Page 29 of Talk About… Rivalry

Maverick studied me for a second before he seemed to deflate, pouring his body into the chair and slumping over. His hands gripped his hair again as his face rested on the cool granite.

“Maverick, baby, I know you’re just worried about Whitaker Brews, but if what Sidney says is true and he’s opening a lounge, then he could be right. This could be a good thing. It’ll bring more people to town. Some of our patrons might check it out, simply because new things rarely open here, but our loyal customers will always be around. The people of Rockwood Valley are loyal to you, not him.”

Maverick groaned and looked up at her. He looked so damn defeated; I longed to reach out and reassure him.

“I know. Avery just worked so fucking hard to get us to this point that I can’t just watch it crumble. Especially, while my focus has been elsewhere.”

“Working on the Artisan Fair is not a waste of time.”

“Wait,” I perked up. “You’re working on the Artisan Fair?”

His eyebrows creased. “Yeah I thought you knew about that. I figured you and Avery talked about everything.”

“That was before she had a pack and got pregnant.” I admitted. “Not that we’re not close anymore, she’s just a little preoccupied. Understandably, so.”

He deflated a little further. “Yeah, I’ve been networking and trying to set up and see who’d be interested in coming back if and when I can manage it.”

“Well, you happen to have an omega right here who’s in dire need of a distraction. So, if you ever need to talk anything out or you need help planning, I’m your girl.”

Something shifted in his eyes too quick to catch before it was masked again. A signature Maverick Whitaker move.

He nodded before standing up to leave. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

With that he was off, leaving the three of us in a stunned sort of silence

“Sidney,” Mama Whitaker said, her voice careful. “Is there something going on between you and my son?”

It felt like somebody poured ice water over my head and I shook it violently.

“No there’s not, and there never will be.” She frowned at how point blank my words were, but didn’t argue. She and Charlie shared a look but I ignored them both as I busied myself with food prep.

They didn’t push me any further as they helped out, Charlie taking over the grilling while Mama Whitaker and I handled everything else.

Eventually, we turned on music and the strange moment was forgotten. I was back into losing myself in the familiar buzz of a routine.

Yet, the moment I drove away from Whitaker Ranch towards my dad’s place, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed. Something big… and the pieces didn’t quite fit together.

Sidney

“Tell me you're going to go out and support Omega Night, tonight,” Avery asked as soon as I picked up the phone. She was supposed to be officially on maternity leave now, but she couldn't help herself and was still involved with work.

“I take it you're not going?” I teased.

“If a single person bumped into this belly at the bar, my pack would lose their minds. I swear I've never seen them so feral and possessive. It's kind of hot but also kind of suffocating,” she admitted.

I’d planned on going, but then second guessed things after Maverick left like he did the other day. Things between us were tense and I couldn't figure out how to fix it.

Why did he care so much that I knew this other beta? It wasn’t like I was defending Leo, I was just trying to reassure him that there was enough space for both of them in this town.

Mainly, because I knew damn well that Leo wasn't going to back down. Even if it wasn’t Leo, I very much doubted any sane person would ditch their entire business plan because some random, angry alpha told them to.

Fuck, I guess I had to go now.

“I could probably go for a bit,” I hedged.

“Great. You know that you'll get free drinks because you’re family,” she offered as if that was an incentive.

I might have one or two tonight, but I hadn't been much in the mood to drink after my talk with Grace. I was starting to realize that I was using it like a crutch to make myself a bit more brave in situations that made me nervous.

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