Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80304 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 402(@200wpm)___ 321(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
CHAPTER
EIGHTEEN
Crosby
I barely slept a wink last night. If I wasn’t replaying my night with Rushton, I was stressing over today. I don’t know how I let him talk me into this. I was perfectly fine sitting at home and reading and watching the parade on television. I let him get me relaxed and sated and convince me that this was a good idea.
If I’m being honest, I really want to go. When Carol acted as if it was a given that I be there, my heart swelled in my chest. I’m really excited to see a big family Thanksgiving, but I’m also nervous as hell. I know he told me not to make anything, but I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and made mini pumpkin cheesecakes. I just so happened to have the ingredients because I was going to make them for my students for our last day before break and ran out of time.
I’ve changed my outfit at least three times, and don’t get me started with my hair. I decided to add some loose curls and braided my bangs to one side. I’m currently in a pair of black leggings and an oversized burgundy and burnt orange sweater. I plan on wearing my black Hunter boots, and I’m not going to let myself stress over them any longer. Not that I have the choice. It’s ten minutes until eleven, and Rushton should be here any minute.
Grabbing my boots from the bottom of my closet, I head to the living room. Taking a seat on the couch, I pull them on and refuse to race back to the bedroom to take another glance in my full-length mirror. Not that I have a chance when there’s a knock at the door. I pull it open to find Maverick standing there, grinning.
“Hey, neighbor.”
“Hi, Maverick. What can I do for you?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just stopping by to say hello. Do you have any pipes that need tightening or shelves put together?”
“What?” I chuckle at the absurdness of this conversation. “Are you feeling all right?” I ask him.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“Maverick.” I pull out my stern teacher’s voice. The one where my students know that I mean business.
“Fine. I’m not here for that. Not that I wouldn’t be happy to help you, but I’m here for something else.”
“And that is what exactly?” I ask him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hear a familiar voice behind him. The same voice I spent the majority of the night thinking of its owner.
Maverick doesn’t bother turning to address Rushton. Instead, he grins down at me and whispers, “This.” He winks and turns, slinging his arm over my shoulders. “Rush, I was just seeing if my neighbor here needed anything. You know, being neighborly.”
“She’s good,” Rushton tells him.
“You sure? She was about to invite me in,” Maverick goads him.
“Mav,” Rushton growls.
Maverick drops his arm from my shoulders and leans over, placing his hands on his knees. He’s laughing so hard he can barely catch his breath. When he finally composes himself, he stands to his full height and pulls his phone from his pocket.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Rushton asks, his irritation evident in his tone.
“Oh, just messaging the group chat.” Rushton reaches into his pocket and pulls out his phone, glancing at the screen. “The chat has been quiet since last night.”
“Not that one. The one we started without you,” Maverick explains.
“Without me?” Rushton honestly looks shocked that there would be a group message that doesn’t include him.
“Yep.”
Rushton takes the final few steps toward me and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me into him. “Explain.”
Maverick raises his hands in defeat, but his smile is still plastered on his face. “I’ll explain later,” he tells his brother.
“Tell me now.”
“You sure about that?” Maverick asks.
“Start talking, little brother.”
Maverick shrugs. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. When you texted us all last night to let us know that you convinced Crosby to come to dinner, we all took bets on how long it was going to take for you to confess you wanted her.”
Rushton’s thumb gently traces circles on my hip. “That’s it? That’s the secret group chat?”
“Yep.”
“And why are you on my girl’s doorstep when you knew I was coming to get her at this exact time?” The tension in his body is no longer there as the pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
“Your girl? Bro, are you holding out on us?”
“No. She’s mine. She’s just not ready to admit it yet.”
“Um, hello.” I wave my hand in the air. “I’m standing right here.”
Rushton surprises me when he presses his lips to my temple. “I see you, baby.”
“Well damn.” Maverick’s grin is wider than before. “The plan was for me to make you jealous to push you into admitting to her that you want her.”