Page 148 of Face Off
I think I might love him a little bit.
A whole lot, actually, and I don’t know when that happened.
Somewhere between the Thai food he started ordering for me after practice when I’m craving something spicy and the questions he scribbles down on Post-it notes and slips under my door at the arena, I went and fell head over heels for the one person I swore I was immune to.
I don’t think I ever stood a chance with Maverick, though.
It was inevitable right from the start.
Oh, god.
This is terrible.
Horrific.
Possibly the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Ijusttold the girls it was too soon to throw that word around, but it’s so painfully obvious that’s what this is.
It’s why being in his arms feels so right. It’s why I’m steady and settled when he’s next to me. It’s why his touch calms and grounds me.
I love him.
“Hey.” Maverick cradles my cheek. “What’s going on, Emmy girl? Did I do something wrong? It wasn’t too much, was it? Shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”
“No.No.” I sniff and wipe my nose with the back of my hand. The last thing I want is for him to think he messed up when he’s soright. “It’s such a kind thing to do, and I’m having a difficult time processing it.”
“Oh.” His nose bumps mine, and I lift my chin. His eyes are bright and twinkling, like the pretty stars in the night sky outside his window. “That’s okay. You take as long as you need, Emmy girl. Can I do anything to help?”
Stop being so nice to me.
Love me back.
Stay with me forever because I’m terrified of what might happen if you go.
“Can I keep hugging you?” I ask.
“You can hug me all you want.” Maverick shuffles us around until I’m in his lap and my cheek is against his shoulder. His hand slips under my shirt and rubs soft, soothing circles on my back. “Is this the part where I say I’ll never let go?”
“Please don’t compare yourself to Leo. He was my childhood crush, and you’re not him.”
“But I’m your adult crush, right?” he teases, and his lips are heaven on my skin.
“You’re something,” I say, and a confusing, prickly sensation sits at the base of my spine. “Thank you, Maverick. This really is the nicest thing anyone’s ever done for me, and I’m so excited he’s going to see me play.”
“You deserve all the nice things, Emmy girl, and when you’re with me, I’m going to give them to you.”
I love him.
“What about when we get to Detroit? The guys will realize we’re missing, and I’m sure they’ll have questions.”
“Hudson will notice, but he’s too smart for his own good. And so what if they all realize it? I’m not going to hide that we’re going to get your dad. If you’re comfortable with it, I’m comfortable with it.”
There’s a lump in my throat, and I nod. “Okay.”
“Okay? Is that a yes that we can bring him to the game?”
“Yeah.” I bite my bottom lip, and a smile sneaks through. “It’s a hell yes.”
