Lo

New Year’s Day came and went. With Luke's parents still out of town, he threw a party for the team, and I let Kyle and Laurie drag me along. But with more kids from school going I knew Maverick would keep me at arm's length. And sure enough, he did.

It hurt. More than I expected. It was like he'd opened up to me—about his dad, his past—only to slam his walls back down and push me out. Even though, deep down, I knew he was only trying to prepare me for when school started back, and I tried to brush off the dejection, I was only human.

At least he wasn’t sporting any fresh cuts or bruises. And while I wasn't deluded enough to think he'd stopped fighting altogether, I couldn’t help but hope I’d reached him on some basic level.

“All set?” Dad called, and I grabbed my bag and made my way into the kitchen.

“I think so. Kyle said he'd be here soon.”

“Where did the last four months go?” His eyes creased as he sipped his coffee. “A new year,” he sighed. “I feel like good things could happen this year, kiddo.”

“Sure, Dad.” I helped myself to juice from the fridge. 

“Before you know it, it'll be summer, and you'll be thinking about college.”

My stomach sank, and the glass wobbled in my hand. In eight months, I'd be a senior and Maverick would be off at college. Away from Wicked Bay.

Away from me.

Alec Prince wanted him to follow in his footsteps and attend California State East Bay as a business major. Almost four-hundred miles away, it might as well have been another planet. And I still didn’t truly understand why Maverick would just give up his dream for his father—a man, for reasons I’d yet to uncover, he hated.

A horn blared outside, and Dad chuckled. “He sure likes to make an entrance. Have a good day, sweetheart. It could be a late one. You’ll be okay?”

“Sure, Dad. See you.”

I made my way out to Kyle. His hair had grown out over the holidays, falling over his eyes and he looked even more roguish than usual.

“Mornin’, Cous.”

“Hi,” I said slipping into the seat. “No Laurie?”

“She’s riding in with Autumn. Besides, I thought you and I should have a little chat.”

My eyes rolled on a groan. Kyle had taken it upon himself to become my relationship counsellor. It was sweet at first but now… well, it was bloody annoying.

“I’m fine. No pep talk required.”

The Jeep joined the steady traffic and Kyle tapped the steering wheel with his finger. “After the party, I just thought…” he trailed off.

“You thought I’d what? Have some kind of breakdown because Maverick hardly looked in my direction? Yeah, not likely.”

“You don’t sound bitter at all.”

“Seriously, Kyle, what do you want me to say? Maverick wants time. I’m trying to give him time. And maybe he’s right. Maybe it is better if no one knows about us yet. I mean you heard some of the things they were saying about me before school finished for the holidays. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

“If you think people don’t know, then you’re wrong, Cous.” My eyes flashed at him, but he continued, “Hey, I’m on your side, remember?” His lips curved in a warm smile and I sank back in the seat, feeling the fight leave me.

“I know, I’m sorry. I just…”

“I know, Cous, I know. Maverick thinks he’s protecting you. But sometimes he makes the wrong call. Sometimes he needs someone else to make the decisions.”

“You think I should…” I couldn’t even say the words. If I walked into school this morning and did something crazy like kiss him in front of everyone he would go nuclear. “He’d kill me.”

“Are you sure about that?” He threw me a sideways glance.

Maverick had already said he wanted to protect me—told me he didn’t think he was good enough for me. But was he really so vulnerable? So uncertain about how I felt about him?

He was Maverick Prince for God’s sake. He could have any girl he wanted.

We bailed out of Kyle’s Jeep and met Laurie and Autumn. Much to my relief there was no sign of Liam… or Devon. After the dance, he’d tried to talk to me once, but I walked away and never looked back. As far as I was concerned he’d made his bed.

“Hey, Lo.” Autumn made a beeline for me, and we left Kyle and Laurie all up in each other’s business as we headed for the main building. “Did you have a nice Christmas?”

“Yes, thanks. You?”

She shrugged. “It was okay. It’s always hard when Derrick is away. My mom and dad struggle. But we visited my papa down in Tijuana which was nice.”

So that was where she got her tan skin and big brown eyes from. Hesitation lingered in her voice and I knew she probably wanted to ask about Maverick but thankfully, Laurie barged in between us, looping her arms through ours. “I’ve missed you both.”

“I saw you like three days ago,” I chuckled.

“Yeah, but now I get to see you every day again.” She clutched my arm. “Don’t look now but there’s Caitlin.”

Of course I looked. My eyes found her immediately walking into school with her friends.

“What a bitch. We so have to make her pay for what she did to you at Winter Formal.”

“Laurie,” Autumn and I said in sync. “I don’t want to start anything with her,” I added. She had enough ammunition to go after me without me handing her anymore.

“I know, I know,” Laurie sighed. “It’s just so unfair. She pulls this kind of shit all the time on people and I’m sick of it. Someone needs to bring her down a peg or two.”

I didn’t disagree, but I also wanted to try to not draw any more attention to myself. But as I joined the stream of kids entering the building, I felt their stares, heard the low rumble of their whispers.

Kyle was right.

They knew.

They all knew.

~

Maverick: I like your sweater

 

Lo: Stop perving on me and eat your lunch. You have practice tonight, right? You’ll need the energy

 

I risked a peek over at Maverick’s table. Wedged between Luke and Trey as they laughed about something, his fingers flew over his phone screen.

“Someone important?” Laurie’s eye dropped to my phone and I shoved it onto my lap.

“Just my dad.”

“And how is daddy dearest?” I heard the playful lilt in her voice, but I gave her a disapproving glare and she went back to her lunch while I discreetly read Maverick’s text.

 

Maverick: I can think of better things to be doing right now

 

Lo: Behave!!!

 

Maverick: With you? Never.

 

His intense stare burned through me even from the distance between us, and I knew if I looked at him, I’d see desire swimming in his eyes. His jaw tight with frustration.

Need.

So, I didn’t look.

I kept my head bowed, half-listening to Laurie and Autumn as they discussed their boyfriend’s successes and failures at gift-buying. Before I knew what I was doing, I’d retrieved my journal from my bag, running my fingers over the intricate stitching.

“That’s beautiful,” Laurie said craning over me to see. “Where did you get it?” There was no ulterior motive in her voice this time just genuine interest.

“It was a gift.”

This time I did allow myself to glance over at Maverick. He chatted to Luke, their heads close. But, as if he felt me, our eyes met, and for a split second, there was just the two of us. No school. No busy cafeteria. No kids discussing their holidays over stale sandwiches and wilted salad.

Maverick broke away first, jolting me back into reality. Laurie watched me knowingly and gave me a sad smile. But I didn’t want or need her pity. I wasn’t some victim. A weak girl letting her boyf… the boy she cared about treat her like she was no one. I was a survivor and I understood pain and desperation and anger. I probably understood Maverick better than anyone else here. And if he said he needed time, I would respect that. Because when he looked at me I knew the truth.

Our truth.

And that’s all that mattered.

~

I survived the first day of classes. By the time the afternoon rolled around, I’d barely noticed the way heads followed me into a room. They could think what they wanted. Kyle insisted on driving me home, despite my protests I could walk. So it was no surprise to find him leaning against his Jeep when I filed out of the building along with my classmates. But his eyes narrowed to something over to my left, and I followed his line of sight, releasing a heavy sigh when I spotted Devon. He was hovering, waiting for something… or someone. When he spotted me, and started in my direction, I had my answer. Hitching my bag up my shoulder, I quickened my pace, wanting to avoid a scene.

“Lo, wait up,” he called, but I’d reached the edge of the parking lot. “Lo, come on, please let me explain.”

Something in his voice had me whirling around to face him. “Explain? Are you fucking kidding me? Is this another joke?”

“Lo.” His eyes darted around me. Anywhere but at me. “I… I fucked up. I just…” he spluttered.

“I don’t have time for this, Devon. Stay away from me.” I didn’t look back as I hurried for the Jeep. Satisfied he didn’t need to intervene, Kyle climbed inside and I joined him a couple seconds later.

“What did he want?” He flicked his head over to Devon who stood rooted to the spot, watching us.

“To apologise, I guess.”

“Motherfu—”

“I told him to stay away.”

“You think he will?” Kyle sneered.

Devon had sounded desperate. Broken. But if he knew what was good for him, he would walk away.

And stay away.

“Maverick will lose his shit.”

“Don’t tell him.”

“Lo.” Kyle blew out a long breath, raking a hand over his face. And it didn’t escape me that he called me Lo instead of ‘Cous’. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“He doesn’t need to know. Besides, nothing happened. I didn’t even hear him out.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Cous.”

“It’s not a game, Kyle. Devon screwed me over. I won’t forget that in a hurry, but I don’t need you or Maverick fighting my battles.”

“Try telling Prince that.”

Once we were out of the school parking lot Kyle said, “So how was it, today? You know with the pretending and all?”

I shrugged. “Okay, I guess.”

“You’re a terrible liar, Cous. If it’s any consolation, I happen to know it almost killed Rick.”

It had?

Kyle’s smooth chuckle filled the Jeep, but I didn’t reply, too busy mulling over the day’s events. Caitlin ignored me in the one class we shared. Macey too. It was more than I could have hoped for.

“What did he tell Macey?” I said.

“Who? Rick?”

“Who else, Kyle?”

“Does it matter?” I shrugged again watching the town roll by and he added, “Why, did she say something?”

“She barely even acknowledged me in class.”

“Let him worry about Macey.”

My phone vibrated, and I dug it out of my bag, my heart swelling when I saw Maverick’s name on the screen.

 

Maverick: I miss you

 

My fingers typed out a reply.

 

Lo: I miss you too. Now go to practise

 

Maverick: You know, keep talking like that and I might start to think you’re trying to get rid of me

 

Lo: Like I have a choice

 

Kyle eyed me, a smirk playing on his lips, but I ignored him. Waiting for Maverick’s reply. It came seconds later.

 

Maverick: You’re right. You don’t. I’ll text you after I’m done

 

I slid my phone away and continued staring out of the window. Kyle was desperate to ask, it radiated from him. But when he did finally speak, his words spun my head.

“Prince has it so bad.”