“Is Clancy going with you?”
“He is. He’ll drive me there and then back to the sanctuary. Once I’m there, I’m going to find Maverick, sit him down, and tell himeverything.”
“Good. It’s the right thing to do. You’ll feel so much better.”
I want to believe her, I really do. “But what if…?”
“He ends things?” she hedges.
“No. That’s not what I was going to say. Maverick is a good man. He wouldn’t just dump me right after I tell him this. Not that we’re even officially together in order for him to be able to dump me.”
“Then what?”
“What if it…changes things?”
She pauses for a minute before responding. “Itisgoing to change things. Your whole life is going to be different. As much as I love you, it’s been hard sitting back and watching you live in denial and anger about it. But I have. For possibly the first time in my life, I’ve bitten my tongue and not said anything. Because I can’t even begin to imagine what you’re going through. So if you wanted to deny it, deny it. If you want to rage about it, go for it. Who am I to stop you? Just know that we’re all here for you, and if Maverick is half the man you think he is, he’ll be there for you, too.”
“I just hope I haven’t left it too late. He’s already mad at me.”
“Then make sure you tell him on Monday. No matter what, okay?”
I tap around until I find her hand and give it a firm press. “I will. Thanks, Sib. I love you.”
“I love you, too, Jaxi.”
29
Maverick
“How did your appointment with the sleep specialist go?” Ollie’s voice fills the cabin of my SUV.
“Not great. Feel free to start calling me Darth Vader from now on.”
“Are they putting you on CPAP?”
“I still have to do an at-home sleep apnea test, but I played him the recording I took of me sleeping, and he said it’s highly likely I will, yeah.”
“Bummer, man.”
“Looks like the only hooking up I’ll be doing from now on is to a machine.”
“I’m sure Jackson won’t mind.”
“Jackson won’t ever see it.”
“You still giving him the cold shoulder?”
“Sure am,” I say, turning the key in the ignition to get the heating going. “He hurt me, Ollie. He looked me right in the eye, and he chosenotto tell me whatever was going on with him. At least Derek owned up to his mistake. How are things going on that front, by the way?”
“Let’s just say you’re not the only one giving someone the cold shoulder. I told him I needed some space. He’s respecting that and has stopped calling and texting, but every night, when I get home from work, my doorman hands me a bouquet of flowers.”
“Are they nice flowers?”
“They’re expensive.”
“Bet your apartment smells nice, at least.”
“They don’t make it that far.”
