Page 42 of You Saw the Best In Me

“You said we needed to talk in your text?” she says, breaking our embrace and locating the liquor bottle.

I follow her to the couch, sitting beside her and taking a sip before handing it off.

“You know my bosses?” I ask, smiling at her.

“Oh, my god. I just realized it today!” she explains the connection and tells me about her former roommate, who dates one of the owners.

“Adam, yeah, he almost killed me today. Thanks for that and the new nickname,” she scrunches her nose and offers me a sympathetic smile.

“Sorry about that. I wanted to get you back, and I figured it’d rattle your cage,” she winks, and I stay mad at her for a single second.

“Well, Adam told me that things with your ex were more severe than you let on,” I hit a soft spot, and she recoils.

She sighs, folding her legs on the couch and rubbing her eyes.

“I didn’t think you needed every dirty fucking detail. It wasn’t pretty, hence the running away,” she tries to be funny, but I don’t laugh.

“Is there anything else I should know about him? I’m your soldier now, and I need all the intel,” I stand up as the buzzer rings by the front door.

So much for following the delivery instructions I left.

I verify the name against the one I have on the app and instruct him to leave the food in the lobby.

“Don’t let anyone else in the building understand?” I clarify, ensuring that we won’t be welcoming any unwanted visitors.

“Stay here. Lock the door behind me,” I say, and she nods.

The coast is clear, and the food is in its designated spot in our lobby.

I check everything is there and head back to Karina.

I wasn’t gone for more than five minutes, but she’s panicking.

Her body is on high alert, and she’s standing against the kitchen counter, slightly shaking as she stares a hole through the wall.

I gently break her trance, letting her know I’m back, but she still nearly jumps out of her skin.

Underneath that tough exterior, this girl has been through the wringer and needs help getting her life back.

“Maverick, what am I going to do? I have no clue when that letter was sent, and he could show up here at any time, or at my job,” she sighs, holding her head in her hands.

“Tomorrow, we’re taking that letter to the police station, and you’ll give a detailed statement. We’ll have a report filed, and then I’m going to teach you how to shoot,” I toss her a burger wrapped in paper, and she catches it, mulling over what I said.

“You sound like a professional. I assume this isn’t your first rodeo?” she teases, opening her burger and putting french fries on it.

“I watch too many TV shows,” I smirk, handing her the soda I ordered.

“Mhmm, so you say, broody,” she rolls her eyes.

My phone rings with a new text, and I’ve been put into a group chat with Hunter and Adam.

Adam: How’s Karina?

She’s fine. I’ve got her at my place.

Hunter: Take the day tomorrow and get her situated.

Thanks. I’m taking her to the police station.