Chapter Sixteen

Emalyn greets me with a hug as we enter the bustling bar. She sweeps her blonde hair behind her ear and tugs on a smile despite her tense muscles.

"Hello, how are you?" She waves.

"Sorry, we're late! Dad got lost on the way here," I apologise. "And wow, it's really busy today! You should have called me."

"Don't worry, we have everything under control." She shrugs. "It's great to finally meet everyone, though."

"These are my parents, Poppy and Steve."

"It's lovely to meet you." She smiles.

"Emalyn is my roommate," I comment.

"Willow-Rose talks about you a lot. She's lucky to have a great friend in college," Mum says, which makes Emalyn blush.

"Thanks." She smiles and this time it reaches her eyes. "Let me show you to your table! I'll have Mav come by and get your drink order."

Emalyn spins on her heels and I follow her through the bustling crowd and towards the back of the bar, which is slightly secluded from the chaos ensuing.

My parents sit on the opposite side of theirs.

"Poppy and Steve, meet Lyra and Beau," Emalyn does the introductions.

"It's lovely to meet you! Willow is an absolute delight and such a positive influence on Emalyn," Lyra comments.

"Seems like they're a positive influence on each other," Mum comments. "We're glad Willow-Rose has made a great friend in college."

"And keeping out of trouble," Dad chuckles.

"We have your daughter to thank for that." Beau sighs.

"I'm right here." Emalyn pouts.

Maverick arrives with drinks for his parents and spies us sitting on the end of the table. His smile widens at my discomfort of the situation currently unfolding.

I feel my parents gaze on me before I look at them. Oh gosh, I've been looking at Maverick for too long.

"Hello everyone." Mav smiles.

"Maverick is my boss, he owns the bar and he's Emalyn's older brother," I explain.

"Oh, that's right!" Mum nods.

"Willow is one of my best employees," he compliments.

Emalyn coughs and folds her arms.

"Excuse me?" Emalyn raises a slender eyebrow.

Her parents burst with laughter, which only fuels the fire for Emalyn.

"You'd have to work, Em," Beau comments.

They all laugh which only deepens the frown on Emalyn's face.

"Can I get you some drinks?" Mav asks.

My parents look at each other.

"I can make mocktails, cocktails, I have house white and red wine, and beer on tap," he offers. "What do you fancy?"

"One red wine and a beer, whatever you think it best," Dad says.

"Sure." He nods.

When Maverick leaves, I relax into my chair.

"It's lovely to finally meet you both. Willow is a delight and a positive influence on Emalyn," Lyra says.

"That's our Willow-Rose." Mum smiles. "We've missed her so much. She spent a year traveling and now at college. It's nice to meet her friends and see where she works."

"Where did you travel Willow?"

"Just throughout Italy."

"Where did you go? Maverick went to Italy as well, maybe you've been to the same places?" Lyra smiles.

"Um, all over the place." It's a bit of a blur now.

Maverick returns with a tray of drinks and hands them out. He places a cocktail glass in front of me and I frown.

"It's just a strawberry mocktail," he comments.

"Mav, where did you go in Italy?" Lyra asks.

Mav glances at me, then looks back at his parents.

"I spent two weeks traveling along the Amalfi coast. The beaches there are beautiful, rich in culture," Mav says.

"Willow-Rose went there as well!" Mum adds. "What a small, but big world we live in."

"Yes, it certainly is! It's very busy in Italy, not like around here," I say.

"I finally understand why people think this town is sleepy," Maverick comments.

Maverick and Emalyn are drawn back to the bar to continue serving the masses. I take a sip of the mocktail and briefly tune into my parents chatting away about their jobs and hobbies. It's nice they're getting along.

My gaze wanders to the bar where Joey and Emalyn are mucking around and Maverick is focused on serving drinks. Glasses is piling up on the tables and along the bar.

Once I finish my drink, I grab a serving tray from the bar and gather a load of dishes, and head to the kitchen. It's much quieter in here and it gives me a moment to breathe.

The door opens and Maverick is right behind me.

"Willow-Rose?"

"You heard that?" I sigh.

"I didn't realise your full name was Willow-Rose."

"Only my mother calls me that, or my Dad when he's in trouble for not calling me that." I chuckle.

I load the glasses into the tray and slide them into the dishwasher. Mav tugs on my hand to spin me around.

"Thanks for your help."

"I am your best employee after all." I smile.

Before I can be swept up in his gaze, I step aside and head back out before my absence can be noticed.

When I re-join the table, they're still chatting away.

"We should go, we have to check into our hotel," Mum says.

"Hotel? Nonsense, you should come and stay with us. We have a spare guest house and we only live just outside of town. Willow-Rose and Emalyn can join us as well. It'll be lovely," Lyra offers.

"Are you sure?" Mum asks.

"Of course, we insist!" Beau comments.

"Let's all go to the parent weekend together. I'll just grab Emalyn and see if she's ready to go." Lyra jumps up in search of Emalyn.

Emalyn grabs her things and we head off for parent weekend activities.

* * * * *

The Knoxx's guest house looks the same, except it's missing Maverick's black overnight bag. My father places their luggage down while Mum walks around, eyes wide.

"Wow, this place is lovely. Thank you for the hospitality, it's very generous," Mum says.

"Thanks! It took Beau some convincing to do this place up," Lyra says. "Settle in, freshen up, and join us in the main house for drinks and antipasto. We can organise dinner after that."

"Chinese?" Beau offers.

"Mm, Chinese does sound good." Lyra nods.

Beau and Lyra leave and I follow in their stead. I follow the trail of light which leads me to a loungeroom which conveniently Maverick is in. His overnight bag is discarded beside the couch and he's behind the bar, mixing drinks.

Emalyn twirls around on the stool and waves.

"Chuck your things beside Mav's bag. We can bunk together. I have a very uncomfortable trundle bed, but you're welcome to sleep on the bed with me."

"Sure, I don't mind." I shrug.

I discard the bag and join Emalyn at the bar. Mav pours the drink into a cocktail glass and smacks Emalyn's hand away.

"I made this for Mum." She shoots her a playful glare.

"Can you make us something fancy then? Or what about a European cocktail? What's that orange one you always make?"

"Aperol Spritz?" Mav offers.

"Mm, yes, that one." She nods. "It's probably the best skill Mav picked up while on holiday. Guess why he learned to make them though." She rolls her eyes.

I glance at Mav, then at Emalyn.

"By your expression, a female has something to do with it?" I raise an eyebrow.

Emalyn looks at Mav and he shoots her a playful glare.

"I met a woman in Italy, she loved drinking Aperol Spritz. I started making them in the hopes that maybe I would meet her again and because I wanted to be reminded of her," he explains.

His comment makes my heart swirl with happiness, but I catch Emalyn looking at me. So I quickly roll my eyes and sigh.

"Let me guess, a one-night stand?"

"One night? I recall spending a few nights with her. Probably the best sex she's ever had."

"Yeah right." I scoff.

"We'll have two Aperol Spritz. Don't skimp out on the alcohol, though." She gives him a warning look which makes Mav and I laugh.

The back door slides open and my parents join us.

"Can I offer you both a drink?" Mav offers.

Mum joins us with a smile.

"What are you two having?" Mum eyes the cocktail glasses.

"Aperol Spritz," I say.

"Make that three then." She grins.

"And for you?"

"I suppose one of those fancy cocktails will do."

Mav places more glasses on the bar and gets to work making the drinks.

"How long have you been bartending?" Dad asks.

"For a while," he chuckles. "I'm not the sporty kind, so I had to make friends with the popular group somehow. A skill which has also helped me get through college."

He shakes the cocktail shaker, flexing his muscles and damn he looks good. He pours the drinks into the glasses and hands them to us. Mum takes a sip and smiles.

"Delicious, thank you."

Mav's parents arrive and welcome us into the dining room for dinner. I linger behind pretending to do something until they're all gone.

"You look so good making cocktails," I comment.

I flutter my eyelashes but he shakes his head.

"Don't look at me like that, I'm just the older brother and boss this weekend."

"I'm sorry." I frown.

I go to leave, but Maverick steps in front and kisses me. It's short and chased, so I lean up and peck his lips again.

"Careful, Willow-Rose," he chuckles.

"Maverick." I sigh.

"Can I see you tonight?"

"How? Emalyn wants to watch movies and we're at your parent's house."

"We could tell her? Everyone is here after all. Perhaps having our parents here would be some damage control."

"Tell me what?"

I freeze and look at him. Mav smirks while I panic. I slowly turn around and tighten my smile.

"Um."

Maverick snickers while my cheeks glow bright red.

"We're planning a surprise for your birthday."

"My birthday isn't for another three months, though." Emalyn frowns.

"I wanted to make a jump start on the preparations because I wasn't sure if you'd like a surprise party or a weekend getaway. Maverick has been helping me plan but we're not agreeing on anything."

"Oh." She smiles. "I think I would love a weekend getaway, somewhere in the hills where it's secluded."

"It's settled, we'll do that then." I cheer.

"Our parents are wondering what's taking so long," Emalyn comments.

"I was showing Willow how to make a cocktail," Mav comments.

"Can you show me as well?"

Emalyn takes a seat at the bar and Mav begins his impromptu class on cocktail making. My hands are a little shaky, so he helps me measure and pour the ingredients.

His proximity is intoxifying and it's hard not to get lost in his eyes.

Good luck to me convincing everyone this weekend we're just friends.