Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86199 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“Okay then,” she murmurs, tucking a stray lock of blonde hair behind her ear.
Dad slips his arm around her waist before gently steering her from the room.
Rather than trail after them, River waits for our parents to disappear into the corridor before eating up the distance between him and Maverick. It only takes three strides to bring them toe-to-toe.
When they’re no more than a foot away, my brother pauses to search Maverick’s eyes. “I’m only going to say this one time—you hurt her and I’ll bury you where no one will ever find your carcass again. Are we clear?”
Tension crackles in the air between them.
The last thing I want is for a fight to break out and security to get called.
Maverick straightens to his full height as he stares right back. Although, his expression lacks the animosity that’s usually present when he’s around River. “The last thing I want to do is hurt Willow. You have my word.”
My heart constricts at the sincerity that rings through his deep voice.
The heavy tension wafting off River gradually dissipates.
When he hesitates, I realize he wants to say more, but for whatever reason, he decides to hold his tongue. Instead, my brother turns to meet my gaze.
Both his tone and expression soften. “Call me if you need anything, all right?”
A smile breaks out across my face as a potent concoction of relief and joy crashes over me. The fact that these two actually engaged in a civil interaction is more than I could have expected, and it gives me hope for the future.
“I will. Love you.”
“Love you too.”
And then he’s gone, disappearing into the hallway.
Now that it’s just the two of us, Maverick settles in the chair near my bed. Our gazes stay locked as his fingers slip around mine before giving them a gentle squeeze.
“You really scared the shit out of me,” he admits.
Heat slams into my cheeks. “I’m so sorry about that.”
“You don’t have anything to apologize for. I’m just relieved that you’re all right and it was a matter of being dehydrated rather than something being wrong.”
“I should have taken better precautions and made sure I drank more fluids.”
He lifts my hand to his mouth before brushing his lips against my knuckles. “I don’t know what I would have done if something happened to you.”
Bits and pieces of our conversation from last night float back to me.
My tongue darts out to moisten my lips. “Mav?”
“Yeah, sunshine?”
I wave to the hospital room around me. “Are you sure you can handle all this? There are no guarantees I won’t end up back here again.”
His eyes soften as his lips stroke over the back of my hand for a second time. “I guess what I’ve come to realize is that there are no guarantees in life.” There’s a pause. “And I need to be all right with that, because the only other option is to not have you by my side. That’s not a choice I’m willing to make. So, if that means opening myself up and risking my heart, then I’m willing to do it.” He searches my eyes, and his voice dips. “For you, Willow. I’m willing to do it for you.”
A weight I hadn’t even realized was pressing on my chest, constricting airflow, disintegrates.
Maverick rises to his feet and looms over me before capturing my lips with his own.
He only pulls away long enough to meet my eyes. “I think you might be it for me, sunshine. I think you might just be my everything.”
41
Maverick
My arms are wrapped around Willow as Britt and Colby belt out one of the songs she’s written on stage. The Wildcats took home another win tonight, and you know what that means…
Yup, you guessed it—karaoke.
This was our final conference game. Next week, playoffs begin. We’ve been working hard all season to get to this point, and now it’s here. I glance at Ryder, Wolf, Bridger, Hayes, Madden, Riggs, and Ford. These guys were already a unit when I came in freshman year. I was lucky enough to be accepted into their brotherhood so easily.
After this season, they’ll graduate. For some, they’ll go on to play in the pros. For others, their hockey playing days will be behind them and they’ll jump into their careers and families.
I’m going to miss them.
Coach was impressed with the way I’ve turned my grades around, and he talked to me about being captain next season. With the added responsibility, I’ll need to step more into a leadership role for the team.
I press a kiss against the top of Willow’s blonde head.
It’s amazing how easily everything has fallen into place now that the air has been cleared and there are no more secrets.
She might not remember it, but I was serious when I said that I’d spank that gorgeous ass if she ever hides anything from me again.