Page 64 of Maverick

With a heavy sigh, Maverick stepped out onto the porch and closed the door behind him. Leaning against one of the wooden posts, he folded his arms.

“What do you want?” he asked, trying to keep his tone neutral.

“Who is she?” Della’s voice held a hint of accusation.

“It’s none of your business. Why are you here?” Maverick replied, trying to avoid the inevitable conversation.

“I can’t stop thinking about you. I miss you so much,” Della pleaded, her eyes searching his face for any sign of reciprocation.

“It’s been years, Della. Let me guess, you found out somehow that I’m seeing someone else, and you don’t like it,” Maverick said, not wanting to waste any time beating around the bush.

Della turned to face him fully. “No, I don’t like it. You told me you loved me.”

“I did. Did. Look, Della, it just didn’t work out between us and that’s why we broke up,” Maverick explained, feeling guilty for hurting her but knowing it was necessary for both to move on.

“You broke up with me, not the other way around,” Della pointed out bitterly.

“And I had my reasons. We argued all the time and I just couldn’t take it any longer. I was fucking tired of being accused of cheating when I never gave you a reason to do that. You’re a great person and I’m sure you’ll find someone someday, but it’s not going to be me,” Maverick stated firmly.

“Do you love her?” Della asked, gesturing toward the house.

“None of your business, but yes, I love her,” Maverick admitted without hesitation.

He watched as Della quickly blinked away tears and he felt a pang of sympathy for her, but he knew that he couldn’t change anything. Parker was his everything and he wouldn’t give her up for anyone. As much as he hated causing pain to others, sometimes it simply couldn’t be avoided.

“Well, since I’m back in Clifton now, when she breaks your heart, you know where to find me,” Della said before walking toward her car.

“What makes you think she’ll break my heart?” Maverick asked, genuinely curious.

“Karma,” Della replied before getting into her car, starting the engine, and driving off.

Huffing out a sigh, he entered the house and walked to the kitchen, then outside to see Parker sitting in a lounge chair, watching the grill.

“Hey,” he greeted her before taking a seat in the chair beside her.

“Are you alright?” Parker asked, concerned.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” Maverick replied, shrugging.

Parker nodded and asked, “What did she want?”

Maverick reached for her hand and kissed her palm gently.

“Me.”

“Oh.”

“But I told her it ended long ago, and that I was only interested in you.”

“You did?” Parker’s eyebrows rose in surprise.

“Yes. Was that not the right thing to do?” Maverick questioned.

“I just wasn’t sure how you would feel seeing her again.”

“I felt nothing, Parker. She means nothing to me,” Maverick reassured her.

“But you loved her once,” Parker reminded him.

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