Page 19 of Unexpected Temptation

I curl my hands into tight fists. Maybe he’s just trying to inflate my ego and puff me up before the fight. That proves he’s a good friend. He disagrees and hates what I’m doing but is still rooting for me.

“You shouldn’t have hired that girl,” Tank says after a pause. “That’s why you need the extra cash, right?”

“She’s doing well.” Some deep, easily stirred instinct triggers when he starts to talk about Maya. I don’t know why. It’s just,hell, I feel weirdly protective over her. “Miles says she’s putting in the work of three people.”

When I think of Miles, I remember watching him walk Maya to the parking lot yesterday. The way he touched her arm. I had to stop looking before I did something stupid. I like Miles. He’s a good kid and a hard worker, but I wanted to shatter his face at that moment.

“You don’t need her, though.” Tank is watching me closely. I’m tempted to turn away, but I hide so much from my old buddy. He deserves honesty … sometimes. “Is there something else going on?” he asks. “I thought, after Vanessa?—”

“Why the fuck would you bring her into this?” I growl. “That was eight years ago. I don’t think about her anymore. I don’t think about all that crap.”

That’s mostly true, except for now and then when those vicious, ugly feelings return. I always stamp them down, not letting myself experience the pain.

“You’re seeing stuff that isn’t there,” I tell him. “Maya’s just …”

I trail off, not wanting to finish that sentence. I don’t want to call herjustanything, but that seems to prove Tank’s unspoken point.

“Let’s do another round,” I growl, hopping to my feet and rolling my shoulders.

“You sure?”

“Fighting’s easier than talking.”

Tank laughs savagely. That’s the thing with us. Whatever happens, however many people we lose, no matter how much blood we shed, we can always find a way to laugh.

CHAPTER TEN

MAYA

“Are yousureyou don’t mind?” I ask Lacey.

Mom’s nurse waves a hand at me. “You look too pretty to stay in!”

“If you don’t go, I’ll kick you out that door!” Mom croaks, and she even manages a sort of half-smile. It gives me more hope than it should, but I’ll take every light-filled moment with her I can get.

“You deserve to enjoy yourself,” Lacey says. “It’s the weekend. Let your hair down.”

“I’ve got a shift at seven a.m., but I’ll do my best.”

After giving Mom the biggest kiss and cuddle ever—being careful not to hurt her because she’s so frail these days—I catch a cab to Riley’s house. Her mom smiles when she spots me, and we make small talk, mainly about Mom. When I get to Riley’s room, I can tell she’s started the party early immediately. She’s got that hazy, slightly detached, slightly amused look on her face.

“Maya,” she yells, throwing herself into my arms.

I laugh, catching her. “Easy there.”

“It feels like it’s been years.”

“It does,” I agree.

“You want a soda?”

“Sure.”

“Our ride will be here soon.”

We walk over to her bed. She sits down, shifting slightly, full of energy. Her bracelets rattle as she hops up and down.

“You’re excited to see your new man?” I ask.

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