Page 80 of Maverick
“So the person you’re with is not a good time,” Sarah asks, looking extremely interested.
“I’m by myself.” It’s true. Just with tickets purchased by Maverick and crushed by a broken heart caused by Maverick.
“Here to see one of the guys ride?” Colt is pushing awfully hard, and if I didn’t love him so much, I’d find him annoying.
“You know,” I hedge, “I don’t really care who wins. And there is a likelihood someone could have a terrible accident, just like you.”
I sound bitter and ridiculous, and I know it.
“Is it Maverick Quinn?” Sarah asks.
My heart just about jumps up my throat and out of my mouth.
“No,” Dallas and Colt say at the same time.
“He sucks,” Colt says.
“He really does,” Dallas agrees.
I don’t say anything in response because what am I going to say? I can’t deny it. Well, I could, but it’d be such a bad lie I’d turn twenty shades of red and maybe choke on it besides.
Colt pinches the bridge of his nose. “Oh God, Stella.”
Dallas shoves his hands in his pockets and looks away from me.
“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,” Sarah says, looking at Colt.
“Excuse me?” Colt asks. “What did I do?”
“You know what you did,” she says.
“I… Wow, Sarah.”
I’m tempted to ask for details on Colt’s life, but I can see he doesn’t want to talk about it.
“Whatever,” I say. “I shouldn’t have even come. He got me tickets when he qualified. But then things were different. Or maybe, things were… I don’t know.”
To my horror, tears fill my eyes. I feel small and stupid, and I wish I weren’t doing this in front of Colt right now, for God’s sake. He was hurt, and we should be talking about his recovery, not my stupidity.
“Any guy who fumbles you is an idiot,” Sarah says decisively.
She’s being way too giving to me.
“I think I’m the idiot,” I say. “For getting overly involved with a man who stated up front that he was going to fumble me. Without getting into the details.”
“I’m here for details,” says Sarah.
She pulls me to the side, away from the guys, and I’m grateful, honestly, because they’re just so judgmental. Which is fair, and it’s not like I don’t deserve judgment, but damn. I’m wounded enough.
“Tell me,” Sarah says, her voice soft.
“Oh, there’s not much to say. It’s what it looks like. I slept with an older man, caught feelings that he remained unafflicted with, and now I’m here because I’m refusing to just go away. Why should I make his life easier?”
Sarah looks at me with admiration, I’m sure I don’t deserve. “I love it. These men deserve to be tortured a little.” She looks over at Colt.
My eyes widen. “What?”
“Oh, he’s…drama. I’ll have to text you about it later. I’ve been nice out of deference for the sensitive nature of the situation.” She grimaces. “But now he’s fucked it all up.”
