Page 71 of Connected By Stars
I rummage through his drawers and put on a pair of his boxer briefs. I find an oversized hoodie in his closet. It hangs to my knees and covers everything. It’s perfect. I go to thebathroom and run a brush through my hair, trying to make it look like I didn’t just have the best sex of my life seconds ago and three mind-blowing orgasms, but who’s counting.
I quietly open the bedroom door and tiptoe down the hall to assess the situation. I stop when I hear Mav’s voice.
“We wanted to tell you and Noah, but we were waiting until after the wedding. We didn’t want to take any attention off of them, and I had things I needed to work through before I could move forward.”
“I swear to God, Maverick, she’s not some girl you can just hook up with. If you hurt her, I won’t ever forgive you.”
“You think I don’t know that? Jesus, Soph. I’ve been going out of my fucking mind with what I feel for her. I know she’s not just a fuck. All these emotions hit me at once, and I’ve been feeling like I’m going fucking crazy. I got shit-faced drunk because I couldn’t handle it and lied to you about being with someone so you wouldn’t know anything was wrong.
“Deep down, I think I’ve wanted her for a long time, but I never let myself see her that way. I just told myself all this jealousy is because I’m protective of her, and she’s Noah’s little sister, but I know now that it was more than that. Hell, you’ve seen us fight lately. Every time she went on a date, I wanted to kill the guy.”
I hear Sophia sigh. “She’s been saving herself for someone special. You must have given her fireworks.”
I smile at my best friend’s words. I decide to be brave and face the fire, not wanting Maverick to have to do it all alone. I peek around the corner and catch Sophia’s eyes. Maverick turns and looks at me.
“I can’t believe you hid under the covers from me,” Sophia says, her lips slightly turning up as she fights back a smile.
I give a nervous laugh. “I freaked out and wentstraight back to our childhood when we would pull the covers overhead thinking we were invisible from the monsters.”
“Well, I’m glad you think I’m a monster.”
“I didn’t mean it like that. I just chickened out big time.” Maverick holds out his hand and brings me to his lap before wrapping his arms around me.
Sophia eyes us both, and I hold my breath while she studies us. This isn’t going to work if I don’t have my best friend’s blessing. “You guys do look damn good together.” I let out a deep breath, and Mav squeezes me tighter.
“Damn right we do,” he says, grinning at her.
I turn to Maverick. “Can I have a second alone with Soph?”
“Of course. I’ll take a walk down to the water and give you two a second.” He kisses me on the head and pulls a t-shirt on from his bag that’s sitting there before walking out the back deck.
I turn back to Sophia and blink back the tears. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t tell you. It all happened so fast, and with the wedding and Maverick being so scared with what he was feeling, it was all just too much.”
“How long have you been in love with my brother?” She asks softly. Sophia knows me better than anyone, and even though I hid it well from her, she can see right through me now.
“For as long as I can remember,” I say quietly.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” I see the hurt in her eyes, making the tears come faster.
“I was too embarrassed. I was in love with someone who had girls lining up for him, and I never once saw him look my way. The only time I got his attention when I got older was when I went out on dates. I think half the time, I did it just to get a rise out of him so I would get some kind of attention from him. I felt like some dumb girl with a crush on a guy that she could never have.”
“Bella.” I see tears gather in her eyes. “I just wish I could have been there for you. That must have been so hard to see him with other girls.”
“It definitely wasn’t fun,” I laugh and wipe my eyes. “Did you know that he punched Eric for talking about me inappropriately when I was fourteen?”
“No...” she says, her eyes going wide.
“And he threatened all the guys in high school except for the ones he vetted and deemed safe to take me out. You know the ones I’m talking about. I had the worst dates ever in high school because everyone was afraid to go against Maverick.”
“Holy shit,” she says, laughing.
“He also threatened my date at James’ wedding and purposefully hit his head on the car, throwing him into the Uber.”
“It seems he’s been in love with you just as long. He just didn’t realize it.”
“Do you think? I mean, we haven’t really discussed what happens now that the wedding is over besides the fact that we want to try. I just worry that I won’t be enough for him. He’s not used to being with the same girl day in and day out.”
“Are you listening to yourself right now? He should be the one worried that he’s not enough for you. I bet he’s scared shitless that he will screw this up somehow and lose you. Don’t sell yourself short. He’s the lucky one.”
