Page 66 of Connected By Stars
Maverick
Now I knowwhat hell feels like. I’ve been living in it for two fucking days, and I’m about to lose my mind. I think I’ve gone through all the emotions but it’s the fear that grips ahold of me at night and won’t let go. Weaving its way inside and settling into the darkest corners of my soul. I’ve spent my whole life trying to avoid feeling like this, and now I’m knee-deep in it with a suffocating feeling that I’m going to lose her.
I didn’t text her back after she left me unread, wanting to give her space. She has another thing coming if she thinks I’m just going to forget about her and move on. I’ll give her space, but it won’t be for long. She needs to hear me out and let me explain. I have no clue if she’s read my messages or voicemails explaining that I lied to Sophia. It was a stupid drunk mistake, and I know it hurt her, but if I have to spend the rest of my life making up for it, I will.
I drive around the parking lot so I can pass her apartment like I’ve done every day for the past two days, hoping to see her Jeep sitting there. My heart’s in my throat when I notice she’s back. I breathe a sigh of relief, knowing she’s safely home. Every part of me wants to stop and make her listen, but I have no oneto cover for me today, and I’m already running late. I force myself to drive by and turn onto the main road.
I’ll have to plan this out carefully because of Sophia. It’ll have to be when she’s at work since I have no intention of leaving until we work this out. She can’t hide from me forever.
Thankfully, I stay busy at work today with customers and a big shipment that arrives, so the day passes quickly. I think about stopping at the girls’ apartment after work, but I know there’s no way to hide the fact that something is going on between Bell and I. Sophia will know something is up the minute I walk through the door. Maybe I won’t have to wait, though. I grab my phone from the console in my Jeep and send Bell a text.
Maverick
Meet me at the gazebo at ten?
I wait for a response, willing the three dots to appear.
Maverick
Please
I add, feeling desperate at this point. I even do the prayer emoji as extra, hoping she’ll take pity on me. Sophia will be asleep by then, so she should be able to sneak out. I make myself some dinner and shower before sitting down and turning on the TV to kill time.
When it’s close to ten, I head down to the gazebo and wait. I glance at my phone for the millionth time, wanting to see a text come through. Sighing I set my phone down and lean my head back to look at the stars. I spot Andromeda and Perseus right away and think back to the time when Bell and I laid under the stars, and I told her their love story. That night gave me hope that one day I could have a love like that. It seems like lifetimes ago when I held her in my arms.
I stay there until midnight before I walk back home. She either didn’t read my text or read it and chose to ignore it. Both scenarios hurt like a motherfucker. I crawl into bed, mentally exhausted, and set my alarm for when Sophia goes to work. If I have to use my key and wake her up, I will. I can’t go another day feeling like this. She’s going to hear me out one way or another.
The next daydoesn’t go any better. Bell’s already gone by the time Sophia goes to school, and when I get home from work, I’m unable to get ahold of her to get her alone. I make a quick call to one of my employees, and we switch days off, leaving me waking up extra early today, giving her no time to leave right after Sophia does. When I see Sophia drive past my building on the way to work, I bypass my Jeep and run the distance to her apartment.
Just as I get to her door, she opens it hurriedly and locks it, not seeing me until she turns and runs right into my chest.
“You’ve been leaving awfully early the last two days. It’s almost like you’re avoiding someone.” She backs away from me quickly, like she’s been burned by my touch.
Avoiding my eyes, she runs a shaking hand through her hair. “I’ve just been busy with work, is all.”
I take a step toward her, and she takes a step back, hitting the door. I put my hand on the door frame and cage her in. Her eyes go wide when she finally meets my stare. She knows there is no escaping this time.
“You don’t have your camera bag, so my guess is that you’re headed to a coffee shop to work on edits and kill time until I leave for work.”
Her surprised eyes tell me I guessed correctly, but fire quickly replaces it. “Contrary to what you believe, noteverything revolves around you. I’ve been behind on work, and my going to a coffee shop has nothing to do with you. I love coffee shops.”
“Well, today is your lucky day. I make damn good coffee. We can either do this the easy way or the hard way because I’m going to talk, and you are going to listen.”
“You don’t get to tell me what to do. I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” Her eyes bore into mine.
“So, the hard way it is.” I scoop her up and throw her over my shoulder, walking down the sidewalk to my apartment.
“Maverick put me down.” She hisses into my back, obviously not wanting to yell and alert the neighbors.
“Not a chance. You’ve avoided me for almost four fucking days, and if this is the only way to get you to listen to me, then I’m not above holding you hostage until you do.”
I reach my flight of stairs and walk into my apartment, shutting the door with my foot before setting her down. Blues eyes lit with fury stare into mine. She has her hands clenched at her sides, and her chest is rising in a fast rhythm. I match her stare before she breaks contact first.
“Fine. Say what you want to say so I can leave.” She crosses her arms over her chest and meets my eyes again.
“Do you want to sit?” I gesture toward the couch.
“No. This won’t take long. I’m listening.”
