Delaney
Skye, Raven, and I weave our way through the crowd of people to get to the section of seats reserved for players’ family members. I told Maverick weeks ago I’d make sure Raven saw the game, and that’s what I’m doing.
I think back to Maverick and swallow down the lump in my throat as I recall our conversation last night. I still feel like I can’t breathe. I’m worried about him, but I’m also angry.
I force a smile, trying to put on a brave face.
With a quick survey of the nearby seats, I find a collection of six men, all dressed in various forms of suits that look a bit too posh for rural Mississippi. They’re sitting on the front row at the fifty-yard line, and several of the coaches from Waylon are shaking their hands—must be the scouts. I send up a prayer that Maverick does well.
Waylon’s team has been divided up into two separate teams, red and blue, and the winner gets bragging rights for a year plus a party tonight in their honor.
Maverick and Ryker are both on the red team, and when Maverick’s name and stats are called, Raven jumps to her feet and claps furiously. I stand up with her and we root for the hometown boy.
Even though my heart aches, my eyes can’t get enough of him as he takes the field.
Skye rolls her eyes but stands anyway. “I really don’t see what all the fuss is about.” Her eyes drift over the players as they line up on the field, seeming to linger a little on Alex. “Guess I like a more trim look.”
“Football…is…king,” says Raven, and I grin behind my popcorn.
Skye laughs. “Well, aren’t you just the little spitfire?”
Raven turns her head to Skye. “Spitting…is…gross.”
“It means you’re sassy and smart,” I add.
Raven grins, her big eyes finding mine.
I nod.
Raven leans over on her knees, propping her chin up, laser focused on the team as they line up. Maverick barks out encouragement and when the blue team snaps the ball, his team flows into motion and tackles the quarterback.
Two more downs, and each time the red team stops the running game before blue can get the ten yards needed for a first down.
“He’s…good,” Raven murmurs as she crams a handful of candy into her mouth.
“The best,” I say, running my eyes over those sure, confident shoulders. He’s the focal point of every eye in the stands.
“He…deserves…best,” she adds slowly, and I look at her with interest, noting the quiet tone of her voice.
“Of course he does. You do too.”
She squints up at the sun that’s beating down on us. April in Mississippi can either be humid or freezing, depending on God’s sense of humor, and today he must be happy because it’s a beautiful seventy degrees.
“I…know…what…he’s…doing…is…wrong.” Her hands twist at the box of Skittles.
I stop chewing my popcorn. Does Raven know something?
“What’s he doing that’s wrong?”
A pensive look crosses her face. “Heard…phone…call…at…my…house.”
“About what?”
“Fighting…football…players…in…casino.”
Skye’s eyes have widened and she puts her phone down, a confused expression on her face. “No, a casino is where people go to gamble—”
I clear my throat, cutting her off. I haven’t said a word to her about what I know. “There’s no casino here, and no fighting, I promise.” Skye nods then turns back to the game, and I grab Raven’s hand. “Don’t worry about Maverick, okay?”
She nods, and I turn to watch him run off the field.
I keep my eyes on the game, but my brain flies. I’m sure Raven will keep this to herself, but Martha-Muffin is going to be a problem. How much longer before she tells someone? How much longer before it all hits the fan?
The game is over and I wait near the team entrance to the locker room, just outside the tunnel at the end zone. Maverick comes running out, wearing a pair of slacks and a blue button-down shirt with the cuffs rolled up, obviously dressed up to see the scouts at the meet and greet, and then he’ll be off to the party at the AD’s house.
He’s stopped at a couple of young boys wanting autographs who’ve been standing here with me for the past half hour. Skye and Raven have gone on ahead, and I don’t plan on being here long. I’ve made up my mind to say what needs to be said, and once it’s out, I’m done.
“Congratulations on the win and a great game,” I say as he nears me, stopping within a few yards.
He runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, I played well.”
I huff out a laugh at his honest assessment. There’s no pretense to Maverick when it comes to his abilities. He looks around for Raven.
“Don’t worry, they’re waiting for me. We’re going to get pizza.”
He nods. “Thank you for today. She really wanted to come, and my dad…well, you know how that goes.”
“Yeah. I’ll make sure she gets home okay.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
I nod, my emotions tugging at me, clogging up my throat. I swallow. “I also wanted to tell you that I…I don’t think we should see each other for a while. You’re not being truthful with me, and you haven’t been for weeks. Also, I’m not even sure how you feel about me, and if you can’t talk to me or tell me what’s going on with you, something isn’t right.” I take a big breath. “We need a break.” There, I’ve said the hard words, and I turn to leave before the tears that are brimming in my eyes fall.
“Delaney, wait!” he calls out as I walk hurriedly across the field. He catches my hand and turns me around. “I’m sorry,” he says softly. “For putting you through this, for Muffin hounding you, for lying about the bruises…”
I bite my lip, not able to stop the admission. “For making me fall in love with you?”
“Delaney?” His voice is torn and he swallows. “Is that true?”
God, yes. I do love him. Maybe I have since the moment he admitted he was He-Man. Maverick is in my blood, my skin, my bones. He’s the light, the sun I want to orbit.
But, I make mistakes when it comes to love—every damn time.
This time, it hurts way more than it did when Alex cheated on me.
If Maverick cared about me, he’d have told me he loves me back by now instead of just standing there with an uncertain look on his face.
“I always fall for the impossible guy.” I clench my hands, trying to keep it together.
He scrubs his face. “Delaney, I’m sorry.”
He’s sorry?
I close my eyes at the words he’s not saying, at the way he isn’t committing to us.
“I hear everything you’re not saying, Maverick—everything.”
“Just let me take care of this thing with Raven, and then I’ll be back for you.”
I sigh. I want to believe him, but still, it isn’t enough. “Whatever you’re doing—this fighting—you need to stop. It’s wrong.” I shake my head. “When people care about each other, life has a way of working out. We can figure out Raven’s situation together.”
A male voice calls Maverick’s name from the tunnel, and I shift my gaze to see one of the scouts waving for him to come over.
“Look, I have to head out. Can I come by your place later?”
I shuffle my feet, and his eyes watch me with a desperate look, but I’m not sure he actually feels that way. I just don’t know if I’m worth it to him…not like he is to me.
“I’m driving down to Panama City tonight with Skye for spring break.”
“That didn’t take long,” he says, a muscle flexing in his jaw. “You’re just going to leave me here.”
“You wanted space, and now you have it,” is my reply, recalling words he said last night.
“Delaney…”
But I don’t want to hear anything else. I flip around and stalk off, feeling his eyes on me the entire way.
Before I get far, he calls out, “We aren’t over, Delaney, not by a long shot. I’m going to make you proud of me.”
I clench my hands into fists and keep walking, because if I don’t, I’m going to turn right back around and run straight into his arms and tell him I’ll stick by his side. I want to tell him that no matter how many times he pushes me away, I’ll always be there.
But I don’t.