Page 71 of Maverick

Maverick’s gut clenched at the thought of her leaving. He knew she wanted to be with her grandfather, but he hated the idea of being without her. He knew that sounded selfish, but she didn’t even know how long she was going to be gone. Would she come back to him, or would she stay in Oregon?

He nodded, unable to find his voice. This wasn’t about him, but he couldn’t stop himself from whispering, “I don’t want you to leave, but I know you have to.”

Parker stepped back from him and looked into his eyes. “Do you think I want to leave? I don’t,” she said fiercely, tears still falling. “But I don’t have a choice. I have to go. I want to be with him for as long as he has.”

Maverick swallowed hard and nodded again, knowing that there was nothing he could do to change the situation.

Maverick’s voice was barely a whisper as he spoke. “Alright,” he said, his eyes locked on hers.

“I have to pack,” she replied, turning away from him. But Maverick couldn’t let go just yet. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around her wrist, gently pulling her back toward him.

“Do you want my help?” he asked, his tone sincere.

“No,” she replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. “I just want to be left alone for now.”

“I could go with you. I have vacation days—” He stopped when she shook her head.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I really need to pack.” She turned away from him and disappeared down the hallway as if he wasn’t standing right there.

Maverick couldn’t even begin to say how much that hurt, but he nodded understandingly, though she didn’t see him. After giving one last look in her direction, he walked out the door, closing it softly behind him. As he made his way down the steps and toward his truck, his mind couldn’t help but replay their conversation over and over again. His heart felt heavy as he climbed inside the vehicle and started the engine. With one last glance up at her door, he began driving away from her, each mile feeling like a dagger twisting in his chest.

The next day, he worked in the barn. He tried to keep his mind off Parker, but he couldn’t. He knew she was gone, and his heart ached. She hadn’t even called him to tell him goodbye.

“Maverick?” Warren called out to him.

“Yeah?”

“Are you okay?”

“Of course.”

“About Parker leaving?”

Maverick sighed. He should have known Warren and Wes would know since Parker worked for Shay. He shook his head.

“I have no luck in love,” he said.

“What happened?”

Maverick removed his work gloves, stuck them in his back pocket, folded his arms, and looked at Warren.

“I’m sure you know about her grandfather.” Warren nodded. “She’s very close to him and he’s dying of lung cancer. She wanted to be with him, so she went back to Oregon. I asked her if she wanted me to go with her and she said she didn’t think it was a good idea. That cut to the quick, Warren.”

“Damn, I’m sure it did. I thought you two were heading down the aisle.”

“I love her, Warren, but if she doesn’t want me around when she’s going through a rough time, then apparently, I don’t mean that much to her. She never mentioned coming back.”

“Not at all?”

“No. I don’t know what she told Shay about leaving.”

“Wes said she just told her she had to go home because her grandfather was dying and asked Shay to take her cat to the animal hospital to board it.”

“It all sounded so final. It was like I wasn’t even there.”

“Man, I hate hearing that. Give her time to be with him, and maybe once it’s over, she’ll come back. She loves you, Maverick. Anyone could see that.”

“I thought so.” He pulled his gloves back on, picked up the rake, and got back to work. He heard Warren sigh, then walk from the barn. Once he did, Maverick threw the rake across the stall, placed his hands on his hips, and hung his head. He was scared to death that she wouldn’t be back.

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