Page 75 of Maverick

I sank against the couch cushions, fatigue sapping my limbs. “Let’s do both, together, if possible. Breakfast of champions.”

Her face lit in a weary grin. “Got it.”

Within minutes, she returned with two pints of ice cream, a half-empty bottle of cheap red wine, and a couple of mismatched spoons. We settled cross-legged on the rug, using the coffee table as a surface for the glasses.

I took a spoonful of chocolate ice cream, savoring the sweetness as it melted on my tongue. It dulled the bitterness inside me by a fraction. Nova poured us each a glass of wine, swirling it with the practiced ease of someone who’d faced heartbreak many times.

“So,” she prompted gently. “Wanna really talk about it? Now that Chigger isn’t listening.”

A lump rose in my throat. “I… I guess. I just can’t wrap my head around it. Maverick claimed he loved me, we, we were intimate… He fucked me at least even if it felt like we weremaking love. It was like a fairytale, straight out of one of our romance books, Nova. We were at a fancy resort, like I meant something to him. Rose petals, Champaign, a real celebration. The sex, I don’t even want to think about how he made me feel… Like I was valuable, wanted. Hell, he whispered he loved me, Nova. Then he gets a text from an ex and all hell breaks loose. He shows up with another ex, still his wife, calls her a victim, tries to protect her from the mob, too. Knowing she set the dominos in motion. The deadly dominos that killed my mom and wants to kill me. I can’t… My brain is fried. My heart…”

Nova reached over, squeezing my shoulder. “I’m so sorry. That’s so messed up.” She paused, spoon in her mouth. “That must’ve been a terrible shock, seeing them together.”

Tears pricked my eyes. “It was. And the worst part is… part of me still wants him to show up, fix everything. Grovel at my feet and beg me to forgive him. But that’s not how this works. Not in the real world. He’s married, Nova. Married. Whether or not it’s real, he called her his wife right in front of me.” I took a jagged breath, recalling the anguish when I’d heard him say those words. “And I can’t handle it. I can’t handle being second best, or in constant danger. Maybe I was naive to trust him at all.”

Nova sighed, gulping down a mouthful of wine. “You’re not naive, just… you fell in love with an outlaw. I get it. Chigger’s a complicated guy, too. Sometimes we see the good in them, even if it’s buried under layers of crap.”

A hush lingered. I sniffled, hiding my face in my hands. “I wish it wasn’t so complicated.”

She patted my knee. “Same, girl. But maybe it’s for the best. You’ll heal, move on. Right?”

I nodded dully, not sure if I believed it. “And what about you? You and Chigger, you seemed… close.”

A wry smile tugged at Nova’s lips. “He’s sweet, all right. The sex is… amazeballs. Like, I can’t even describe. But it’s not serious. He’s always got women blowing up his phone, always secretive about the MC. No talk of me being his anything.” She shrugged. “I guess that’s what I want, though. Just fun, no strings.”

“Are you sure?” I asked softly, seeing the flicker of hurt in her eyes.

Her smile wobbled. “I’m not sure of anything. But I can’t keep hoping for more with a biker. He’s never said he wants more. So maybe I should just enjoy the ride, pun intended.”

We both laughed bitterly, wine warming our bellies, ice cream sweetening our sorrow. For a moment, we just ate in silence.

After we’d downed half the wine and devoured most of the ice cream, exhaustion hit us like a freight train. Nova suggested we crash in her bed for a nap. “I only have one bed, Smutty, but we can share. Unless you want the couch?”

I was too drained to argue. We laughed about the one bed trope. “Your bed is fine, Slutty. But don’t try to ravish me.” So we curled up under a worn quilt, sobbing quietly about men and heartbreak until sleep claimed us.

A few hours later, I jolted awake to the shrill ring of my phone. My head throbbed from crying and the wine. Next to me, Nova mumbled something, rolling over. I scrabbled for my phone on the nightstand.

“Hello?” I croaked.

A clear male voice came through: “Lexi? Where have you been? I tried emailing you all morning. This is Mark.”

I blinked, confusion swirling. “Mark?” Then it clicked. Mark from my law firm. My boss. Crap. “I’m sorry, I’ve… been out of town. Kinda dealing with personal stuff.”

He let out a mild laugh. “I can imagine. Heard your mother passed away, right? Are you okay? Do you need more time off?”

My chest tightened. “Yeah, um, my mom… she was actually murdered. So it’s complicated. I might need more time.”

He exhaled sharply. “Murdered? Lexi, God, I’m so sorry. Do you… do you need legal help with that?”

A hysterical laugh bubbled up. “You’re a lawyer… That’s what I wanted to ask. There’s a chance someone wants to kill me too. Should I go to the cops or… is that a bad idea?” My words spilled out, half delirious from stress.

“Whoa, slow down,” Mark said, tone shifting to professional seriousness. “There's an attempt on your life? If you suspect police corruption or something, maybe we should handle it differently. I have… connections. Let me see what I can do. Where are you right now? I can come see you.”

Alarm bells tinkled. “No, I… I’d rather not say my exact location,” I stammered. “But I’d appreciate any help. The man behind my mother’s murder is a big deal in the underground, calls himself Grinder or Getty. Hard to keep track. I’m not sure who’s who. Either way, it’s the mob, and I’m terrified.”

Mark hummed thoughtfully. “Mob involvement is a whole different game. Don’t go to the cops yet. You’re right. Some dirty cops could easily tip them off. Give me a couplehours, I’ll reach out to some folks. We might arrange a protective order or something more… clandestine. You trust me, Lexi?”

I shut my eyes, tears threatening again. Did I trust him? Maverick’s an outlaw, and that ended in heartbreak. Mark was my boss, someone from a far more civilized world, presumably. “Yes, I guess so. Please, do what you can. I’m desperate.”

---