Page 45 of You Saw the Best In Me

This, between Maverick and I, is delicate. It’s too soon; we’ve made many promises and had our fair share of drinks and revelations, but it’s real.

Real enough, that I won’t run away from this place or, more importantly, him.

“I’ve never told that story to anyone else,” he says, breaking our silence and pulling away from me.

“Nobody? Not some old girlfriend I should be jealous of?” I smile, attempting to get him to flash that smile at me.

It’s a flicker, only a fleeting moment, but I catch it.

“Nope. Haven’t had a girlfriend since I was nineteen. I couldn’t handle the pressure once Grams got sick too,” he pours a drink for me, handing it off and wrapping his arm around me.

I decide not to delve more into the story that is Grams; it’s been an emotional night, and I don’t think he could handle it.

“Harper is an amazing young lady, Maverick. That’s because of you and how much you care about her. You’re so present in her life, and she’s beyond lucky to have a big brother like you,” I tell him, making it known how important he is.

“That means a lot, Karina. Thank you. For everything, for listening,” he wipes his face one last time and takes me by the hand.

I follow him to his bedroom, and my mind is scrambling. Does he think we’re going to have sex now? There’s no way he opens up slightly and expects me to sleep with him right after.

I couldn’t get in the mood after that heavy trauma dump.

I sit on his bed, which is surprisingly comfy, and watch as he digs in his dresser drawer for something.

He hands me a stack of photos, and I realize it’s his mother.

She’s smiling at the camera, holding baby Harper, with the sun shining over a pool in the background.

Her hair was long, dark, and curly. I can see how I remind him of her; our smiles are similar.

I have the same hazel-colored eyes, and as I flip through photos of the three of them together, the familial resemblance is unmistakable.

Even if they have different fathers, Maverick and Harper get all their features from their mother.

“She’s beautiful, Mav. Thanks for showing these to me,” I say, handing them back.

He smiles at the one on top.

“This was a few weeks after Harp was born. We took her to the park, but she hated the stroller. Mom got tired, so I held her, and a stranger took this photo with his Polaroid camera. It was her favorite picture,” he stares at it for a few beats before putting it with the rest and returning them to their spot in the drawer.

The way his face lights up when he talks about a happy memory with his mother is something I wish I could frame forever.

In the heat of the moment I feel something for Maverick that I’ve never felt with a man before.

I can’t quite put my finger on what it is, and maybe it’s the liquor and trauma dumping session that’s leading the charge, but there’s nothing more I want than to feel as close to him as possible.

“Kiss me, Maverick,” I whisper, my voice shaking.

He turns to me, confusion plastered on his face before he asks me if I’m sure.

“As sure as I’ll ever be. I need to know that this isn’t some fucked up fantasy I created in my mind,” I confess, and he doesn’t break my gaze as he leans in close.

“It’s a dream come true, kitten,” he whispers, slowly bringing his lips to mine.

It’s been years since I’ve kissed someone, and I’m terrified, but I need to take this leap with Maverick if I ever expect us to be something more.

At first, he moves slowly, gently cupping my face with his hand and letting our mouths explore each other.

His tongue parts my lips, and I let him in, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him closer.