Page 77 of Bitter Beats

I open my eyes and stare at him.

“I can hear you thinking.” His words are accusatory, but his tone is soft. Deceptive.

I sit up, resting my back against the pillows. I cross my arms over my chest. “Do they know you’re full of shit?” I lie, just to throw something back in his face, as I tip my chin toward his phone.

His teeth snap together, and his expression hardens. “I’m not… This is—” He sighs. “I’m sorry, okay? I was way out of line tonight.”

“Yeah. You were,” I agree.

Maverick places his phone down and runs his hands through his hair. “Mckenna, I didn’t handle it right. Seeing you with Christian Carrington, I…”

“Got jealous?” I supply. My heart rate ticks up. Is it terrible that I want him to be jealous? That I want him to feel something real for me, the way I’ve started to harbor real feelings toward him?

“He’s not what he seems; he’s not a good guy.”

I lift an eyebrow, recalling his ugly words. “And you are?”

Mav’s jaw tightens as he watches me. “Compared to Carrington? I’m a fucking saint.”

I shudder, that strange tug in my stomach happening again. Something is off about Carrington. I know what I felt next to the bar and hearing Mav confirm it fills me with a strange sense of security. Like I can still trust my gut feelings. I can still trust myself. Right?

“He’s a fucking predator, Mckenna,” Maverick growls.

My eyes snap up and slam into his. The urge to cry gathers behind my face but the tears don’t come. “I know,” I whisper.

Mav frowns and moves closer, dropping to the side of the bed. His fingers twist the material of the comforter. A muscle jumps underneath his left eye. “What do you mean you know?” His voice is cold. Controlled. “Did he?—”

“I could feel it,” I cut him off, rushing through the words. As soon as I say them, I know they’re right. “I felt it,” I repeat.

Maverick frowns, shaking his head. “Felt what, baby?”

“Nauseous. Scared. Confused.” I lick my dry lips. “I feel the same way around Branson but I can’t… I don’t remember…” I trail off.

“Remember what, Mckenna?” Mav’s voice is gentle. His touch is warm as he brushes the back of my hand with his fingers.

“I was so relieved when I saw you walking toward me at the bar,” I confess. “But then, when you said Carrington could get me as a two-for-one?—”

“That wasn’t directed at you,” Mav interrupts me, his tone hard. “It was an insult to him. He’s going to get slapped with sexual harassment charges this year. He thinks he’s above it but…fuck, Mckenna, I’d never mean that about you. I was just…furious. And jealous. Fucking possessive. Confused.” He meetsmy eyes again. “I care about you. You’re my…friend. I never want to see you hurt.”

I work a swallow and nod. Mav cares about me. We’refriends. Why does that hurt? It’s what he promised me from the start and yet… I want more.

Mav’s eyes darken as understanding dawns. “What happened with Branson, Mckenna?”

I slip my hand in his and lace our fingers together. “I don’t know, Mav. I really don’t. But tonight, I knew that when I saw you, I was safe. That’s why your accusation on the balcony hurt.”

Mav reaches for me and wraps me in his arms, crushing me to his chest. “I’m so fucking sorry, Mckenna. Truly. I know I was out of line and there’s no excuse. But I’d never hurt you. You know that, right?” He pulls back to meet my eyes.

“Yeah, Mav. I know that.” And I do. He’d never purposely hurt me. But my heart? Oh, Maverick Tate has the ability to shatter my heart if I give it to him.

He holds me close for a long moment. “You can talk to me about anything, Mckenna.”

“Yeah,” I murmur. But I won’t. Not right now. I don’t know what to say. “I’m tired, Maverick.”

He kisses the top of my head. Then, he shifts back and tucks me in. “Sleep, babe.” He offers me a smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. Those two pools of blue are guarded—and worried. “Hey, what are you doing for Christmas?”

My chest tightens at the reminder. Ordering Chinese takeout? WatchingThe Holidayalone? Absolutely nothing.

I won’t admit that. “I’m going to try to see my mom,” I fib, partly because I hope it turns out to be true. And partly because I need some time alone to sort through all the complicated things swirling in my head. Besides, being together on Christmas would blur more lines. Mav is my friend and I need to remember that.

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