I’m certain she’ll either bitch slap him or bitch him out, but in the end, she simply shrugs. “This has been an absolute pleasure, but if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to be anywhere but here.”
Pushing away from the bar, Maya turns, and without looking back, she disappears into the crowd.
Josh twists his head to track her, but I hold up a hand to block him before he can take a step forward.
“Don’t even think about it,” I warn, my voice low. “You fucked up. Cut your losses, man. She’s mine now, and I have no intention of letting her go.”
His eyes go hard. “I?—”
I shake my head. “I don’t like you. At all. I sincerely suggest moving along before I have to show you just how much I don’t like you. Understand?”
For a moment, I watch him, giving him time to think over his options. Luckily, he makes the right choice and leaves, although he does so with a scowl.
“Thank you for the backup,” Kennedy sighs, leaning onto the bar. “He appeared next to us like a damn apparition. You want to go find her, or should I?”
“I got it.”
I find Maya with Sophie, Jake, and Logan at a high top by the pool tables. A small frown plays at the corners of her lips as she listens to Jake, who’s gesticulating wildly, clearly telling a story. She may claim she’s fine, but I don’t know how anyone would be after that. Makes me grateful that I’ve never been serious enough about a girl to have any real exes. Boston may be big, but it’s not big enough for a lover scorned. Cameron’s ex taught us all that the hard way.
Sophie greets me with a friendly smile and scoots over so I can stand next to Maya. How she and Cam share genetics is beyond me. Sophie’s sunshine and sugar, while he’s a rainy storm cloud.
“You okay?” I murmur into Maya’s ear.
She shrugs off the question with a tight smile. “I’m fine.”
“I’ve got two sisters, baby,” I chuckle. “Fine never just meansfine. Talk to me.”
With a sigh, she glares at me. “This isn’t the place, Cole. Drop it for now, okay? We can talk later.”
Letting her think I’m letting the subject go, I turn to Logan. “Want me to go get the cake?”
Like he does every year, he feigns surprise when his favorite dessert is mentioned. As if he’s not the one who sent Kennedy an entire “mood board” for his triple-tier chocolate cake with Oreo frosting. Instantly, he switches to party planner mode, debating where to set the cake so the gathered crowd can serenade him.
“Come get the cake with me.” I grab Maya’s hand before she has a chance to respond and pull her down the poorly lit hallway that leads to the stockroom. Once I’ve typed the four-digit passcode Logan gave me into the lock mechanism and am granted access, I tug Maya inside. Then I ensure the door locks behind us. The light flickers on, bringing into view the metal shelves filled with liquor bottles, mixers, and drink garnishes.
She takes in the cake box that’s sitting next to oranges and lemons in the fridge and turns to me. “You really brought me here so I can help you carry that? I think you’ve got enough muscle to handle it, Cole.”
“I brought you here to talk.”
With a beleaguered sigh, she crosses her arms over her chest. “What part of we can talklaterwas not clear to you?”
I motion to the empty room around us. “Why talk later when we can talk now?”
“Why do you need to knownow? Do you think he’s right? That I’m keeping you at arm’s length?” Her lips wobble a little before she reins in the emotion threatening to break through. “Because I’m trying not to. I really, really am. I meant it when I said we could talk about it later. I just didn’t want to bring down the mood and ruin anyone’s night.”
“I know. That’s not w?—”
“And I’m not good at relationships, Cole. I never claimed to be. I’ve always dated just for fun, not because I was invested in an actual future with someone. Maybe I don’t know how to do that. Maybe you should just cut your?—”
Before she winds herself up even more, I firmly plant my lips on hers. And I keep them there until she sinks into the kiss.
“I was in the middle of talking,” she mumbles against my mouth.
“No, you were in the middle of spouting bullshit, baby. And I won’t let him, or you, convince you that you’re not good at relationships.”
She huffs out a sharp breath. “Objectively, I’m really not.”
“Or you just weren’t dating the right person.” Wrapping my arms around her, I tug her tight against my body. “But now you are. And I’m not going to let you push me away. I’m just going to pull you closer. So stop fighting it. We’ll figure this out together, okay?”
