Page 48 of The Consequence of Loving Me

I’m wallowing as he continues with, “She’s a good person, though. I like her, even when she’s a brat. And I haven’t missed how you’re looking at her tonight. I’ve never seen you look at someone like this before, Mav. Just want to make you aware.” He stands next to me for a little bit longer before he plasters that panty-dropping smile on his face and walks over to the circle.

I’m about to retreat to my room for the night, my body now at the foot of the stairs. I’m so close to leaving. But when I look over my shoulder and find Tristan whispering something in Veronica’s ear, I change my mind.

I close the distance to the circle and sit in an empty space next to my sister. Lily’s too busy glaring at somebody opposite us to even notice me, which is fine because I’m also staring across the circle, undoubtedly wearing a matching glare on my own face.

25

Veronica

When I look up from my conversation with Tristan, I’m shocked to find Maverick sitting across the circle from me.

A circle for spin the bottle.

A circle for a game that involves kissing someone if the bottle lands on you.

A circle for a game that someone in a relationship shouldn’t be playing.

Even though he mentioned that Selma was out of town, I scan the circle to see if maybe she’s actually here and both of them are playing. Which, now that I think about it, might be a weird kink for the two of them.

Except I don’t see Selma anywhere.

It doesn’t make sense at all. Maverick’s never been anything but respectful, committed, loyal.

I leave Tristan mid-sentence. He’s explaining something about baseball and how to find the perfect glove when I vacate my spot. My legs take me the short amount of space around the circle before I crouch behind Maverick.

“What the hell are you doing?” I hiss, my lips close to Maverick’s ear so nobody can hear our conversation. I don’t know how Lily hasn’t already kicked her brother in the balls for playing this game when he’s dating her best friend.

Even though Lily seems distracted tonight, I know how protective she is over those she cares about. There’s no way she’d let Maverick play this game while in a relationship with Selma.

None of it makes sense.

“I’m sitting,” Maverick responds, angling his head toward me a bit. Even though it’s the smallest amount, it causes our lips to near.

“No shit, Sherlock. I mean what are you doing playing spin the bottle?” My calves start to burn from the crouching position, my hand finding the floor to help steady myself.

“Didn’t think you noticed. You were too deep in your conversation with Tristan.” Maverick looks at me from the corner of his eyes, his comment stunning me for a moment.

“That has nothing to do with this,” I say.

He laughs, the air from it brushing my cheek. The muscle on the side of his jaw tightens as he grinds his teeth together. “Oh, if only you knew that it has everything to do with this.”

I try to make sense of his words before I remember to get back on topic. “What about Selma?”

Maverick turns his shoulders until he’s facing me. Our faces are only a few inches apart, the rest of the party disappearing as he looks at me with a serious gaze. “Selma and I broke up.”

The admission causes me to sit back on my knees. It’s the last thing I expected to hear from his mouth. It hits me everywhere in my body. It feels like a relief. “Wait, what the fuck?”

His ocean gaze flicks to my mouth before he meets my eyes again. “We broke up. I wanted to tell you, it just didn’t feel right. But we’re done. She and I will remain friends, as we always should have been.”

I can’t form words, my head is too busy spinning.

They were supposed to be this perfect couple. The perfect couple. They finished each other’s sentences, for fuck’s sake.

How could they break up?

And why am I happy about it?

Why does it feel like something has just been lifted off my chest to know someone else isn’t sharing his bed? Or more importantly, sharing his head.

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