“That waits on you and stuff?”Was that what a butler did?I only knew of one butler, so my understanding of the profession was limited.
“Well,” Harley began slowly, “it’s a little more complicated than that, but yes, he does help take care of the estate and our family.”
“Is his name Alfred?” I couldn’t help it.
“No, it’s Clifford,” he replied quickly. After a moment, he added, “I don’t have a bat cave either.”
I laughed, and my shoulder bumped into his. He let out a sound—a barely audible chuckle—but his gaze never left Clifford, and I didn’t miss how his butler intently stared at us.
“I have to go,” Harley told me. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Maverick.”
“Night, princess,” I whispered just loud enough for Harley to hear. I watched him walk up the front steps and right past Clifford like a puppy with its tail between its legs.Poor guy.I almost felt bad for the day we’d had, considering the amount of trouble he’d probably get in.
CHAPTER 08
harley
You’re a mess, Mr. Lowell,” Clifford commented as he quietly shut the door behind us.
”Yeah.” I smiled sheepishly, trying hard to avoid a guilty spiral. “I went to the beach today.”
“I can see that,” he said. “Might I suggest a shower before dinner? Your mother has twenty-nine minutes before her meeting is over.”
In other words, I had just enough time to clean up and hide the scrapes on my arms. Clifford had been around my whole childhood. He knew exactly how my mother would react if she saw me like this, so I appreciated his discretion. He didn’t have to stick his neck out like that. She’d have his job if she knew.
“Thank you.” I started for the stairs, only making it one step before turning back to face him. “Clifford?”
“Yes, Mr. Lowell?”
“I made a friend,” I said. It was stupid—I knew that—but I wanted to tell someone. There was no way in hell I could tell my mother about Maverick. She’d have an aneurysm over just the idea of it. But I liked him, and I wanted someone to know.
“That’s very good, Sir,” Clifford replied with a slight smile.
“Yeah.” I nodded slowly. “Okay, I’m going to shower now.”
I was halfway up the stairs when his voice made me stop all over again.
“Mr. Lowell?”
“Yeah?”
“I won’t tell your mother,” he told me, “about your new friend.”
My only friend.How pathetic was that? I’d had trouble making friends my entire life. Connecting with people was hard for me in general, but I’d struggled to fit in. People only saw my money and status. Except Maverick. He didn’t care how much money my family had. Being around him was easy, and I didn’t have the words to describe the way he made me feel.
“Thank you, Clifford,” I whispered.
“You’re very welcome, Mr. Lowell.” With a little nod, he ended the conversation, and I hurried up the stairs to shower before my mother caught me.
My phone dinged with the text from Maverick as I stood naked in the bathroom, waiting for the shower to warm up and for the bathroom to steam. Seeing his name pulled an instant smile from me.
MAV: How much trouble are you in with the butler?
Clifford’s cool. He’s helping me hide the evidence.
That made it sound practically criminal. Granted, with my mother, it might as well have been.
MAV: Good.
