I can’t catch a flipping break.
I pursed my lips and shut my eyes, desperately trying to regulate my breathing as Port and Tito ran between Maverick and Bev, trying to determine who would give them the most attention.
Doesn’t this guy have a house of his own?
“You were right, Mom.”
“Of course. That goes without saying,” Bev said, still resting her hand on my shoulder.
I met her eyes, and she searched my face, hopefully deciding that my current emotional breakdown could be swept under the rug and never mentioned again.
If only I could be that lucky.
Still, after tilting her head, she nodded, and I returned the gesture, pressing one hand to my chest to regulate my breaths.
“Anyway,” Maverick said as my thoughts immediately went to when he barged into my bathroom. “The bottom two porch steps need to be replaced. Probably would be a good idea to do the handrails while I’m at it.”
“While you’re at it? There’s a reason I pay an astronomical amount in HOA fees each month. They’ll handle it.”
“Only if you want them to do a half-assed job and then have Mark and me replace them in six months. Plus, if we can’t find the same shade of wood, everything will need a fresh coat of paint.”
She groaned and rubbed her eyes, then sat at the dining room table and pulled her drink closer. I kept my eyes on the puppies, scooping Tito into my arms and wishing I could disappear with no one noticing.
“So, Summer, as I’m sure you’ve figured out, my boys are over all the time because of some misplaced guilt they feel about my wellbeing.”
I chuckled as Maverick rubbed the back of his neck, shifting from foot to foot.
“Stop it, Mom. You know that’s not true.”
Tito wriggled until I set him down, then ran into the kitchen, closely followed by Port. I took a step back as Bev stood and moved closer to Maverick, poking one manicured finger into his chest.
“Nope. I don’t think I will. The HOA can fix the steps. Just because I mentioned one felt loose yesterday didn’t mean I expected you to show up first thing on a Saturday morning to fix it. The girls will be here soon, and I’m sure you don’t want to be the subject of their scrutiny.”
“You can’t scare me away that easily. I refuse to allow what happened to the old house to happen to this one. Plus, Mark has a sick baby so I’m here to puppy sit.”
“Allow? You better sit your ass down and have a biscuit before you say something you’ll regret. Not to mention you haven’t even said hi to Summer.”
I did my best to suppress a smile, but my shoulders shook as Bev ripped into him. I understood both sides—Bev wanting to keep her independence, and Maverick wanting to ensure she never went without.
“Right. Hi, Summer. Why are you here?”
“Gah,” Bev cried, throwing her hands in the air and stomping into the kitchen. Plates clattered and the fridge opened as Maverick winced and we listened to her mutter about manners and ungrateful children.
Great job, douche,I thought, rolling my eyes.
Awkward silence filled the dining room, broken by the occasional curse word from Bev and Maverick’s sighs. As the silence dragged on, I took a moment to watch him. His shoulders bunched with tension and the crease deepened between his brows. For a fleeting moment, I imagined running my fingers through his dark hair and massaging his temples.
“Are you wearing slippers?”
My head jerked to his, and I nodded, feeling my cheeks heat. “Yeah. I was a little scatterbrained this morning.”
“Another cold shower could help. Sharpens the mind, you know? Awakens the senses.” His lips twitched like he wassuppressing a smirk, and I returned the gesture before bumping his shoulder with mine.
“The only sense that needs awakening is my sense of urgency to escape this mortifying situation.”
Port and Tito whined for attention, and I slid ungracefully back to the floor as they mauled me with rough tongues and puppy slobber.
“Why’s that?” he asked, pushing the dining room chair back underneath the table and sitting down beside me. His knee—or maybe back—cracked with the movement, and he groaned, rubbing his kneecap.
