CHAPTER 20

Cricket

 

“Sorry, I’m so late.” I apologized to Lincoln as I walked into his house. I’d never been to his place, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I just assumed a bachelor would have a crash pad. Instead, his home was new and clean, and it actually smelled pretty damn good… like cookies. “Mav stopped by to talk.”

“It’s no problem. I’m assuming you didn’t finish your conversation.”

I tilted my head in confusion. “Why would you say that?”

“Because he followed you, so I’m guessing either he’s got more to say or he doesn’t know that you’re coming here and who I am. He’s stalking up the walkway right now, so in about three seconds, he’ll be on my porch.”

My jaw dropped just as the doorbell rang, followed immediately by someone pounding on the door. “He followed me?” I asked angrily, then grabbed the knob and yanked the door open to a furious Maverick. “You followed me?” I yelled at his audacity.

“Still looking for your earring?”

“Why did you follow me?”

“Who is he, Cricket?” He sneered without taking his angry eyes off me.

Well, I glared right back at him. He wasn’t the only one who could be pissed off. “What right do you have to ask me that?”

He leaned down to get in my face and lowered his voice. “My cum is still inside you.”

His insinuation that I would sleep with another man right after him brought out my claws, and I lunged at him, screeching like a hyena. “Fuck you!”

I hit him, frustrated beyond belief, and he let me. He just stood there and took it, and that made me angrier. I wanted him to fight back. I wanted to find a way to let go of some of this rage inside me.

“Whoa, tiger.” Lincoln wrapped his arm around my waist and hauled me back, but Maverick apparently didn’t like that because he grabbed my arm and tried to pull me away. “Get your fuckin’ hands off her,” he warned Linc.

“He works with Brody, you asshole.” I ripped my arm out of Mav’s grip and watched as he registered my words. “I can’t believe you.”

“Why are you coming to his house at midnight? And why the hell did you lie straight to my face about it?”

“You good here, or do you want me to stay?” Lincoln asked in my ear.

Maverick’s jaw clenched, and I shook my head. “I’m fine.”

“I’ll be in the kitchen.”

As soon as Lincoln was out of earshot, Mav growled, “Explain.”

He was going to find out sooner or later, might as well get it over with. “My ex has been contacting me. Lincoln, who’s my bodyguard, happened to be at the diner when I got a message.”

“Let’s back up. He’s your bodyguard?”

“My ex wasn’t happy I left him.”

Mav’s knuckles cracked when he made fists. “You told me you were safe. Brody told me he’d let me know if this asshole was going to be an issue.”

“You talked to Brody about me?”

“Of course I did. I talked to Beau too, as soon as you came back and I knew someone had hurt you.”

“Why?”

He tossed his hands in the air as if the question was completely ludicrous. “Because I wanted to make sure you were safe. Why else would I? I saw the bruise on your neck and the way you flinched. I knew something had happened, and I needed to find out what.”

The fight in me was disappearing. Maybe I should have been mad that he went behind my back, but knowing how protective he was, it was actually comforting that despite me pushing him away, he still cared. “Well, I asked Lincoln to make sure it stayed private… I didn’t want anyone to know.”

“Not even me?”

I rolled my lips together. Especially not you, I wanted to say. But instead, I avoided his question. “I’m probably overreacting, and everything’s fine, so I wanted to keep it quiet.”

“Then why are you sleeping here?”

“It’s just a precaution.”

He rubbed his chin. “So is this fucker after you or not?”

“He’s texting and has called, but his last call suggested he might try to come here, so until Lincoln can have a security system installed, I’m staying here.”

“Why wouldn’t you tell me that?”

“We’re not that, Maverick.”

His head reared back. “Not what?”

“You know what?”

“We were. We can be again. I want to be. You do, too. Come home with me, and I’ll keep you safe. You know I’d die before I let someone hurt you.”

I took a step away from him as if the idea was absurd because he was right. He would, and I couldn’t allow it. “I can’t do that.”

“Why the fuck not? You want to be with me as much as I want to be with you. Don’t even try to deny it.”

I did. God, did I ever. But I couldn’t risk someone getting hurt because of me, and not only that, but I didn’t want to put more stress on his plate than he already had, dealing with Piper and Brenda. “I’m not going to your house when he could potentially find me and—”

“So I’m good enough to fuck, but not good enough to keep you safe?”

“It’s not that, no, it’s just—”

“Save it.” He shook his head. “You clearly don’t need me, so I don’t know why I’m even trying. I’ve got enough shit to deal with right now. I’m done.”

He stormed out, and I followed, pissed he wouldn’t let me get a complete sentence out. “You’re done what?” I hollered as he reached the street. “Done what, Maverick?”

“Done with you. With trying to tell you how fuckin’ crazy I am about you when you clearly don’t feel the same. It only took me thirteen years, but I learned. Thanks for teaching me that lesson over and over again until I finally understood.”

I had the urge to run after him and demand he listen to me, but what would I say that I hadn’t already. He didn’t want to actually hear what I was saying, so it wouldn’t matter. And until things with my moron of an ex-husband were resolved, nothing else mattered. “Come inside.” Lincoln’s voice jerked me out of my daze. “You can cry in here, but I want to set the alarm.”

I went inside, but I didn’t cry. I thanked Lincoln for opening his home to me, and then I went to bed.

* * *

The next morning, I got up ridiculously early after barely sleeping at all. I only woke Lincoln because I didn’t want to set the alarm off, and when he insisted he’d come back with me, I flat-out refused. My parents would already be there, and I’d be perfectly fine.

He didn’t like it but agreed to let me go alone as long as I texted him that I got to work safely.

It was nice having someone care, and even though it was Lincoln’s job to be a protector, he reminded me so much of Maverick it was almost eerie. Except it wasn’t Mav’s job, it’s just who he was. And I knew that if I went to him for help, he’d die before he let something happen to me. But I couldn’t risk that, and I hoped once Tate backed off and things went back to normal, Maverick would understand.

Lincoln walked me to my car, and as soon as I got to my apartment, I texted him that I was good and quickly got ready for the day. My hours at the Pig had been late morning to evening, but I wanted to prove to my dad that I could handle the mornings, so at about four forty-five in the morning, I walked down and into the diner to help him prep.

The morning went by in a flash, and right around ten, Brody came in with another guy I’d seen a few times before. He waved me over to him, and after making sure my dad was okay, I washed my hands and walked to the bar area. “Hi. Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. This is Foster. He’s going to help me install your system. Do you have your keys on you?”

“They’re in my bag in the back. I’ll go grab them real quick. Want to follow me through the kitchen?”

He shook his head. “I’ll meet you around the rear entrance.”

“Okay, thank you.”

My parents didn’t know what was going on, but I knew I was going to have to tell them now. When I turned around, they were both staring at me, clearly having overheard. I ushered them to the back and gave them a very quick recap of what was happening, and my dad was not pleased. “Why on earth didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“Because it wasn’t that big of a deal. It was just a couple of texts.”

“It’s obviously a big enough deal if that bodyguard fella is havin’ Brody install an alarm system.”

“It’s just a precaution.”

My mom didn’t say much, but I could tell she was very worried, and that was exactly why I didn’t want to tell them.

“I’m gonna go talk to Brody. You two go back to work.” Dad stormed out the back, and I sighed.

“You need to stop thinkin’ that you’re a burden if you need help, Cricket. We love you. Lots of other people care for you, too.” She squeezed my shoulder. “Nobody’s gonna be upset with you if you need a hand. If anything, you’re gonna hurt the ones you love when you question their loyalty by trying to be noble.”

My chin jutted out. “I’m not doing that.”

“Okay, dear.” She patted my arm and then went back to the dining room, and I quickly ran out to the back to check on things.

Brody and my dad were huddled together talking, so I just reversed directions and went back to the kitchen. Dad returned about fifteen minutes later with a scowl on his face. “What’s wrong?”

“Not a thing, darlin’.” He plastered on a smile, but there was no masking his frustration.

“I’m sorry, Dad.”

He pulled an order ticket down and read it before gathering some ingredients. “It’s okay. Not mad at you, just upset at the situation. Brody’ll be done in a few hours, then all will be well. He’s gonna give me a quote on getting an alarm system for the diner.”

“Okay.” That was a big deal. We’d been robbed once before, and it was recommended then, but Dad was stubborn and said if someone was that desperate to steal a hundred bucks out of a cash register, then no alarm was gonna stop them.

So a few hours later, I was being taught how to arm and disarm the system that was rigged for the two doors that led to my apartment and all of my windows. I also told Brody to quote my dad super cheap and that I’d pay for the difference for the rest of the diner. Once I was confident in my skills, he and Foster took off. Lincoln sent me a text confirming I was good and made me promise to let him know if I needed anything.

But the only thing I needed was Maverick, and I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to have him again. And I think because I’d been so caught up in all the emotions of everything, particularly feeling guilty about pushing the people I love away, I wasn’t paying attention to what mattered most.

And that was being aware of my surroundings.

Because after everyone had left and I was alone at the diner scrubbing away at the grill to get some tension out, I didn’t notice the man standing on the sidewalk staring at me.

It wasn’t until I heard glass breaking that I looked up to see Tate reaching in through a hole in the door he’d made with a brick that I realized he was here. I stood frozen in fear, and when he flicked the lock and pushed through, I finally scrambled into action.

I knew there was a panic button on the keypad at the bottom of the stairs, and that was my destination, but I never got there. Tate had reached me and pulled me back by my hair. I screamed out and tried to fight him, but I never even had a chance to because he let me go.

Or, rather, Maverick beating the shit out of him caused him to release me.

With shaky fingers, I ran over to the panel and pressed the red button that went to the police and the security company, and rushed back to the dining room to see Tate on the floor and Maverick’s boot colliding with his stomach. He cried out and rolled to his side, and Maverick did it again. And again.

“Stop.” I jumped over the bar and wrapped my arms around Maverick from behind, trying to pull him away. “Stop. Maverick, please. He’s not worth it.”

Mav shrugged me off like I wasn’t even there, using all my strength to hold him back. He squatted down and grabbed Tate’s hair and pulled him up. “You ever come near her again, and I won’t stop. You hear me?”

“Fuck off.” Tate spat.

“That’s not an answer.” With the hand that wasn’t clenched in Tate’s hair, Maverick reared back and socked him in the jaw. “Yes or no? Do you hear me?”

A mumbled yes rolled out of Tate’s mouth just as I heard Beau say, “Shit.” I looked over to see him walking in with his gun drawn. “Let him go, Mav, and back away.”

Maverick shoved Tate to the ground and stood, and then without looking back, he stormed out the front door. I was afraid to move, but as soon as Beau had Tate in handcuffs, I ran through the door and reached Maverick just as he was getting in his truck across the street. “Wait!” I called him, and he stopped. “You can’t just do that and then run away.”

“I’m not running. I’m going home.”

I came to a halt in front of him and tilted my head back. “I don’t know what would have happened if you weren’t here.”

“Well, I was.”

“Why are you here?”

“Because it’s my job to protect you.” He shifted on his feet. “Or it was.”

I reached up and touched his arm that was moist with sweat. “Thank you.”

He jerked away from me, and I dropped my hand. “I don’t want thanks. I just want you to be safe.”

“Well, I am now.”

“Do you want to come back inside with me? I’m sure Beau will want a statement.”

He shook his head. “He knows where to find me.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“I’m gonna relieve my sitter. Take care, Cricket.”

“Yeah. You, too.” I stepped away when he pulled his door open. “And thanks again,” I added like an idiot. But in my defense, a lot had just happened, and I couldn’t think straight. His truck rumbled to life, and he pulled away, and as his taillight faded, I turned around to look at the chaos happening behind me and muttered. “What the hell just happened?”

* * *

Almost two weeks went by since Tate had been arrested, and I knew Maverick had been avoiding me. I also knew that he was going to be here after the game, so I made it a point to be in the kitchen because I was going to confront him, even if I had to do it in front of the whole town. He needed to know how much I loved him and that I was only trying to protect his daughters from harm when I pushed him away.

When things finally slowed a little bit, I mustered up as much courage as I could and walked over to his table.

“Can I talk to you?”

He didn’t even look at me. “I’m busy with my family right now.”

“Before you leave, can you—?”

“If you’re not going to finish that, then I will,” he joked with Dixie Mae and took a bite of her pie, completely ignoring me.

I looked around the table and saw sympathy coming from the eyes of everyone who was close enough to hear. A ball of humiliation burned in my stomach and spread all the way to my eyelashes. “Mav—”

“Cam, don’t forget to show me the scholarship offer you got. It’s been a while, but I did a lot of research when I got mine. I was glad I did, too, because I ended up getting a full ride to one of the top universities.”

“Um… okay,” Cam said, his eyes flying between Maverick and me, torn on how he should react or what he should say.

“No matter what, though, don’t let a girl hold you back. No matter how much she promises to stick by you, she’s lying. They all do. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience.” A collective gasp went around the restaurant, and Maverick pretended he didn’t hear it. “Let’s get outta here, baby.” He picked up Dixie Mae, and I heard his dad say his name, but again, he pretended he didn’t hear it as he walked out.

I blinked, then did it again, pushing away tears of humiliation in order to save an ounce of my dignity. “Cricket, he’s just upset. He loves you. It’ll all work out soon.” Molly came over and tried to hug me, but I didn’t want her sympathy. I didn’t want anyone’s.

“I’m fine. It’s fine.” I cleared my throat and smiled shakily at her. “I’m going to go back to work now. I’ll see you later.”

“Cricket…”

I took a page out of Maverick’s book and ignored her and then went to the back, but I walked through the kitchen and went right to my apartment, where I opened a bottle of wine and sat in the dark, wondering how I was going to fix this… or if I should even try.