy? Uncle Brock and Uncle Ty?”
“They’re all here, and all okay as of now. Tell Maverick to be careful driving.”
I glanced at him. “He’s driving safely, don’t worry. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“Okay, sweetheart, see you soon.”
Hitting End, I stared out the window as no one spoke. I wiped a tear away and forced myself not to cry.
“Grams is strong, Lil,” Bradly offered from the backseat. “Don’t worry, she’ll be fine.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and nodded. When Maverick reached for my hand, I instinctively laced my fingers with his. He gave me a soft squeeze, and I turned to look at him. With one single smile from him, I felt the pressure ease off my chest slightly.
I was so glad he was with me. I couldn’t describe the sense of calm I had just from touching him.
It was then I remembered he’d never had a family, perhaps he’d never gone through something like this.
But no—that wasn’t fair. Mindy and Justin had loved him, had wanted him before they’d died in a car accident. He was so young, had been happy for the first time in his life. Losing them must have been devastating for Maverick.
He looked back at me, and I offered a small smile of my own before staring straight out the window and sending up a prayer that my grandmother would be okay.
It felt like we waited forever as the entire family sat together, hoping to hear news about our grandmother. Blayze and Georgiana had left to take Ryder and Rhett home, but only after Lincoln had practically begged them to do so. The same with Ryan and Morgan. Blakely was fussy, so it hadn’t taken much to talk them into heading home.
Once Granddad had come out and said Grams was out of the woods, the fear covering the waiting room like a heavy blanket finally lifted.