Chapter Eleven

Emalyn passes the binoculars to me and I peer through the small holes in an attempt to catch a glance at her boyfriend. It slightly magnifies the scene before us, but what were we expecting from a children's pair of binoculars?

"I can't see anyone who slightly resembles him, just a group of guys playing touch football and bashing into each other." I can't see how that's remotely worth spending your afternoon. I can't comment as I'm crouched in a bush spying on them.

"Are you sure that guy in the back doesn't slightly look like him?" Emalyn is hopeful but not delusional... well delusional about that.

"We should go home before we're caught. I'm not sure what we thought would happen stalking his frat house." I hope he wouldn't be dumb enough to parade a girlfriend through the front door considering he's made his relationship with Emalyn very public.

Who knows at this point? His fellow frat brothers are charging at each other.

"Who keeps calling you?" Emalyn groans.

"Um, Maverick."

"Ugh." She rolls her eyes. "Tell him you're too busy right now to work. If your phone keeps buzzing, people might discover we're here."

When the phone rings again, I accept the call and press the phone to my ear. She takes the binoculars back and continues scanning the house.

"Hello, how are you?"

"What are you doing?" His voice dry.

"Um." I look at Emalyn who puts her finger on her lips.

"Emalyn and I are having a girl's night."

"Alright."

"Did you need me to work tonight?"

There's a long pause.

"Is my sister watching you?"

"Maybe."

"What are you doing?"

"We're hanging out."

"Hm." He sarcastically comments. "Not at your dorm because I've been here for the past 30 minutes."

"What?" My eyes go wide.

"Alright," Emalyn takes the phone from me. "Look buddy, Willow can't come to work tonight, we're busy."

There's a pause.

"Just busy," she grumbles.

Her brows knit together and she stares daggers.

"None of your business busy."

"Fine, call our parents I don't care."

Her brows sink and she heavily sighs.

"Okay, don't do that."

Emalyn looks at me and rolls her eyes.

"We're outside my boyfriend's frat stalking him. I think he's cheating on me but I don't know."

There's a long pause, more sighting, then, "Yes please, see you soon."

Emalyn passes the phone to me and rolls her eyes again.

"Maverick is picking us up. There's a party he might be at."

"Are we going in this?" I look at our black sweats, then to her.

"He's bringing us some clothes."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"He won't bring the mini skirts or dresses, but it'll beat going in sweatpants."

We remain crouched in the bushes and observe the frat house until Mav's sleek car pulls up. We jump out of the bushes and dash into the backseat of his car. There's a bag stuffed with clothing on the seat.

"I just shoved a bunch of clothes and shoes in the bag," he comments.

Emalyn rifles through the clothes and nods her head with approval. Some are conservative options which isn't surprising at this point.

"We're going to change. No perving on my poor friend. She has a boyfriend and she would be in a heap of trouble if your slutty eyes look at her."

Maverick looks at me through the review mirror and smirks.

Who's going to tell her his slutty eyes have seen me naked many times before?

Emalyn holds her jacket up to create some privacy so I can change into a mini skirt and a top. Maverick finds a parking spot along the bustling street and we clamber out of the car. I adjust the skirt and follow Emalyn's lead to the frat house.

She blazes ahead, a woman on a mission. The music is thumping and there's streams of people moving throughout the building.

He bumps his shoulder into mine and grins.

"I hope your boyfriend is okay with me being here."

"He might punch you."

"I thought he was a gentleman now." He fake gasps.

Mav reaches for my hand but realises and puts some space between us.

I open my mouth to say something, but I don't know what to say.

"What's that noise?" Maverick freezes before charging into the house. I wade through the people and come to a halt as a small circle pool around Emalyn.

"Are you kidding me right now?" she shouts.

Her boyfriend raises his hands to play innocent, but the damage is already done.

"How can you be here with her? You're supposed to be my boyfriend."

"I can explain."

"Explain how your tongue ended up down another woman's throat. You're disgusting. I can't believe you did this and with her."

The woman beside him storms off in a huff.

"I can't believe you're doing this right now." The boyfriend grumbles. He pushes Emalyn aside and that's when it all goes to hell.

Maverick comes in swinging, clipping the boyfriend on the chin. Emalyn bursts into tears, so I shove through the crowd and grab Emalyn's hand.

"We should go," I say.

Emalyn brushes the tears from her cheek and nods.

"I need to get Maverick."

"You go to the car and I'll grab Maverick."

Emalyn nods and I point her to the nearest exit. I fight my way through the crowd gathering to watch the fight unfolding.

"Maverick, that's enough now," I shout.

Except it's so loud in here and Mav's seeing red.

They're still tumbling, so I grab Maverick's hand to stop him from throwing another punch. Pain explodes on my cheek and I stumble a few steps back.

"Shit," I hiss.

Maverick takes my hand and I'm whirled through people and taken outside. He grabs my chin and forces my face in different directions to examine it.

"You need ice."

He takes my hand and pulls me to the car. Emalyn looks between us, then her gaze catches my cheek. Mav unlocks the vehicle and points to the passenger seat.

"What happened?"

"Get in," he growls.

I scurry into the backseat and hold Emalyn's hand.

"What happened?" she asks again.

"I tried to stop the fight and got caught in the crossfire," I say.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes." I sigh.

Maverick takes us to the bar and upon walking in, Joey spots the bruise forming on my cheek.

"What happened?"

"It's a long story." I sigh.

"We should get some ice for your cheek," Emalyn comments. "And a drink. We all need a drink or three."

"Joey, make Emalyn a drink. Willow, come with me. I have a first aid kit in the office."

"Do you need help?" Emalyn offers.

"Considering Mav's reputation with fighting, I think I'm in good hands." I smile.

Emalyn nods, then takes a seat in front of Joey. I follow Mav into the office and he locks the door. I lean against the mahogany desk and allow him to clean my cheek and apply an ice pack.

"I broke my promise," he mutters.

I cup his face and brush my thumb across his cheek.

"You were protecting Emalyn. I'm not mad that you defended your sister after what that asshole did to her. To cheat is one thing, but shove her? No."

He sighs and kisses my forehead.

"But I didn't protect you," he whispers.

"I wanted to protect you."

"You don't need to protect me. Don't forget, I used to be an expert in broken noses and bruises."

His gaze is fierce and I anticipate the battle of who needs to protect who, so I kiss him hard and it knocks the breath out of us. My hands roam over his solid chest and creep further up, winding themselves around his soft hair.

Maverick lifts me onto the desk and I wrap my legs around his waist. His hands graze over my thighs and his kiss deepens, turning into something sweeter, darker, and intoxicating.

I can feel his bulge against the thin material of my underwear. I miss this - I miss him. There's this ache I can't fix. My hands slide to his chest and I tug on his clothing, except he grabs my wrists and pulls them away. He steps back and straightens his clothes.

"You should keep that on your cheek," he says, handing me the ice pack.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going back to work. I'm supposed to be a reformed gentleman and last I checked, they don't fuck girls on their desks."

I gasp as he leaves me spread out on his desk.