I’ve beenthat guytelling dudes they’re not good enough for my sister for years, and I almost fucked up the best thing that ever happened to TJ because I was reinforcing some self-doubt that Max already had when I went after him in the off-season. I don’t get to judge someone else for doing it to me.
Especially when she was right.
I swallow hard and look at the wall behind Waverly’s head, featuring a photo of me diving for a line drive between first and second base. Making me out to look like a hero when really, I’m as much a fuck-up at heart as anyone else.
“It was a long time ago,” I mutter to Waverly.
“How long?”
“A long—it doesn’t matter.”
“What did she say to you?”
“It doesn’t—”
“Let me decide if it matters.”
I finally grow a pair and look her straight in the eye, because that’s what you do when you’re not afraid of everything that’s currently terrifying me. “She wasn’t wrong. That’s what matters. Iwasn’tgood for you. You were going places, and you had—havea reputation that shouldn’t be tarnished by a guy like me.”
I need to shut up. I need to shut up, but also, I need to get it all out. “I wouldn’t have cheated on you, but I would’ve been gone every year from February to October, you would’ve been on tour all the time, we never would’ve had time for each other, we both would’ve been explaining that all those pictures in the tabloids weren’t what they looked like every time we found five minutes to talk, and the most important part—the thing she knew and I knew and that I always assumed you knew too—was that I would’ve held you back.”
She makes ayou’re being ridiculousnoise, but I press on.
If I’m spilling my guts, I’m spilling all of them. “You didn’t—don’t—you’re basically the best thing to ever happen to music and you’re an awesome role model to more people than you probably even realize, and I’m—look, the point is, I didn’t sleep with her. I wouldn’t sleep with her.”
Her eyes are as round as I’ve ever seen them.
But I’m in it. I’m in it, and I’m not bailing now. “I like you. I’m not that stupid, secretly insecure kid who’ll let someone’s opinion stop me from going after what I want anymore, but I am the dumbass who’s finally realizing I never had the balls or the courtesy to go askyouif you wanted to break up with me or not instead of leaping to the same conclusion as the other people in your life who care about you. I didn’t have the guts to tell you to your face that I had to leave so you could shine. I owed you that. And I’m sorry I didn’t do it.”
She finds her voice, and it’s soft and condemning. “You left because Aunt Zinnia told you that you weren’t good enough for me.”
I rub the back of my neck. “I was young and dumb and out of my league, and I’m sorry. I’m still bad for your reputation, but fuck it. I’d like to take you out. Or in. In works. I can cook. I’m fucking awesome in the kitchen. Here. My number. Call me if you’re interested. And I’m sorry about the tea. And kissing my sister. Which wasn’t a real kiss. I swear. That was—never mind. I’d offer to buy you a new outfit, but clearly, you don’t need me to—here.”
I pull a Sharpie out of my back pocket, steal one of the napkins still stuck to her jersey—Braverlies, it says. She’s wearing a jersey for Waverly’s Braverlies, her fan club.
That’s fucking adorable and awesome and I want one.
“Aunt Zinnia broke us up,” she repeats, again, like it’s never occurred to her that anyone in her inner circle would’ve protected her from guys like me.
“Long time ago,” I mutter again. “It’s in the past.”
She blinks at me, and I want to wrap her in my arms, kiss her senseless, and drown in every bit of her in a way I’veneverwanted to drown inanywoman.
What thefuckis wrong with me?
Concentrate, dummy.
Right.
I’m scribbling my digits while she stares at me, suddenly feeling like I’m still that stupid, immature kid who didn’t understand the world he was living in. I’m a small-town family guy at heart. Always have been, always will be. And Waverly was my first brush with celebrity.
She was starting her career then. A few wins under her belt, but overall, a relative unknown. I knew it wouldn’t stay that way long. Anyone could look at her and see not just star power, but staying power.
She had her singer-actress mother’s genes, but she also had this magical mix of girl-next-door vibe and sheer determination to prove she was worthy on her own without the lingering influence of her mom’s name in the industry.
The entire world recognized that she was the whole package the minute they finally looked at her. She has this way ofbeingthat’s impossible to miss.
And the thing that makes Waverly most awesome?
