Page 87 of Best Part of Me

She shakes her head at me, her long dark hair in two braids swish side to side. “I’m not gonna say I told you so, but...” Her words trail, and we both know she’s dying to say it. She might as well have anyway.

“I know, I know. But how was I to know the fantasy was gonna live up to the hype?”

Leaning across the table, she curves her lips into a conspiratorial grin. “He’s that good huh?”

“You have no idea.” I take a sip of the creamy mocha.

She leans back in her seat. “Believe me, I have some idea. Not that I’m gonna think about him anymore like that. Because, eww, he’s been with my best friend. But are we talking best sex you’ve ever had, or...” She wiggles her brows.

“Oh, he’s definitely worthy of that title.”

“Knew it.”

My body practically hums just thinking about Maverick and his talented hands, and tongue, and lips.

“Though he didn’t have much competition. Chris was pathetic in that department.”

She’s not wrong. “There was also Brad—”

“Brad,” she mimics, saying his name dramatically and overenunciating it. “Don’t even get me started on him, that dick. He was such a selfish lover.”

Again, she’s not wrong. “And then Jevon and Blake from senior year.”

“Okay, Jevon wasn’t so bad, but Blake.” She rolls her eyes.

“You’re right. It’s no wonder I’ve never known what it’s like to have my mind blown.”

“You don’t know how happy this makes me.”

That might sound weird to some people, having your friend happy you’ve been rightfully pleasured by a man, but that’s what makes Rosie so special. She only wants the best for me. That’s why this conversation should help me feel better. Only, I’ve just been reminded how fantastic Maverick is.

“I think I love him, Rosie,” I blurt out.

“You think? Girl, we’ve known this since, what, the eighth grade?”

“That was different. That was before. And now that I know him—likereallyknow him— I’m screwed.”

“I’ll say,” she mutters and snorts at her own joke.

My throat thickens. “I’m serious. I feel like half my heart was ripped out of my chest, and I have to walk around with this gaping hole and only half a heart left. And, Rosie, I don’t know how I’m supposed to function with only half a heart and this open wound. No one should be expected to do that. It’s not humanly possible.”

The tears brim and threaten to fall. And crying is the very last thing I want to do on a Monday afternoon in a coffee shop in a small town.

“First of all, breathe.” Rosie pats my hand, despite not being a touchy-feely person. Even after her parents died, I was one of the few people she seemed to allow into that tiny crack of her life and hug her. “Second of all, pull yourself together. I will not allow you to have a fucking breakdown in my café.”

I swipe at the few traitorous tears on my cheeks.

“What are you always telling me? Think about the positive. If it’s meant to be, it will happen, and everything will fall into place.”

“You’re right, you’re right.” I nod.

“After what you told me while you were gone, I think it’s safe to say, Maverick loves you, too. You guys are just gonna have to figure out if it’s worth it to make a go at this.”

“But he doesn’t want a real relationship. And even if he did, we’d be ruining a lifelong friendship. Jones leans on Maverick more than ever since we lost Mom. And since Mia left. I just don’t think I could do that to him. If someone wanted to come in between you and me, I’d be devastated too.”

“Except that would never happen. Guys, friends, rumors, lies, whatever, our friendship is here to stay,” she confirms with a solid nod. “And guess what? If theirs is just as strong, their friendship will too.”

She can’t be sure of that. But maybe she is right about one thing—maybe me and Maverick are worth it. There’s just one huge problem. I don’t know how I’m supposed to find out. Not after I told him repeatedly that we were through.

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