Page 59 of You Saw the Best In Me

I stand in the doorway, thinking of everything I can for April to stay with Maverick and I. As much as I love spending time with him, my mind is racing because we can’t live in this bubble forever.

We both have jobs and our own shit to take care of. I can’t just move in with him because my apartment has been trashed, and my safety is absolutely in jeopardy.

We went to the police for a reason, and it didn’t help one bit. I’m less safe than I was before filing a report, and the more I think about it, the more enraged I become.

I’m frozen in this spot, waiting for Maverick to finish with the detective so we can have some fucking answers. The sooner Asher is in jail, the better off we’ll all be.

My patience runs thin, and finally, I go to my bedroom, pick the clothes off the floor, and toss them on the bed. I want to lift the mattress and throw everything across the room again, but stop myself when I notice something on my pillow.

My hands shake, but I force my feet to move and scream when I see the photo, carefully placed so I wouldn’t miss it.

It’s Maverick and me this morning, sitting in his truck at the police station. The exact moment when I pulled him in for a kiss.

It’s printed on paper like he printed this somewhere public.

Maverick comes running in, weapon drawn and sighing when he sees me.

“Jesus, you scared me. Are you okay?” he asks, putting the piece down on my dresser.

I don’t say anything, handing him the picture of us.

He curses a few times and turns it over, his eyes flashing with rage.

“What is it?” I ask, and he tells me to read it.

He can’t keep you forever. You’re mine

I crumple the paper and throw it on the floor, stomping out of the room and walking back to Mavericks.

If Asher wanted to piss me off, he’s really done it now. Messing with me is one thing, but now that I have other people I care about, he’s trying to take them from me or, worse, hurt them too.

I rest my elbows on the counter, holding my head in my hands and trying not to let the frustration take over. Everything about this situation threatens to break me down, but I shake it off.

Maverick was right — we won’t let him ruin our time together.

I had so much fun with him today, something I can’t say often.

I go back into my apartment, eavesdropping on his conversation with the detective on my case. He’s mad, demanding that we get the protection we were promised and the justice I deserve.

Fuck.

He’s got such a way with words, and it makes people take him seriously.

Finally, he hangs up and sees that I was listening.

“Come here,” he says in a seemingly defeated voice.

I settle in his arms, resting my head on his chest, and instantly feel grounded.

The troubles fade away when he holds me, even if we’re standing in my trashed apartment. The sky could be falling, bridges burning, or the whole fucking world ending, and I’d be content letting it all happen as long as his arms are securely around my body, holding me tightly.

“Do you have everything you need?” he asks, kissing the top of my head.

“I need one more thing,” I say, wiggling out from his embrace and grabbing my favorite bottle of wine.

“Drink wine in bed with me, baby?” I dangle it around, and he smiles.

The anger melts away, bringing back the soft side of this fierce man.