Page 68 of Maverick

“It’s a lot, I know, the baby is my grandson. Anyway,” Peyton sighed, “back to the bunnies.”

“Whores,” Lisa repeated under her breath.

Peyton waved off her friend’s words. “They’re all eager to become an old lady.”

I frowned. “Old lady?”

“Yeah, girlfriend, wife, baby mama, or otherwise long-term relationship. Old lady,” she said with a grin. “Maverick is a hot property, gorgeous and sweet with that hint of possessive bad boy. The girls eat it up, and now with you around, his even sexier protective streak is showing, and that’s like catnip for them. Especially Simone, but you really don’t have to worry about her. Even before you came along, he was immune to her dubious, surgically-enhanced charms.”

“I see,” I said, even though I didn’t see at all. We were two people thrown together for the craziest reason of all and we fell into bed together on multiple occasions. That wasn’t a relationship, or a reason for jealousy on my part.

Rocky slid up behind Peyton and wrapped his arms around her. “Who are you calling sexy and protective?”

She laughed and her eyes lit with love as she glanced over her shoulder. “Maverick, obviously.”

He frowned at her, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “Bullshit.”

“Seriously. I was just explaining to Grace about the club bunnies and Maverick’s appeal.”

His smile faded as his gaze searched until he found Maverick with the club bunny—because that sounded better than whore—pressed up against his side. “Yeah.”

The mood shifted and I didn’t like it, so I shrugged off their worried looks because there was nothing to worry about. “Maverick and I are friends and nothing more. He’s been very helpful since we met, and I am totally grateful.”

“Bullshit,” Rocky swore. “He wouldn’t do what he’s done for you if you were just friends. He’s half gone over you and I hope you’re just lying to yourself and us too.”

Silence fell around the small table, and I had no idea what to say in the face of his clear anger. Instinctively, I pushed my chair back and turned my gaze back out the window. “S-s-sorry.” The word stuttered out barely above a whisper and I hated that my reaction was fear.

“Aw fuck, Grace. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. Just that, shit, Peyton, help me out.”

Peyton’s eyes sparkled with amusement, and she patted his cheek. “I think you’re doing just fine, babe.”

He nipped her ear before he turned back to me, his expression as serious as ever, minus the anger. “You and Maverick, you’re both lying to yourselves if you think there’s nothing going between you. I know your shit is complicated as hell right now, but that doesn’t change what’s happening.”

“It does,” I said softly.

“Peyton fell for me in the middle of a giant shitstorm.”

“He means that I came home to find my roommate brutally murdered in our apartment and someone threatening that I was next.”

“What?” I gasped in shock. “And you two were dating?”

“Nope,” Lisa laughed. “She was Nolo’s ex and remembered he had a badass daddy.”

Peyton nodded. “I showed up on his doorstep late at night and asked for his help. He gave it to me and the rest, as they say, is history.”

Rocky nodded. “See? Complicated. And you know what?”

“What?” I asked, hanging on his every word.

“It only made us stronger. If we could think of hearts and love during that, anything that came after we could and would handle it. Together. And so far, we have.”

“Solid gold,” Peyton agreed, and kissed his cheek.

I couldn’t help but smile at the happy couple. At first glance they didn’t appear a matching set, but the love and trust between them was clear for all to see. “That is a wonderful and slightly terrifying story, but it ended well for you guys and I’m happy for you.” My gaze fell, once again, to Maverick, who was wearing the blonde like a coat, and I looked away again, immediately ignoring the stab of pain in my chest.

It wasn’t the same. Maverick and I weren’t the same.

Chapter 35

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