“So, a second date.”
“Why do you say it like that?” I laugh. “You make it sound like it’s the worst thing in the world.”
“He’s a good guy.” Mav sits up suddenly, bringing his knees in and setting his arms over them. He’s so damn tall he looks hilarious in that position.
“He is. Very nice. A true southern boy.” I smile, sitting up to mimic his stance again.
“You do like southern boys.”
“They’re usually really well mannered.” I purse my lips. “I mean, Ray was. Everyone else I’ve dated was from New York.”
“True.”
“Daylilies,” I say after a moment. “Those are pretty flowers. They come in red.”
“Would you like daylilies?” Mav meets my eyes again and for a moment I feel like he’s asking me because he’s going to give them to me and not her, but it’s a fleeting moment because I know the truth.
I nod anyway even though I can’t bring myself to speak. The truth is, I’d like anything he’d give me.
Chapter Thirteen
“I’m just going to see if I can stay with Leyla for a few days.”
“Why?”
“Because I want some girl time.”
My mother laughs in my ear. I shut my eyes to relish it. “Honey, you’re with those girls twenty-four-seven. I thought they were driving you crazy.”
“Yeah, well.” I bite my lip.
“Did something happen with the boys?”
“No, of course not.”
“You sure? Should I call Maverick myself and ask him?”
“Oh my God. No, Mom!”
She’s quiet for a beat, then another. “Have you two finally realized you like each other?”
“What?” I don’t mean to shout, but it’s exactly what comes out of my mouth. “What are you talking about?”
“Oh, Rocky.” She laughs loudly, the sound ringing through the phone line. Normally, it would warm my heart, but this feels like an attack. “You know, we and the Cruzes have a bet going to see how long it takes you two to realize it and who realizes it first.”
“What?” I slap a hand over my face. I’m so glad I’m sitting in a parked car because surely this is not a safe conversation to have while driving. “What are you talking about, Mom?”
“You heard me. So, who realized it first?”
“Jesus,” I mutter. “This is mortifying. Ms. Mildred is in on this little bet too?”
“Ms. Mildred started the bet, honey.”
“Oh my God.” I sink deeper into my seat. “This is so embarrassing.”
“What’s embarrassing?” She laughs.
“Mom, this isn’t even funny. You’re literally betting on your own daughter’s emotions. This is a traumatic experience.”
“Lord. Traumatic. Get over yourself, Rocky, and when you’re done getting over yourself, spill the details.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I like him but he doesn’t know and before you say anything, no, he absolutely doesn’t like me back.”
“Yeah, right.” She huffs. “Of course, he likes you back. He’s not blind or stupid.”
“Newsflash, he doesn’t need to be blind or stupid to not like me back. Maybe I’m not his type.”
“Maverick’s? Are we talking about the same guy? Because all he does when he’s around you is stare at you when you’re not looking.”
“That’s such a lie.”
“Who was the girl he was dating? The dark one with the big ass?”
“Tanya?”
“Yeah, well, Milly says the reason Tanya broke up with him is because she knew he liked you and she couldn’t deal with it.”
“Tanya broke up with him because she wanted him to take her to prom and he didn’t want to.” I roll my eyes.
“Right, and who did he take to prom?”
I bite my tongue.
“Who’d he take, Rocky?”
“Me, but that was because I didn’t have a date and he felt bad for me.”
“Really? That’s the hill you wanna die on?”
My eyes pop open and I sit up straight. “I don’t want to die on any hill. I’m just telling you the facts.”
“The facts.” Mom laughs again. “Yeah, okay, you let me know how you like it on that hill.”
“Mom,” I groan. “Please don’t tell anyone about this, especially not Dad.”
“I definitely will not be telling your father. He’ll make you move out of that house in a heartbeat.”
My eyes widen. I hadn’t even considered that. My parents aren’t extremely strict, but my father is definitely the stricter out of the two. He’s a guest pastor at our church on weekends and definitely had more than a few serious talks with me about saving myself for marriage, something my mother is completely tickled by since they had me out of wedlock. Still, my dad’s my dad, and as it is, my living with two guys is something he doesn’t comprehend. Adding love to the equation would be the ultimate no-no, even if it is with Maverick, whom he adores.
“Well, darling, I personally think you should go home and tell him how you feel. Otherwise, you’ll be subjected to watching him date other women for the rest of your lives.”
“Yeah, because he doesn’t like me.”
“I’m never wrong about these things. Besides, Milly is his mother and you know how protective of him she is, so if even she knows he likes you, you know it’s real.”
With a groan, I say goodbye to my mother and hang up the phone. I already packed my bag for Leyla’s before I even asked her or Ashley if I could stay over. They won’t care. It’s not like they haven’t crashed at my place a million times, but as I get out of my car and walk up the stairs to their second-floor apartment, I’m replaying my mother’s words in my head. Maverick doesn’t like me. She’s definitely wrong about that. I know him. If he did, I’d know. Sure, he looks at me and watches me, but he does that to everyone. Mav is the guy at the bar where if he doesn’t have his tongue down anyone’s throat, he’s lost in deep thinking. He’s an old soul. I used to make fun of him about that until I realized how similar we were. I knock on the door and wait. When Leyla opens it, she looks at me, looks at my duffel bag, then looks back up at me.
“Do we have an away game I don’t know about?”
“Nope. I was wondering if I could stay here tonight. And maybe tomorrow.”
“What?” She frowns, holding the door open for me to walk in. She shuts it behind me and faces me. “What’s going on? Did something happen with Mav and Col?”
“No, they’re fine. I just need a break.”
“From Maverick?” Leyla’s frown deepens.
“Oh my God. Yes, from Maverick.” I let out a breath. “Why’s that so hard to believe?”
“Well, you guys are like attached at the hip, Barnes.”
“Do you think I can stay here?”
“Of course. You know we always have room for you.”
“Thanks.” I set down the duffel bag beside the couch. “Where’s Ash?”