She swirls her coffee in the mug. “Curvy. Is that bad or good?”
“None of my business.”
She snorts, looks away. “That answer shouldn’t surprise me.”
I shift my weight.
“But would it surprise you if I admitted something?”
I don’t answer.
“If I admitted I want it to be your business?”
I take a swig of my coffee, trying to ignore the question.
“Still nothing to say?”
Mia lets out a defeated sigh. “You’re no fun at all.” Then, she stares into her coffee like it’ll grow legs and run away.
“Never said I was.”
“Never said much of anything.” Mia’s eyes narrow.
My cell phone vibrates in my pants pocket. I pull it out, see it’s from Grayson. “Better take this outside.”
Mia nods, eyes dropping back to her mug.
Chapter
Six
MIA
The second cup of coffee swirls with angry clouds of cream when the front door swings wide and Maverick enters again.
Wordless, expressionless, but with a slight limp I hadn’t noticed before. Could be from sleeping on the floor. Could be something else entirely.
“How’d your call go?”
His face darkens. “Tell me about your manager. His crew.”
I run my hands over my face, thoughts twisting and turning. Where to start? What to say?
“Why are you asking?”
His eyes narrow, face grim as he takes the stool next to me, turning so our knees are just an inch apart. “He says he has guardianship over you.” His jaw tightens. “That true?”
The air escapes my lungs. My eyes cast down to the ground, and I reflexively feel the phone in my pocket. Heavier than it should be. Like it carries the weight of the world. I take a deep breath, steel myself. But I can’t make the words come out. Instead, I nod.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
I shrug, swallowing hard. My hands twist and turn in my lap now, like the thoughts in my head.
“I—I didn’t think he’d stoop so low, didn’t think he’d go there…”
I wait for the scolding tones, the judgmental glare. Instead, I find an open face and quiet strength, inviting me to speak.
My hands shake, and I can’t find the words. My breath hitches as I try once, then again. “A couple of years back, I was so depressed. So done with all of it. The road, the concerts, the unending control. I wanted out. I wanted to take my money and run. But it was never that simple.”
