“That’s awful. Why didn’t your parents do anything?”
He gives a quick shrug. “Good fucking question. Like I said, they were absent. We were left to fend for ourselves, forced to rely on Wagner for emotional support, not realizing he wasn’t the naturally nurturing type. But hey, at least she never hit us or anything.”
“That’s a pretty low bar.”
“I know. I’m not rationalizing it. We’re all fucked-up from it.”
Something clicks into place. “Is that why Wagner doesn’t hire a nanny now?”
Maverick nods. “He wouldn’t trust anyone, and I honestly don’t blame him. Even if Sammy was the most awful kid in the world, he’d be our awful kid to take care of.”
I’m curious to know more about Sammy’s mom, but that’s really none of my business. I’ve only met Wagner once. So I ask a possibly way-too-personal question instead. “What’s the deal with your sobriety?”
He smiles sadly. “Wow. You’re getting the greatest-hits package of my trauma tonight. Sure you want to know?”
I nod without thinking, but even once my brain catches up, I keep nodding. “I do.”
“It’s pretty pathetic, actually. Typical poor rich-boy situation that’s played out a million times.”
“Hey. You’re not a typical rich boy,” I point out with a smirk. “You’re a rich asshole, remember?”
He grins. “With you around, how could I forget?”
“I do my best.”
His grin widens as he scoops up a Snickers and peels back the wrapper. My mind remains completely focused on him and does not in any way, shape, or form imagine his mouth opening and jaw unclenching to swallow my cock the way it does to take a bite of candy.
“Everyone in my family has always known what they wanted to do with their lives. For Wagner, it was the military, then following in Mom’s footsteps to take over the business. Adair was destined for politics since she got elected into the student council in the fourth grade.” He smiles and points the Snickers at me. “Mark my words, she’s going to be the president of this country one day. And Fenner has always been a bit of a loner. He got bullied about his size, so he retreated into a world with no humans.”
“Which is?”
“The ocean. He’s got a PhD in Marine Ecology. His happy place is a remote island or on a floating research hut in the middle of the ocean.”
“Anywhere without all those pesky humans.”
“Correct. He’s a really great guy. I love him a lot. Just wished he lived closer.”
“When’s the last time you saw him?”
“Two years ago.”
“That’s a long time.”
“It is. He was meant to come back last year for Adair’s thirtieth, but they got into a huge fight, and he didn’t end up making it. Anyway, that’s a whole other story. After college, I worked in marketing at the shipping company.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Not really, but I was good at it, and it kept me out of trouble.” He blows out a breath. “Until Luca walked into my life.”
He starts telling me about his sophisticated European artist boyfriend, and I’m stuck between wanting to know every last detail about the guy and literally wanting to tune out every single word Maverick says.
“Turns out, he wasn’t a good person. He, uh…he slept with four of my supposedly closest friends.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Wish I was. He’s a Libra, and apparently, they have difficulty making decisions.”
“That really sucks. I’m so sorry.”
