Page 6 of Our Chance

“No, not at all.”

“What about … you know, the fact that hedated Adele?”

“That feels like a lifetime ago, andbesides, they were kids back then. Admittedly all of them weregoing through their rebellious phase, and I’d have panicked if hewas like his younger self. Maverick changed.”

“Yeah,” Freya said.

“Losing a parent will do that toyou, and, well, he’staken on his father’s business, and has stayed true to the nameLavin. He’s a good guy.”

“But what about Adele?”

“Your sister? There was no love between thetwo, and besides, you should probably ask her yourself.”

This was the only problem she had withfinally caving to her ginormous crush on Maverick. She’d always hada thing for him, even when he was dating her sister as well.Now that he’d taken hervirginity, and they’d enjoyed sex last night, Freya didn’t have aclue what this meant for the two of them.

She didn’t know if they were going steadyor just having fun. Then of course, there were the potential problems it could evoke withher sister. Even though Adele had moved on, gotten married anddivorced, it didn’t mean anything.

Several customers came in, and Freya gotback to work on counting stock. She tried to do this at least oncea week, but it tended to be a monthly thing. So far, they werestill thriving in their small town and she knew it was because of her father’spersistent work ethic—oneshe’d also adopted.

By lunchtime, she was starving, and she’dbeen counting through somany nuts and bolts, her fingers had that metallic smell she’d cometo associate with metal. She used to go to the diner for her lunch,but now she packed herself a small lunchbox and headed over to thepark.

It was always busy, but no one ever seemedto bother her. She satbeneath a tree, enjoying the shade as well as the sunshine,sticking her legs out to get nice and tan, while the rest of herwas in shadow.

She tried not to think about what was onher mind. Knowing her father’s views on Maverick made it a littleeasier, but it didn’t mean Adele would be the same. Her sister wasalways a little … unpredictable. She loved Adele and they had aclose friendship, butthat didn’t mean her sister was always quite so open and willing tolisten to her.

It was why Adele had taken her outdrinking to celebrate her divorce. She knew it was her sister’s wayof saying sorry, without saying the words, which did kindof suck.

Then, of course, there wasthe fact Maverick was so …him.

He was the only guy that made her questioneverything. Who evenmade her think of breaking the sister code. No datingex-boyfriends. Now, this wasn’t really a code, and it wasn’tsomething she and Adele had ever agreed on.

Before Adele had settled down in marriage,she’d had a different boyfriend every month.

“You’re deep in thought.”

Freya jolted at the whisper against herear. She turned to see Maverick, the man himself,sitting close toher.

“Maverick,” she said. “I, uh, I wasn’t expecting you.”

He chuckled. “Saw you heading to the parkfor your usual lunch. Figured I’d join you. What did you have?” heasked, pointing toward her half-eaten sandwich.

“Cheese and pickle. You?”

“Bacon, cheese, and egg.”

“Right,” she said.

“Wait until I tell you about my everythingsandwich,” Maverick said.

“Your everything sandwich?”

“Yep, I take all of my leftovers, dump thembetween bread, and eat.”

“That sounds pretty disgusting.”

“It can be. Do not mix mashed potatoes and pasta.” He wrinkled hisnose. “Bad combination.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “What abouttomato sauce and gravy?”

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