I wait until he’s shut the bathroom door to let out a long exhale. I hug the pillow to my chest, willing myself to breathe normally.
If a simple peck from Maverick makes my body go this haywire, I can’t even comprehend what an actual kiss would feel like.
* * *
Our room came with a complimentary breakfast, so after Maverick has showered and changed, we head down to the buffet.
“They have a waffle maker!” I grab Maverick’s hand without thinking and drag him over to the waffle stand off to the side of the buffet.
“Sorry, it’s broken,” the server says.
I turn away, trying to hide my disappointment.
“Do you know if there’s another waffle maker in the kitchen so we can order them directly off the menu instead?” Maverick asks the server.
I tap his arm. “I’m good. It’s not a big deal.”
He looks at me. “We can go somewhere else for breakfast. There are endless options in Vegas.”
“I’m fine. Let’s eat here. We have the coupons and everything.”
He cups my cheek in his hand. “You sure? You’re the birthday girl.”
I swallow at his term of endearment. “I know I said this before, but you’re really super sweet,” I tell him. “And I would like to stay here and eat.”
“Okay.” He says he’s going to use the restroom and he’ll be right back.
I check my phone messages while he’s gone. Kia called to wish me a happy birthday. I send her back a quick text and tell her I’ll let her know once we’re close to Chicago.
She texts me back immediately.
How’s the guy?
I didn’t want to talk about Maverick to Kia until I had to. She’s sure to be overly-enthusiastic about what could be, and that’s the kind of pressure I don’t need right now. But I can’t help from saying—
He’s good. He’s handsome and nice, and I’m glad I met him.
Lots of dots appear and then disappear before her reply comes through.
Are you fucking him? And how hot is he?
No. And on a scale of 1-100, he’s 1000.
The dots go crazy across my screen and then disappear. Then they come back. Then they disappear.
By the time she’s coherent enough to type a response, Maverick’s back.
“You ready to get food?” he asks.
“Yes.”
I look down at my screen as I follow him to the buffet.
A thousand??? Girl, who is this guy? And why are you not fucking him?
Because I’m two days out of a relationship, I type back.I have to go.
Two days out of prison!She writes immediately.Go. For. It.
