“Maverick,” she said softly, her bottom lip wobbling with each syllable.“It’s not that easy.”
“Yes, it is.Stop being so afraid of what everyone else thinks of you.You are a fucking badass.The biggest badass I’ve ever met.You ran barefoot, pregnant, with a baby on your hip, while grown men chased you, and you turned them into the police.Then you raised your kids all on your own, got a degree, then a law degree, and chose to help women get out of similar situations that you used to be in.If that is not the definition of a badass, then I don’t care to know what is.A person who accomplished all of that shouldn’t give two shits what anyone says about them.Least of all some gossipy sewing circle marms who have nothing better to do than spread rumors and crochet emotional support pickles.”
We reached the property, and I slowed my roll as we rumbled down the gravel laneway toward the pub.
“I’m not coming in,” I said, hitting the brake and stopping.“I have some shit to do.You go on and celebrate with your friends and family.”
She blinked and swallowed.“I … I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” was all I could croak out.
She leaped out of the truck, and I waited for her to walk around the grill before I pulled ahead and made my way to my cabin.
I caught a glimpse of her in my rearview mirror, standing there at the front of the pub, watching me drive away, the rain dampening her waves.It took every ounce of willpower I had not to park the truck, jump out, and run to her.
I wasn’t looking for a declaration of love, or some grand gesture where she stood on a chair in a room full of people and announced that we were sleeping together.All I wanted was to be able to go somewhere—anywhere—with her and not have her pretend she barely knew me, or like I had leprosy.
I might only be twenty-six, but I already knew I was too old for the drama, too old for the emotional whiplash.Maybe I needed to pack up my podcast and go somewhere else.Somewhere people weren’t embarrassed to be seen with me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Gabrielle
“Where’sMav?”Rainaaskedme as she and Jagger entered the pub and met us at the tables the McEvoys had commandeered.
“He … he had something to do in his cabin,” I said, playing with the base of my wineglass and not meeting her eyes.
Jagger pulled out the seat for Raina, and she sat down, asking me, “Is he coming after?”
I shook my head and shrugged.“I don’t know.”
“Did you two have a fight or something?”She thanked Dom who handed her a glass of wine.
“I … I don’t know.I don’t know if I can do this.He wants to go out in public and I …”
“You’re afraid you’ll turn into a pumpkin after midnight?”Jagger asked, sitting down beside Raina, and only wincing a little as he tucked his knee under the table.“Because you know that wasn’t Cinderella.That was her stagecoach.Too many people mix up the metaphor when they’re trying to make a clever analogy.But it was the stagecoach.More likely, you’d turn back into a mouse from being one of the horses.”
Raina elbowed him and gave him a weird look.“I don’t think anybody asked for the in-depth Disney analysis, dude.”
He tipped his beer bottle to his lips and shrugged.“Nobody asked for it, but everyone’s glad they got it.”
My cousin smirked and rolled her eyes.“Keep telling yourself that, bud.”Then she turned back to me.“Why don’t you want to be seen with him?Help me understand.He’s a great guy.Everyone on the island loves him.”
“Because if people see us together, they’ll know we’retogether,” I pointed out, like it was as plain as day.
“So?”they both asked at the same time.
“So.He’s twenty-six.I’m forty-one.He’s this hotshot hockey player, I’m this—”
“Successful, smart, sexy-ass bitch with a six-pack and peach of an ass,” Raina finished for me.“Shut your beautiful fucking face.You’re hot.He’s hot.Burn up the sheets together.”
I rolled my eyes and my face grew warm.“I don’t like people knowing my business,” I said in a low voice.“You know that.”
Being in love had certainly changed my cousin, because she didn’t seem to care who knew her dirty laundry now.She waved her hand and sipped her wine.“We have nothing to be ashamed about.We got the fuck out of that hellhole.We should be proud.I’m tired of hiding.I’m tired of acting like we did anything wrong.Do I want people knowing what time I take a shit every morning?No.That’s business I keep to myself.”
“And me,” Jagger said proudly, kissing her on the cheek.
She shot him a dirty look, but he just grinned.
