Page 133 of A Little Complicated

He’s gonna see you at brunch next Sunday anyway.

Me

Not sure I’m going to make it to family brunch, Mav.

Maverick

Running from your problems doesn’t make them go away. Trust me. I would know.

Me

Doesn’t make it any easier to face them.

Maverick

You’re right. But none of us can run from facing each other for the rest of our lives, so we might as well get it over with. And I prefer to do it away from our families’ eyes. Don’t you?

I roll onto my side, weighing the pros and cons without being able to deny his logic, no matter how crazy it sounds.

Me

Good point.

Maverick

So, you’ll come?

Me

I’ll think about it.

Maverick

Good. And afterward, we’re gonna talk.

Me

Not sure I’m ready, Mav.

Maverick

We’ll get through it, Opie. Promise. Miss you.

My heart seizes in my chest, and I rub at the ache, hating how much it hurts to be away from him, even after the shitstorm from the last couple of days. Honestly, it doesn’t even make sense. Loving him the way I do. But I can’t stop. I’ve tried.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I type my response and groan as the bubble shows “delivered.”

Me

Miss you too.

My phone buzzes seconds later, and this time, it’s a call.

I slide my thumb along my screen and bring the phone to my ear. “Hey, Dylan.”

“Hey,” she greets me. “I wanted to call and give you and Tatum an ETA for today since my dad’s still planning to bring her home after he’s finished delivering me and all my boxes to the house. I’m thinking three o’clock or close to it. Does that work for you?”

“Yeah, three o’clock is fine, but Tatum’s not here,” I tell her, “so your dad doesn’t have to worry about taking her home.”

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