Page 86 of Healer's Call

“Will you tell me what’s wrong?” His words have an edge of command to them, but I know his heart’s in the right place.

I lift my head. “I’m fine. I promise.” His eyes narrow and search my face, but I keep my emotions off my face. At least I try to.

“I’ll take your word for it, for now.”

Guilt sluices through me, but I don’t say anything. “You’ll tell me if somebody is bothering you.” Again, his words come out as a command, but I simply nod. He searches my face again. “You look tired.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you still up to doing dinner and a movie because we can skip—”

“No,” I interrupt. “I want to, if you do,” I add uncertainly.

He nods. “I was on my way to grab food before I came here. You get comfortable. I’ll grab the food and be right back.”

He’s almost to the door when I stop him. “Hey, Mav.” He turns back. “How did you know I was...” my words fall off.

He scowls. “Jacob reached out to me through our pack link and told me.”

“Oh.”

He watches me carefully, and I hold his gaze. I have nothing to hide from him. There is absolutely nothing between Jacob and me. There never will be. Before I can say something along those lines, he turns back to the door. “I’ll be back.” He opens the door and then his eyes drift over me. “You look nice, but you don’t ever have to feel like you have to dress up for me. If you want to put on Pj's so you’re comfortable, go for it.” He closes the door a moment later, leaving me to stare after him.

“Does that mean I should go put on Pj’s? Or stay in what I’m wearing because I look nice?” I groan. “I need a handbook for these things.” I lift my head toward the ceiling. “I’m so confused.” I pull out my phone and am about to dial Ava, but I hesitate. She’ll probably just snap at me and tell me to figure it out on my own. Then I think about what she would do. She mostundoubtedly wouldn’t have dressed up in the first place. I groan and head to my room where I dig through my drawer and pull out a tank top and shorts. I head back over to Maverick’s and try to still my racing heart and try to appear calm. When he comes in a few minutes later with hands laden with food, I jump off the bed to help him. His eyes skim over me, and I don’t miss the soft smile on his face. He doesn’t say anything, but a warm feeling wells up inside me. I feel like I did the right thing. Just like the last time, he brought a ton of food with him. He fills a plate for me, and I don’t bother telling him I’ll never be able to eat it all. When he settles next to me on the bed, I turn to him. “You ready for this?”

He gives me a look. “It’s not Twilight again, is it?”

I laugh. “No. Although you really shouldn’t make fun of that movie.”

“I’m surprised you can watch it,” he says.

I shrug. “Yeah. I guess because I know what real vampires are like, and Edward and his family are nothing like them.”

“So what did you pick this time?” he asks, shifting the conversation away from vampires.

“Only one of my most favorite movies ever,” I tell him excitedly. I push play and the movie starts. “Knight and Day. Have you ever seen it?” He shakes his head. “It’s got Tom Cruise in it,” I tell him, trying to tempt him.

He scowls at me. “That’s the only reason you want to watch it?”

I laugh. “No. I said that for your sake.”

“Hate to break it to you, but I’m not interested in men,” he says dryly.

“Oh my word!” I nudge his arm. “Not like that! Just...watch the movie!” He smirks and starts eating. I lean against the pillows and get comfortable as the movie starts. It only takes me seconds to get sucked in. I love this movie. Before I know it, themovie comes to an end. I sigh. “Wasn’t that so good?” I turn to him. “Admit it. You liked it,” I say, pointing a finger at him.

He scoffs. “It’s just a movie.”

“Oh, come on, Mav. It’s a really good movie.”

“Totally unrealistic.”

I put my head back against the wall and groan. “You are not going to ruin this movie for me.”

“He’s a liar anyway.”

My eyes widen. “Blasphemy. I love Tom Cruise. How can you say that?”

He points at the screen. “He didn’t look?” he scoffs.

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