Page 94 of You Saw the Best In Me

I want this to be as quick as possible. I need to talk to Karina.

“There’s an abandoned lot over there for sale. You think you could hook us up with a meeting with the owner?” he smiles, and this is some kind of test.

One that I’m not in the mood to pass.

“I can try,” I say, turning my back to him.

“This is your opportunity, Maverick. Don’t turn it down,” he pushes, and I push back.

“I appreciate you coming to me, but my grandmother died an hour ago. I am the only living relative to take guardianship of my little sister, and I’ll be honest. I don’t fucking care about a new site right now,” I spit, and he backs off instantly.

“Fuck, that’s heavy. The shit with your sister will work itself out. We’re here if you need anything,” he slaps my shoulder, letting me escape this conversation, finally.

I climb into my truck, lock the doors, and call the only person to calm my nerves.

“Hi, angel. How’s your day?” she asks, and I can’t hold it in any longer.

“Grams is gone,” I blurt out, unable to hold back.

Karina draws a long breath on the other side of the phone but reserves the silence for me.

“I don’t know what to do if she didn’t leave custody to me,” I cry, hating this side of me, but she doesn’t miss a beat.

“If Grams was smart, which I know she was, she knew the end was coming. That is probably why she drank so much that day. I don’t see a reality where she wouldn’t have made sure Harper was completely taken care of,” she says, instantly making me feel lighter.

“Are you ready to fight with me?” I ask the only thing that I need to know.

“I’ve been fighting with you since the day you made me stay in your apartment. This time, we’re fighting for family, not my freedom,” she tells me, and I break down again.

Something has been holding me back from telling her that I love her, but at this moment, there’s not a single thing I want to say more. But not over the phone.

I’ll express myself when the time is right.

We need to tell Harper that Grams is gone and have her funeral. After that, I meet with the lawyer, and our future will be read from a piece of paper.

I’m fucking terrified, but this is everything I’d hoped for before Karina.

The chance to adopt Harper.

That’s my only focus, except this time, my partner in crime is by my side.

KARINA

The three of us are sitting on the floor in the living room, eating pizza off paper plates and attempting to adjust to our new normal.

Harper didn’t take the news well, and she’s been crying on and off since we picked her up from school.

Maverick is a shell of himself, barely able to hold eye contact. I sit between the two of them, but none of us has said much.

Grams didn’t want a funeral, opting to be cremated, so Maverick doesn’t want to plan a service. Apparently, she didn’t have many friends and no other family to speak of. That lightens his load, but I don’t think it makes this any easier on either of them.

I try not to push too hard or step on their toes, but I hate not being able to help them through their grief.

When Maverick shut down on me, it felt like my world was falling apart. I won’t let him push me away again — it’s not how our relationship works.

What we’ve built is extraordinary. Our foundation is the most important thing; it only works when we’re our natural, raw selves.

“Harper, do you want me to set up the sofa bed?” I ask, helping her unpack all of her things.