Chapter 24

MAVERICK

We lay together, a tangled, sweaty mess of the second hottest sex I've had. The first being my first time with Ava. She's got me thinking things I shouldn't be thinking, but I find myself wanting to open up to her about it all.

"When Jay and Nina told me about the class, it felt like a second chance to meet you, let you get to know me outside of those seventeen minutes we spent at the Read-a-Book event." Her eyes soften and she smiles. "But those first two classes, I felt like you were being dismissive. Especially when we were talking about jobs. I know my job is not glamorous like Dick's and Alistair's but?—"

"Maverick, no. A job doesn't define you, it's just something you do. As long as you do it well, it doesn't matter what it is. I heard what you said in class today about that. We're not from two different worlds, Mav."

"At the risk of sounding like a crybaby, I've gotten passed over before because of who I am and the job I do." I'm not sure where this is coming from, but it's like I want her to understand me. I want to tell her that sometimes I don't feel important, I'm just like everyone else. And when I told the guys I have insecurities just like them, I meant it.

"Passed over? You mean for dates?"

I give a nod and a roll of the eyes. "It's easy to meet women, but they hear where I'm from and what I do for a living, and they categorize me as just a small-town guy. And I'm okay with that, but some women deem it a quality that's bad. Personally, I think a small-town guy means he's going to choose a girl and stick with her for life. He's as loyal as they come. So to me, being called that is a compliment."

"I agree with you. There is also a time and place for all of it though. Zach and I were a small-town couple, but he never grew up past being the small-town high school ballplayer."

"I don't know if I want to hear about this ex-husband of yours." It bothers me that she's already done this round of life with someone. I always imagined when I met someone, we would experience it together. However, I'm also well aware that at my age, sometimes people have done this walk of life already. I'm the late bloomer, it's not on them.

"He's not a bad guy, and he actually called me on Thanksgiving?—"

"You still talk to him?" The question comes out a bit rougher than I want.

She shakes her head. "Not like that. He called to say he was proposing to his new girlfriend during their Thanksgiving dinner. I was happy for him. I am happy for him. Maria and Joe are glad he's out of my life and?—"

"Are you glad?"

"Why do you keep cutting me off?"

I shake my head, then clear my throat when I hear my own tone of voice. I'm jealous. But I also know if I say that, I'm practically acting like that frat boy she doesn't want to deal with. "I'm just trying to understand the dynamics here."

"Maverick, if I was still involved with him, I wouldn't be here with you." She pulls me close. "I have not had a date since deciding to separate. I haven't even looked at or thought of someone else. Until you."

I relax at hearing her words and hold her tight. I kiss her and run my hands over her body, wanting much more. But I'm finding I'm content here, with her in my arms, in my house, and it's a bit scary. Does she want to do this again? Would she think of getting married a second time? Having kids? I can't believe the thoughts running through my mind, but Ava Costa has changed my entire way of thinking in just a matter of weeks.