My jaw drops along with my stomach. “Because of the concussion? Mav, that sounds serious.”
I go straight to his side, and without even thinking, I put my hand in his.
This is when I realize how far I’ve fallen. The very hint of him being injured has me on high alert.
His fingers close around mine, and he gives me that reassuring grin I rely on so much. “I’m fine. He said at my age, I’ve probably been needing them for a while, but the change was so subtle, I didn’t even notice.”
“I’ve heard this.” Gina nods, going to the door. “Vision loss just sneaks up on you, then all of a sudden, Boom. You’re forty, and you’re blind.”
“Another fun thing to add to the list,” I tease.
“I aim to please.” She steps through the door, giving us a wave. “I’m heading home to my guy. Bye, lovebirds.”
The door closes, and we’re left facing each other, hand in hand. It’s a situation that’s actually become pretty rare since we got back from Louisiana.
Maverick hasn’t been cleared to return to full-time game play, but it’s getting closer with every passing week. In the meantime, he doesn’t miss a practice, and he’s back to training like he’s playing. He travels to every game, which means he’s rarely home.
I’m not complaining. I’m doing my best to focus on my studies. Even if it feels hopeless, I am going to finish the semester, and the less time we have like this, the better.
It only makes it harder to stay away.
“Movie night?” He releases my hand, adjusting those glasses. Funny how such a small change can be so…interesting. “I was thinking comfort foods—mashed potatoes, peach ice cream.”
“What makes you think I need comfort?”
“Just a vibe I got when you were coming down the stairs.” He lifts his finger, gently touching between my brows. “You get a little line right there…”
Reaching up, I wrap my hand around that finger, lowering it. “You notice everything.”
He turns his finger so his large hand envelops mine. “Only the things that matter.” Lifting my hand, he kisses the back of it, and my silly insides warm. “Also, I’ve got these new glasses.”
He releases me, going to the kitchen, and I exhale a laugh, shaking my head. “Does Kelani need to go for a walk?”
She hops around his feet, following him into the kitchen.
“Gina and I took her before you got home.”
He turns on the streaming music then takes the ingredients for our dinner out of the refrigerator. Standing back, it feels so much like home here, with him.
Maverick moves around the room the same way my parents always did, taking out ingredients and expertly putting them all together before transferring them to the stove.
Music plays, and he sings along softly, occasionally pointing at me to fill in a line. Potatoes boiled, he quicklycubes then mashes them, mixing in butter, garlic, and a dash of cayenne pepper.
A cast-iron skillet holds two steaks he gives a quick sear on the stovetop before sliding them into the oven to finish cooking.
“Five minutes,” he says, tapping on his phone screen and holding out a hand to me. “Enough time for one dance.”
A real smile lifts my lips, and I put my hand in his as the same country song from when we were at Boo’s wedding starts to play. It’s about missing all the things about a loved one… cold feet, the sound of his voice, sharing a meal.
Our bodies are flush, Mav’s arm around me, and his head is lowered, lips at my ear as he sings along softly. It ends, and he steps back, lifting my hand to his lips for a kiss.
“I really like dancing with you,” he says.
“Me, too,” I whisper, reluctantly letting him go.
In this small kitchen, dancing in the twilight, I can pretend we’re back home surrounded by twinkle lights and family, love and safety. It’s what I always have in Maverick’s arms.If he’s not the one…
He leans back against the counter facing me, holding both of my hands in his like he’s only waiting for me to say the word.
