Page 18 of The Consequence of Loving Me

I check my phone as I pull it off the charger and throw it into my purse. The belongings in my purse rustle around as I open it to double check that my laptop is still in there. I guess if Maverick’s going to make me attend class, I should at least bring what I need.

“How long did it take you to realize we shared a class?” I ask, sidestepping him to get out of my room. The lecture hall we’re in fits up to two-hundred people, making it easy to forget all the faces. I hadn’t known we were in the same class, but it’s not like I ever try to notice anyone. I spend most of the lectures doodling in my notebook, not bothering to pay attention to my surroundings. Our arms brush as I make my way to the basement bathroom.

I let out a long breath as I take in my appearance. I’d prefer to put makeup on before leaving, but I’m vain enough to know I don’t need it. I do have a sleep indentation on my face from something I fell asleep on, though. The sound of running water fills the bathroom as I hold my toothbrush underneath it.

Maverick appears in the doorway. “I noticed you during the first class. It was kind of hard to miss the fact that somebody was fifteen minutes late on the first day.”

I smile even though my toothbrush is in my mouth. “It was syllabus week,” I retort, but it sounds jumbled because I have a mouthful of toothpaste and spit.

His wet hair flops around as he shakes his head, laughing. “I thought our professor was gonna have a heart attack when you said that to his face. I’ve never seen that shade of red on a human being before.”

I spit out the toothpaste and use the cup next to the sink to rinse out the rest of my mouth. My eyes sadly look at my skincare products so neatly laid out on the counter. I don’t have time to do my whole regimen this morning if we’re going to get to class on time.

“Well god forbid I do that again. Let’s go then.” I gesture for him to lead the way, but he doesn’t budge. “Can I help you?” I ask, adjusting my purse on my shoulder.

He watches me for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing on me like he’s trying to figure something out. “I just thought you’d put up more of a fight.”

I laugh, shaking my head at him as I head toward the stairs. I feel my messy bun bounce on the top of my head as I run up the stairs.

When I look over my shoulder, I find Maverick climbing them behind me, a puzzled look still on his face. I fight the urge to laugh again. I didn’t put up a fight because I’d planned to actually attend class today.

He doesn’t have to know that, before I accidentally fell asleep, I had every intention of setting an alarm for class.

10

Veronica

“What in the hell did we just listen to?” I ask Maverick as we walk out of our sociology class. We spent a majority of the lecture listening to our middle-aged professor talk about the My Little Pony conference he went to over the weekend. I’m not kidding. He was telling us how he was a proud brony—AKA a bro who loves My Little Pony.

Maverick chuckles, raising his hand to wave at someone across the building who just shouted his name. “I have no idea. I think I stopped listening when he started listing his favorite ponies.”

We stop to wait for a group of people leaving the large lecture hall.

“At least you made it that far. He lost my attention the second he hopped on his soap box to discuss the importance of grown men loving fictional ponies,” I say.

Maverick holds the door open for me as we make it out into the crisp Kansas air. Admittedly, I love the fact that Kansas has actual seasons. Where I’m from in South Carolina, we basically go from hot to a little less hot. We’re halfway through October, which means the trees here are starting to change colors as well. I wouldn’t tell anyone this, but I kind of love it here.

We both stop in front of the building. I have a discussion class I have to be at in fifteen minutes. On the days I do attend classes, I’m already halfway there by now.

“Well, I need to get to my next class,” I explain, looking up at Maverick.

His eyes are on something over my shoulder, a smile spreading across his face. A perfect set of dimples forms on both of his cheeks, and for some reason, I want to reach out and poke them. When I turn around to see what he’s smiling at, I find Selma and another girl walking toward us.

“Is there any way you could wait a minute, Veronica?” His ocean eyes find mine.

And even though I want to make it to my next discussion class early to get my spot in the corner where no one bothers me, I find myself planting my feet and waiting. “Sure,” I say, kicking around some fallen leaves on the sidewalk with the toe of my sneakers.

My eyes wander to the two girls closing in on us. I stare as Maverick envelops Selma in a hug, his whole body smothering her. He places a loving kiss to her forehead before pulling the other girl in. Just when I think he might hug the other one, he puts his large hand on top of her head and squeezes. She proceeds to punch him in the arm, and then the puzzle pieces fall together for me.

This must be his twin sister. Lily.

“You’re a pain in my ass,” she huffs, glaring at Maverick who’s too busy reaching for Selma’s hand to pay her any notice.

Then, a pair of blue eyes that look just like Maverick’s fall on me.

“Hi, I’m Lily, but you must already know that.” She flips the long, dark, blanket of hair over her shoulder and smiles at me.

I smile.

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