Her elbow gooses my side, and I cough a laugh.
Mom says goodnight, telling me she put Kelani’s crate in the living room. Uncle Sawyer and Mindy and Leon all retired a little while ago.
The kitchen is dim and quiet, and I turn to face Maverick, who is leaning against the doorjamb with his arms crossed and a hint of a smile on his lips.
Any drowsiness I felt evaporates, and my heart beats faster as I walk over to him. “What now?”
“Come on.” He takes my hand in his, leading me out the back door.
We walk down the hill to the guest cottage, and I do my best to stay as casual as he seems to be with all of this. I don’t know how he’s doing it, but I guess it’s not his family we’re fooling.
The cottage is all made up with fresh linens and a thick duvet comforter. Bottles of water are on the counter, and sure enough, the mini-fridge is filled with sparkling wine, cheeses, yogurt, and even a few apples.
Maverick leans against a desk in the corner, pulling me between his legs as the door closes.
“We’ll only be here a few days.” His large hands span my waist, and when our eyes meet, I swallow the tightness in my throat. “Your mom got the place all ready for us.”
“So we’re going to go through with this?” My voice is quiet, and I study his handsome face.
His full lips part over straight white teeth. “They’re not expecting us to get married.”
“I’m not so sure about that.” I lift my hand, putting it on his shoulder. “They’re really invested. I feel like we’d be letting them down somehow.”
“I’m sorry I got you into this.” He looks down. “I shouldn’t have said what I did. It was impulsive, and now your uncle Leon is going to kick my ass.”
“Oh my gosh!” I huff a laugh, dropping my chin. “That was intense. I’ve never seen him that way before.”
“According to your dad and Uncle Sawyer, it’s not an empty threat.”
“Now we know the only way this can end—I have to break up with you.”
His lips curve into a smile that’s a little less playful. “That’s the only way.”
Our eyes meet, and we’re quiet. A tingle is in my lower belly, and I hesitate, thinking about his words, thinking about mine.
I glance over at the only bed in the room, and nothing about our little white lie feels harmless. It feels monumental, like turning back the blankets will be opening Pandora’s box. Everything will change.
I swallow the heat in my throat, blinking up at him. “Should I sneak into the house and sleep in the guest room?”
At once he straightens, going to his bag and taking out a pair of gray sweatpants and a T-shirt. “I’ll sleep out back on the flatbed.”
“Won’t you get cold?”
“It’s almost sixty degrees outside.” He takes a crocheted blanket off the back of a chair. “And I can use this.”
“What if somebody sees you?”
“They won’t. I’ll set an alarm and sneak back in here before anybody wakes up.”
“But your concussion…” I hadn’t even realized I’d reached out, and I’m holding the sleeve of his shirt.
“I had a concussion last week. I’m fine now.” He bendsdown and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “No one will ever know we didn’t sleep together. Get some rest.”
My lips part, but he’s out the door before I can say anything more. My shoulders fall, and I turn to the empty bed beside me.
Making my parents think Ididsleep with someone is a situation I never thought I’d encounter. Now it seems sleep is the second thing I won’t be getting any of tonight.
20
