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“Where are we going?”

“I’m taking you home with me.”

I let out a deep gasp. “Think of the scandal!”

I feel Maverick shaking his head at me, his body shaking with a silent chuckle. “Don’t worry, I’m a gentleman, I promise. I’m just taking you some place safe for the night so you can sober up before heading back to the dorms.”

“I trust you,” I tell him seriously. “I never once thought you would take advantage of me, Maverick.”

Maverick sucks in a sharp breath, the hand holding onto my hip tightening. “You have no idea what those words mean to me, Thane.”

“They mean, umm, well. They mean things! And stuff!”

Maverick chuckles again and the noise lights my insides up like a Christmas tree. I lean my face against his hair, nuzzling him. He pushes my face away with his free hand.

“None of that,” he says seriously. “This is my house. Let’s get you inside.”

“Inside is good. I’m feeling kinda sleepy.”

“I bet you are. How much did you have to drink?”

I shrug. “No idea. No counting, just vibes,” I say before throwing jazz hands up into the air to further cement my point. I almost smack Maverick in the face but he quickly ducks out of the way. It makes Maverick snort so that’s a win in my book.

We get inside Maverick’s house and he helps me out of my shoes. He pulls me further in, pushing me to sit on his couch. I hear him move around the house before he’s back, handing me a glass of water.

“Drink this.”

“Mmkay,” I say, sipping at the water. My phone starts to ring. I struggle to get it out of my pocket. Then I drop it on the floor. “That’s a lost cause,” I finally say with a nod, going back to sipping my water.

“For crying out loud,” Maverick murmurs, digging under the coffee table and pulling out my phone. “Hello?”

“Hello?” I mimic him, looking at him in confusion. He rolls his eyes at me, pointing at my phone against his ear.

“Yeah, he’s safe. This is Maverick Lee. He’s at my house with me. Mhmm. Yeah. Okay. I’ll make sure he calls you in the morning. Make sure you guys get home safe, okay? Okay. Goodbye.”

I lean my head against the side of the couch, staring at Maverick.

“You’re so pretty,” I tell him with a grin. “Did anyone ever tell you that?”

“A time or two,” he says.

“I hate that,” I say, my brows wrinkled.

“You hate that people have told me I was pretty?”

“Mhmm. Should only be me.”

Maverick gives me a very complicated look, one that I have no chance of understanding. Especially because it’s getting harder and harder for me to concentrate on anything but keeping my eyes open. He reaches forward, running his fingers through my hair. I lean into his touch, sighing happily.

“You should get some rest, Thane.”

“I should,” I say in agreement. “But before I pass out, can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Can I have a good night kiss?”

Maverick pulls his hand away. I make a sad noise and his hand comes back, running through my hair softly. I like that. I like the way his touch makes me feel. My insides are all warm and squirmy, my head light from more than just the alcohol in my system.