Page 43 of Finish Line

“I’ve been giving her the space she wants, but it’s so damn hard.” I run my fingers through my hair.

“Is she still having nightmares?” Dom pushes his way onto the screen.

“Yes, and it’s not going to end anytime soon.”

“Are you trying to get her to talk about them?” Luke jumps up behind Dom so he can be seen on the screen.

He wants her to see a therapist.

“Luke, we talked about this.” I scrub my face. “If she wants to go, I’ll take her, but right now, she’s not ready.”

Mav comes back on. “What have you been doing?”

“Surfing. I’m so out of shape.” I laugh. “I tried to do a move that I used to be able to do in my sleep, and I crashed.”

Mav laughs. “You’re getting old.”

“Who are you calling old?”

Mav’s face turns serious. “When can we see her or at least talk to her? I miss her so much.”

“She’s not ready, guys. She barely tolerates me,” I tell them sadly. “How do you think she’ll react if you three trudge in here?” I pause before continuing. “Plus, it’s Christmas in a few days. I bought her a gift. Should I give it to her?”

“If I were in your shoes, I would,” Nick says. “As long as it’s nothing too big, something that might help her through this, like a book?”

“It’s always a book with you,” Mav laughs.

“Any word on Roger yet?” I hate bringing him up, but I need to see if he’s close.

“No, but we’re still looking. I hacked into his banks and closed his accounts. He has no money.” Nick’s eyes gleam.

“I bet that pissed him off.” I chuckle. “All right, guys, I’m starving, so I’m going to go. I’ll talk to you later.”

“Tell Shelby we’re thinking of her,” Dom instructs.

“Tell her I say she’s the strongest person I know,” Luke says.

Nick, Dom, and Luke leave the room. At the end of every call, they give me a few moments with Mav.

His face now fills the screen. “I miss you.”

I smile. “I miss you, too. How’ve you been doing?”

“Better, still confused at how this happened.” Mav shakes his head. “The headaches are mostly gone, and I’m not getting sick anymore.”

“That’s good,” I say.

Mav squeezed his eyes closed. “I remembered something yesterday that made me sick.”

“What was it?” I wish I could be there to hold him.

“She thinks I made out with Maddy, Cam.” Mav opens his eyes, and they are all teary. “With what happened before, at the dinner, I wouldn’t blame her if Shelby never takes me back.”

“You said you think. Are you saying you didn’t?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “The first time she went to kiss me, I turned my head, and she got the corner of my mouth. She was nibbling and kissing my chin and shit. You know how that turns me on when it’s you or Shelby. When I talked to Paige, she told me it looked like I was making out with Maddy, and I wasn’t, but I also didn’t stop it.”

Mav covers his mouth. “I’m going to be sick.”

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