Chapter Five

I can't keep hiding from Maverick, but I can't face him either because all I can think about is our kiss and his body tightly wound around mine. His words echo through my mind and guilt churns in my stomach.

How do I make it stop?

I trail my hands over my face, sliding my fingers into my hair, and tug on the roots. Nothing has been able to stop that scene from replaying in my mind, some part of me doesn't want it to stop either.

The door jingles and Emalyn walks in, bag in hand.

"Joey made chicken soup and wishes you a speedy recovery from this nasty cold."

"Please thank him for the soup."

She places the bag on the bed before flopping onto her own with a huff.

"How are you feeling? Any better?" She flips her shoes off and they clatter onto the wooden floor.

"A little." I cough. "How was your day?"

"Ugh." She groans. "It wouldn't be so bad if my brother wasn't such a sleazy manwhore. It's disgusting watching him make out with women. I hope they realise they need to get checked after sleeping with his dirty willy."

"Sounds dreadful."

My heart is breaking at the thought of him sleeping with other women. It shouldn't because I've been telling him we can never be a thing.

I made the right choice steering clear of him.

* * *

"We can do this the easy way or the hard way." I'm rustled awake by Emalyn poking me in the shoulder. I dive further under the cover and hug the blanket closer to my chest.

"Go away." I smack her hand away.

"C'mon, some fresh air and a party will do you some good."

"Leave me alone."

The mattress creaks as Emalyn climbs off the bed. I relax under the covers and sigh. In my moment of weakness, the blankets are gone and she's yanking on my arm. She pulls me to my feet and shoves me into the shower. Emalyn turns the tap on and cold water splashes on me.

"Emalyn," I squeal.

"You have ten minutes to shower and wash your hair."

"Make it fifteen."

"Okay, now we're talking." Emalyn smiles.

When I emerge from the bathroom, I feel much better. Some guilt still sits in the pit of my stomach but the remainder of my funk, with some scrubbing, has been washed down the drain.

"Do you feel better because you look so much better," Emalyn comments.

"The shower did me some good." I nod.

"Now it's hair and makeup time."

Shit, I forgot about her parent's party.

Emalyn does my hair while I do my makeup. She wrangles my frizzy locks into perfect curls and twists some parts into an updo.

"You look gorgeous!"

"All thanks to you."

"I have the perfect dress for you."

I'm a little nervous when she produces a scrap of silver silk hanging on a coat hanger.

"Are you sure about that for your parent's party?"

"It's be perfect!" She hands me the coat hanger.

The dress slides over my curves and hugs my body perfectly. The high split feels daring and the backless, a little more exposed than I'm used to. She ties the string behind my neck and fixes my hair. I accessorise the dress with a simple necklace and some dangly earrings.

* * *

Emalyn's boyfriend takes us to the party, which is a long hour in the car when you're the third wheel. What's even worse, is being ditched straight away. She's excited to introduce her boyfriend to the family, so I hang back.

It doesn't take long before I feel his gaze on me. I search the clusters of people gathered in the spacious backyard before I find Maverick with his hands shoved into his pant pockets.

He's wearing a light-coloured two-piece suit and a silver tie which almost matches my dress. Maverick's eyes are blazing with desire as they trail over my body.

I cross my arms and shoot him a glare.

Damn him for looking so good, and damn him for making my heart hurt.

I twirl around and wander off in search of a bar or wherever the alcohol is hiding. A man is standing behind a pop-up table serving drinks, so I join the queue. Mav appears and interjects before I'm able to order.

"Two glasses of champagne," he orders.

"One for your date?" I grit.

"Yes." He takes the glass from the server and holds it out to me.

I turn back to the server.

"Whisky, please."

I take the glass and join a few guys smoking toward the back of the yard. I sip on the whisky before turning on the charm.

"Hi, can I have one?"

One of the guys who has a slight resemblance to Maverick nods. He grabs one from his pocket and passes it to me with a lighter.

"Thanks." I grin.

I light the cigarette and take a puff.

"I'm Willow, Emalyn's college roommate."

"Thomas."

I hand him the lighter and he slips it into his pocket.

An arm circles my waist and without looking, I know it's Maverick. I glance at him anyway and he's glaring at the others.

"I see you've met my cousins."

"Ah, yes." I nod.

Maverick steals the smoke and takes a drag.

"Maverick?" Emalyn calls, her voice somehow louder than the music and chatter.

I remove his arm and take the cigarette from his mouth before Emalyn arrives.

Emalyn eyes the smoke and tilts her head to the side.

"I didn't know you smoked."

I look at the cigarette, then back to her.

Just when I'm around Maverick, but I can't say that.

"Not often."

"We're about to sit for lunch."

"Where are we sitting?"

You're sitting with Maverick."

My mouth drops.

"What?"

"Okay, sorry, bye." Emalyn whisks the boyfriend away, leaving me stunned and staring at a smirking Mav.

"I'm not sitting with you," I growl.

"You can join me," Thomas offers.

"Thank you, I'd much prefer that."

I consider taking another drag, but I hand it to Maverick who's fuming. With a smile, I loop my arm through Thomas's and follow him to the table.

There are a few tables carefully placed in the backyard, dressed in white cloth and silvery blue accent pieces on it. Emalyn and Maverick's tables are situated further to the front of the house, while Thomas and I are on the outskirts. It's a nice view of everyone else, and far enough away, I can breathe.

Thomas is friendly and the life of the party. He keeps my wine glass filled but not enough to distract me from searching for Maverick. He's seated at a table with older couples and looks miserable. When his gaze travels to me, I take a sip of wine and pretend to laugh at something Thomas has said.

By the main course, the world is spinning. I stand up and stumble back, so Thomas jumps up and places his hand on my lower back to help steady me.

"Do you need help?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"Are you sure?"

"Where's the bathroom?"

"Just follow the arrows." He points to a sign attached to a glass sliding door.

I make it to the bathroom without falling over. Once I'm locked inside, I brace myself against the sink and take a deep breath. My stomach churns and the thought of lying down and going to sleep is alluring,

"Shit, I'm drunk." I chuckle.

Least I'm a happy drunk, just hope my legs don't give out.

When I exit the bathroom, Maverick is brooding. His gaze flickers over my body and somehow I feel much smaller standing in front of him.

"Are you okay?"

"Just too much wine and not enough food. I've been sick these last few days."

"Can I make you something to eat?"

"Yes, please."

His arm snakes around my waist and his side brushes against mine. It's nice to have the support but I also feel safe. Maverick takes me to the kitchen and I take a seat on the stool. He works around the caterers and manages to make me a sandwich.

When we return to the party, I'm feeling much better and they're collecting the dessert dishes. People are up and mingling, so we take our time wandering back. I'm relieved I don't have to sit with Thomas anymore.

We're stopped on our way outside.

Mav tugs me closer to his side and his grip tightens onto my waist. I'm suddenly very aware of the high split in the dress and just how low the dress is cut in the back.

"Willow, these are my parents."

"You're the Willow?" his mother gushes. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I look at Mav but he's locked eyes with his parents.

"I'm Willow, Emalyn's roommate."

"It's lovely to finally meet you."

"Thanks for having me." Why'd I have to be so drunk for this?

Mav pulls me away from them and we join Emalyn and various other cousins under the gazebo where they are drinking and chatting.

Thomas pats his leg with a big smirk.

"Come and join us, I have the perfect place for you to sit." the group jeers.

"What is wrong with this family? Only ever thinking with their dicks." Emalyn scoffs. "Leave my poor friend alone."

"Do you want a smoke?" Mav asks, bumping his shoulder into mine.

"Sure."

I follow Mav to another section of the garden which has a sunken firepit. We take a seat on the stone stairs and he lights up a cigarette.

I should quit smoking before this habit gets out of hand, but some addictions, no matter how consuming are hard to kick.