Via cuts his words off by pushing past him, quickly walking out, and turning the corner.
She’s going after him.
My heart swells as my tear-filled eyes find Maverick’s, an apology painted clearly across his features.
Maverick steps closer to me, but doesn’t touch me as the door closes behind him. “Iz, I swear I didn’t know he was the guy she’s still hung up on.” I can feel the sincerity in his voice.
I take a deep breath before speaking. “It’s okay. There was no way for you to know, Mav,” I respond, my head and heart both still reeling in unison.
He grabs my hand, pulling me into a hug. I comply.
He speaks, but my mind doesn’t register a single word he’s saying. All I can focus on is the fact that Ander is potentially back now. And while that brings me so much joy for Via, and it’s what I’ve always wanted for her, that also means if Ander is back…
Jett.
There’s no way our paths won’t cross. And my heart isn’t prepared for that reunion.Maybe my heart will never be ready for that.Not now, especially. What I have with Maverick is real—entirely different, but real all the same. If Jett’s about to crash back into my life, Maverick deserves to know about our history. I don’t think heneedsto know everything. But, since I’m somewhat opening up to him now, I don’t want to go backwards.
I pull out of his hold, face him head-on, and meet his eyes. “Mav,” my voice is firm, confident even. “If Ander is gonna possibly be around again, you should know I used to sleep around with his brother, Jett.” Just saying his name aloudcauses my heart to skip a beat. It feels foreign on my tongue after all these years of never saying it.
The corner of his mouth lifts up into a curious grin. “Oh yeah, and who are you sleeping with now?” he asks playfully, stepping into me again and wrapping his arms around my waist, as if completely unbothered by my admission.
This earns him a very dramatic eye roll from me. “I am not answering that and feeding into your ego.”
Maverick chuckles. “Come on, Iz. My egodoesneed feeding.” He bats his eyes, as if pleading for me to play this game with him.
“Can you ever take anything seriously?” I ask, swatting at his arm with a sigh.
“You want serious?” he clears his throat exaggeratedly, puffing up his chest for added effect.“Ahem.Is this other man going to be a problem? If it comes to you seeing him again, will it be an issue?”
I should laugh, chuckle at his playfulness. After all, it’s what he’s after.
I can’t.
His question sparks thoughts in my mind that I’m not ready to face.Seeing Jett again…Will it be an issue? Can I handle that?
I’m not sure if I can.
But I don’t say that. I just throw him another eye roll, grab his hand, and lead him out of the restroom and back to our table.
Chapter thirty-two
Izzy
November 2023
It's been a little over a month since the blind date, and Ander came back around like a breath of fresh air. I see life being brought back to Via more and more as the days pass. I'm so proud of her for giving in to what she wants.
I wish I could do the same.
"Hey, Babe, you almost ready?" Maverick asks as he approaches from behind, wrapping me into a hug.
"I really don't want to go," I say quietly, hating that the pit of my stomach is on fire at the thought of going back to Cole Ranch.
It's been years. After everything, the thought of seeing Jettson James Cole again makes me nauseous. I'd be a damn liar if I said I haven't missed him. I have. Now, after pushing him away out of fear so long ago, I'm in a relationship with someone else.
How do I even face him?
He was the first person to show me I was capable of love. It scared the fuck out of me, and I hated that shit. He had the capability of crushing me. I knew it then. I still know it now. So,I hurt him before he could’ve had the chance to hurt me. My feelings for him were unsurpassed and still are to this day.
