Page 10 of Finding Forever

The sun’s rays felt like they were shining just for me and the bevy of snacks I had beside me were doing the trick in satisfying my salty and sweet cravings. So far, I’d read over half a book that I’d first picked up months ago. I probably could have finished even more of it if I wasn’t so mesmerized by the man just a few short yards away from me.

Maverick was a certified distraction. And that was putting it nicely. Yesterday, at the beach, he hadn’t been shirtless. Not that my imagination hadn’t wondered about what the obvious muscle under his shirt looked like. Today, I was getting a front row view of those same muscles flexing and contorting as he leisurely tossed an inflated ball around.

Peals of laughter pulled my attention back to the pool. Mycah was elevated on Maverick’s shoulders with the biggest grin on his face that I’d ever seen. It did me good to see how much this pool “party” had lifted his spirits. The poor little guy had thrown a tantrum when his father had abruptly announced that once again he wouldn’t be able to go to the beach with him due to work.

I’d been two seconds away from joining his crying fit when Maverick had showed up at our front door like the guardian angel I was starting to believe he was. Relief had instantly relaxed my tense shoulders when I pulled open that door and saw him. I didn’t even have time to worry about how silly I must have looked moping around so early in the morning.

For some reason, I didn’t feel the need to have my guard up when it came to Maverick. When he asked me a question, my only focus was on telling the truth. Maybe it was because he was a stranger that I would probably never see again after this vacation. Or maybe it was the fact that he managed to be warm and inviting, even while maintaining his cool yet demanding demeanor. I saw genuine interest when he looked into my eyes, and that was hard to resist.

Whatever pull he possessed made him easy to trust and talk to. Two things that had been lacking in my life for way too long. My buzzing phone pulled me out of my thoughts of the man I had barely known a full twenty-four hours.

When I picked up the phone and saw a message from my best friend, Tanya, I smiled.

VirginiaBestie: So, tell me how many brain cells do you have left after dealing with Chris for a full day?

I snorted at her text before shaking my head. She’d pretty much felt this way about him from day one.

Me: My brain cells are just fine because Chris has been scarce.

VirginiaBestie: Wait, so he drags you and my nephew on vacation just to leave you alone all day?

Well, I’m not really alone,I thought as my eyes darted over to Maverick in the pool.

Me: He has to “work”

I left it at that instead of telling her about the bombshell Penny had dropped last night. That was a conversation that needed to be had in person. Or at the very least, over video chat when I could relay the story to both of my best friends—Abigail and Tanya—at the same time. Unlike Abby and I, Tanya didn’t live in Winter Bay. She lived in a small town in Virginia near my dad and stepmom’s house. We began hanging out during the summer I turned fourteen while I visited my dad and three siblings; who were much younger than I was. At least I thought so at the time. My sister—dad’s first daughter with his second wife—was four years younger than I was.

VirginiaBestie: Typical. I don’t know why you put up with him. Wasn’t that the whole point of getting a divorce? So you didn’t have to get the short end of the stick anymore.

Me: As much as I agree with you, I have a son. Remember?

VirginiaBestie: Of course, I remember. Mycah doesn’t deserve that, either.

Blowing out a resigned sigh, I read her last text over and over. As usual, she was right.

VirginiaBestie: Look, I have to run into the pharmacy to get some of mom’s meds and then bring her to chemotherapy. But this conversation isn’t over, Gina.

And I knew she’d hold me to that. That was what Tanya did. It was part of her personality. She didn’t let up for anyone. I loved that about her. It kept me on my toes. I sent her a text saying bye for now and to give her mom my love, then opened Instagram out of sheer boredom. All thoughts of going back to my bed were long gone. There was no telling how much time passed as I scrolled through a plethora of clothing hauls andget ready with mevideos.

“Come on, Mommy! Play with us!” Mycah’s voice called out to me.

I looked up from my screen and saw three expectant pairs of eyes watching me and waiting for me to make a move.

“Water polo,” Maverick supplied, after reading the confused look on my face.

Penny and Mycah clapped in glee and I couldn’t help my laughter at the image they created. They were adorable.

Adorable enough for me to lift my phone and snap a picture before I abandoned it altogether and walked over to the pool.

Both of them were outfitted in cartoon character arm floaties and goggles to protect their eyes from the chlorine. Their enthusiasm was magnetic and had me closing my book to join them in the water.

The water was warm as I stepped in. I attributed it to the fact that Maverick’s green-brown eyes were latched onto my every move, and I was hyperaware. There were no sunglasses shielding the portals to his soul today, and I saw the unabashed desire in their green depths.

“It’s been years since I’ve played. You’ll have to jog my memory,” I spoke to break up the sudden nervousness I felt by being this close to him.

Maverick gave the kids and me a simplified rundown of the game, and then we were ready to play. I tried to escape to the other end of the pool, but Maverick seemed to be everywhere I was. Being this up close and personal with was proving to be a test. I could see every little droplet of water coasting down his tight muscles, and it was tempting.

I barely recognized the strange feeling of lust because of how long it had been since the emotion was present in my body. After years of pointless fights and bitterness with Chris, I thought my ability to desire another human had been completely stripped away. I was wrong. And what a worthy object of desire Maverick presented. Maybe he could show me just how deep that passion ran…

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