“If you say so, Rivers. He might be family, but I won’t hesitate to kill him if he hurts you.” He takes a sip and shudders. “How much tequila did you put in here?”
“I really don’t know. I just eyeballed it. Don’t kill Nick, and please ever don’t look at me like I’m your biggest disappointment again.” My heart shattered into pieces when Ethan walked away mad.
He’s been my person from day one, and I can’t stand thinking I let him down after he’s advocated so hard for me.
“You could never be a disappointment to me. It was Nick I was pissed at. I guess it was bound to happen eventually. You two were getting to be unbearable to live with.” He downs his drink and I pour him another.
“Unbearable?” I hate to know we’ve been putting a strain on Ethan, but I can see it. I run to him with every little inconvenience and he’s already under a ton of stress from all the work he’s doing.
“Not so much you, but him. It’s been obvious from day one that he cares about you, it’s just been manifesting into more for him. In ways nobody could’ve seen coming. I just never expected him to act on it.”
“I am quite a catch ya know.” I down my drink and pour another.
“Probably the only good thing to ever come out of Whiskey Rivers. I’m glad your explosive personality led you to us.”
“Explosive personality?” I laugh. That’s one way of putting it. I pick up a pretzel stick and throw it at him. He throws a handful of cheese crackers back at me. I’ve missed this playful side of Ethan.
Nick walks out the door to join us on the deck, and Ethan and I simultaneously bust out laughing. Squeak is hanging from the curtains like a window decoration.
“I see Master Shredder’s decided to redecorate my condo some more. As if the plants she disemboweled from their pots this morning weren’t enough,” Nick says.
“I was thinking of getting a puppy, maybe they could be friends,” Ethan says, downing his second margarita and pouring another.
“I think the fuck not,” Nick snaps. Ethan and I bust out laughing again as Nick joins us at the table. “I’m glad you two think you’re funny.”
“We are,” we say simultaneously, then laugh harder.
Ethan got drunk and went to bed an hour ago. Nick and I have been snuggled up under a blanket on a lounge chair by the shore. The full moon splayed out over the water with the millions of stars shining in the clear night sky is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
The sexiest man on the planet sits behind me, cradling me in his arms. If this is a dream, I don’t want to wake up. We’ve been talking about me going to apply for the job tomorrow. I’m really nervous, but between Nick and Lucas, I’m trained well enough to handle myself for this and for any issues we might encounter.
Hopefully, it won’t take me long to get information on Madam LaBell and I’ll be done with the job. I’m afraid to ask Nick what’s going to become of us, or whatever this is when it’s finished. Maybe it’s wrong of me, but I want to keep riding this high for as long as possible.
I have to be real with myself though, there are only happy endings for girls like me in fairytales, and this is real life. He’ll probably grow tired of me eventually, and I can’t say that I blame him—I have nothing to offer.
“What are you thinking?” Nick asks.
“About what to wear tomorrow that’s attractive enough that they’ll want to hire me but hides the markings of a psychopath.”
“They don’t have high standards in that place. Trust me, they won’t care.”
“Is that why you picked me for the job?” I whisper.
“What the fuck did you just ask me?” Nick tenses, then pushes me to a sitting position, but not off his lap. “Look at me, Maya.”
A tear rolls down my face. I’ve truly pissed him off and I can’t bear to face him. “There’s no need in pretending we’re in the same league. I come from the slums, so it’s easier for me to fit in, in places like that.”
“You aren’t where you came from. Mine is who you are, and who you’ll continue to be. Don’t kid yourself, babe, I might be filthy rich, but I am a criminal. So don’t go looking at me like I’m some kind of knight in shining armor.”
“I have nothing to offer you. I couldn’t even support myself if you kicked me to the curb.” I pick at a hangnail on my finger, making it bleed.
“Your therapist has been doting on your progress. Remind me to call tomorrow and fire her,” he snaps.
It’s not her fault. “I have been talking with her about my problems in the past, not my current ones.” I don’t talk to her about Nick. I’m scared to even admit to myself how I feel about him.
“I don’t want to be your problem, cupcake.” He pulls my face close to his, wiping each tear away and replacing them with a kiss. “I want to be your solution.”
I could die right now as the happiest person in the world.
