“Yeah, I’m not doing that,” he retorted.
“It’s awful,” I muttered.
“Yeah, it is. Now, if I let go of you, are you going to fall over?”
“Can’t promise that.”
“At least you’re honest,” he said and let go. His hands hovered over my shoulders as his gaze watched me intently. I got lost in the gray-blue color, the world swimming in their storm. “Harley, are you about to throw up?”
“Nope.”I hoped not.
“Good.” He gave me a wide berth as he ushered me through the crowd and out of the bar. Instead of taking me around back to the parking lot, he steered me toward a car sitting out front.
“I don’t need a cab,” I retorted, even as Maverick opened the door.
“You’re drunk, you tipped me just as much as your bill was—thank you by the way—and you’re in no condition to drive,” he said. “Get in the goddamn cab, Harley, and don’t risk another funeral this week.”
That last comment stung, but he was right. Sighing, I didn’t bother fighting him. Hell, I was still positive the ceiling was crooked.
He opened the cab door, and I dropped into the seat. My head tipped back against the seat as I shut my eyes. Everything spun ever so slightly.
“Hey.” A hand touched my knee, shaking me a bit. I opened my eyes to find Maverick crouching next to the open door, watching me closely. He was so close that I could touch him.I didn’t, but I could.Softly, he asked, “Can you pay the driver when you get there? Or do you need me to handle it now?”
“No.” I waved him off. “I can do it. Or Clifford can do it.”
“Do you need me to call Clifford?”
“Do you knowhowto call Clifford?”
“I’d need your help with that.”
“I’m fine,” I told him. That sounded like too much trouble. I grabbed the door to shut it, but he didn’t budge.
“You be safe, got it?” he said. For a fraction of a moment, it sounded like he cared—genuinely cared—but I shoved that thought aside.Maverick didn’t care about me.Not really. Not like he used to. That was just the pathetic part of me, desperate to feel something like I used to.
“I’m fine,” I repeated.
“Okay. Good night, Harley,” Maverick replied. This time, he relented when I reached for the door and stepped back to give me the space I needed to shut it. The car lurched forward as the driver pulled away from the bar—not well, might I add. He was a crappy driver because he drove too fast.
Or maybe I was just that drunk.
Who knew?
I closed my eyes and let the driver take me home, back to a world where my father was dead, and I had nothing to do with the boy I should’ve run away with.
CHAPTER 20
maverick
The image of Harley drunk was seared into my memory. Sure, I wasn’t exactly sober, but at least I had my shit in order. Harley had been drunk, the kind that left me feeling uncomfortable with putting him in a cab and hoping for the best.
Except Harley wasn’t my problem, and I needed to remember that. The boundaries between us were clear as day. He had his world, and I had mine. That was that.
Unfortunately, that didn’t stop me from wanting. Wanting to follow him. Wanting to make sure he was okay. Wanting to make him forget all the crappy things weighing him down.
I jammed a cigarette between my lips and lit it, desperate to get the thoughts of Harley out of my head.I had to.There was no room in there for him. Not when I had to go back to deal with Aidan.
I focused on that the whole way back to the trailer park. I’d written down all the woman’s information when no one was looking and had it shoved in my back pocket. Even still, I ran through the conversation to make sure I remembered everything the woman at the bar had said to me. I needed to make sure Aidan had everything he needed to do whatever the fuck he and his boys wanted. My part ended when I handed over the information, and then I could go home to not think about Harley some more.
