Teasing: Chapter 14

Healing . . . truly healing, not just existing, requires you to abandon the versions of yourself you created to survive.

—Emmie’s Secret Thoughts

I’m sitting on our dock, catching up on the reading due in my Biological Aspects of Behavior class—thrilling, I know—when the wooden boards behind me creak, and Camden’s shadow blocks out the sun. “Hey. I’m getting out of here in a few minutes.”

“Really?” I hold my hand out, and he pulls me to my feet. “Kinda early, isn’t it?” I don’t need to be at Maverick’s for another hour, and I’m sure he won’t leave right away.

Camden shrugs and shoves his hands in his pockets. “I have a meeting with Brady Ryan, my position coach. Not sure what it’s about, and I don’t want to be late.”

So many players are cocky assholes. At least the ones I knew in college were. The ones I know now aren’t. Well . . . maybe Jamie is a tiny bit. But he’s Jamie, so it doesn’t count. But Camden has never been that way. Not when he was in high school and was the starting QB all four years. And not when he was being recruited for college and everyone wanted him, but he just wanted whatever offer could help us the most. Things are so strained between us, and I wish I could just fix it. But I don’t know how.

“Okay, well I have something I want to show you before you leave.” I hurry back to the house and grab the bag from the dining room table. “Wait . . . I need a Sharpie.”

Camden watches me search the kitchen drawers like I’m crazy before I find the gold glitter Sharpie I knew I had hiding in here and hand it to him excitedly. “What am I doing with this, Em?”

I pull the black and gold jersey from the bag and lay it flat on the table. The giant, gold number 2 proudly stitched below MONROE gleams up at us. “I’m going to need you to sign this for me, big brother. I want to wear it while Rosie and I watch the game tomorrow, and a signed jersey is always better.”

He presses his lips together but doesn’t say anything as he uncaps the pen and scribbles his barely legible signature on the back of the jersey, then stares at it. “I would have gotten this for you, if I knew you wanted it.”

“Of course I want it, but I didn’t need you to get it for me.”

Cam’s eyes look heavy as he stares at it. “Think Dad’s going to watch the game?”

“He’d love to see you as a King.” My heart hurts, thinking about how much he’d love to be in the stands cheering him on. “Have you seen him yet?”

Camden shakes his head.

“How about Vivi?”

Another silent shake as we stand here right in front of each other but also somehow so far apart that my heart hurts. I wrap my arms around his waist and lay my head against his shoulder. “I’ll make sure the nurses know to tune the channel into the game tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Em.” His words are thick and pained.

“He didn’t know what he was doing, Camden.” I’m not sure if I’m trying to convince him or myself, but I think we both still need to hear it.

“I know.” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ve got to go.”

“Have a great game.” I watch, heartbroken, as he nods and picks up his overnight bag. “Kick Buffalo’s ass.”

“We’ll see how much playing time I even get.” He looks as tired as I suddenly feel as he turns for the door.

“Cam—” I call out, and he stops but doesn’t look back. “I love you.”

“Love you too, Em.” And then he’s gone, and I’m left with the aftermath . . . like always.

“You’re sure this is okay?” Maverick asks me for about the millionth time, and Jamie laughs and signs something I can’t quite make out to Ryker, who laughs too.

“Let’s go, Mav,” Jamie grabs his bag from the floor and stares at his best friend. “We’re going to miss the plane, and then Declan will have all our asses.”

“And some of us still need to make good impressions,” Ryker adds with a smile.

“Like he didn’t wipe both your asses.” Watching these three together is like night and day compared to my house and my relationship with Camden, and that hurts my heart, but it also warms my soul and gives me hope, so I go with it.

“If you guys don’t go, he’s going to kick your asses, so you better get going. Rosie and I will be fine.” I snicker, and the three of them stop and stare.

“Hot nanny cursed.”

Oh my God. I want to die when Jamie’s words finally register, but judging by the look on Maverick’s face, Jamie might be the one about to die.

“What did I fucking say, man?” Fury laces Maverick’s tone and his motions as he signs the words.

But it’s Ryker’s smile that catches my eyes. “Hot nanny said fuck last week.”

“Oh, come on. This cannot be a nickname that sticks.” I argue but don’t really mind it.

Maverick forgets Jamie and turns to me, intrigued. “You said fuck?”

I nibble my lip and try not to flush.

“Why?” he pushes, and even though he’s not signing, Ryker is obviously reading his lips.

“Your girl doesn’t like snakes,” the traitor tells them both, and without thinking about it, I give him my favorite universal sign—two middle fingers. Then belatedly, I look to make sure Rosie isn’t looking—which she’s thankfully not—before all three guys laugh at me.

“You spend an awful lot of time outdoors for someone who doesn’t like snakes,” Mav points out.

Jamie chuckles, and I already know whatever is about to come out of his mouth isn’t going to be good. “Don’t say it. Whatever it is you’re thinking. Just don’t say it, Murphy.”

“Aww . . . Emmie. That’s it. It’s official. You’re in the circle. You called me Murphy.” He wraps an arm around my shoulder. “We’ll celebrate after we kick Buffalo’s ass and get home. Now, we’ve got to go.” He looks over at Rosie. “See you tomorrow, squirt.”

“Bye,” she calls out, never taking her eyes off the TV.

“Call me if you need anything.” Mav holds my gaze, and I swear I could get lost in his eyes. “You’ve got my parents’ number. And the doctor’s number⁠—”

I put my hand on his bicep and squeeze.

Wow, even that’s muscled and hard. Damn.

“I’ve got the binder with all the names and numbers and rules. We’ll be fine. I promise. Now go. And maybe take care of my brother for me.”

The way this man’s eyes scan my face is like a caress I can feel all the way down to the tips of my toes before he nods. “See you tomorrow night, Em.”

“Bye, Mav.” I chance a peek at Rosie, who’s still not paying attention to us and listen to the front door close behind Jamie and Ryker before I lift up on my toes and press a gentle kiss to his cheek, then walk away.

How is it possible this man can scare me as much as he does and also make me feel more like myself than I have in such a long time?

I snap a picture of her sitting on the couch in her pink butterfly pajamas with Butters curled up on the couch next to her, snoring.

Maverick sends back a picture of Ryker, Jamie, Camden, and him waving in an elevator.

The doorbell rings, and a light in the corner of the room flashes.

The doorbell rings again, and I take a deep breath.

This ought to be interesting.

I slide my phone in the back pocket of my shorts and check my reflection in the stainless-steel refrigerator. This is not at all how I thought I’d meet Maverick’s mom, but here goes nothing.

I make my way to the front door, trying to convince myself that these women are just dropping off sweets for Rosie and I have nothing to worry about. But I’m pretty sure that’s not the case. Shoulders back. Head up. I’ve got this.

I crack open the door and smile, looking between the three women before focusing on the beautiful ballet teacher I’ve known for years. “Hey, Annabelle. What are you doing here? Is everything okay?”

All three women smile in an equally unnerving way.

“Oh, she’s pretty,” says the tall brunette, who I think is Maverick’s mom, and the owner of Sweet Temptations smiles.

“Told you so.” The tiny woman who looks like Snow White extends her hand. “I’ve seen you around before, but we’ve never officially met. I’m Amelia, and this is Maverick’s mom, Lenny.” She holds up a pink bag. “We brought cupcakes.”

Lenny holds up a bottle in either hand. “And wine.”

“I told you not to lead with that,” Annabelle whispers, but judging by her volume, I think these ladies might have already had a bottle or two.

“Mimi?” Rosie runs over when she hears her grandmother’s voice.

“Briar Rose.” Lenny squats down and squeezes her tightly to her chest. “I missed you.”

Rosie giggles. “I missed you too, Mimi. Did you bring my pony?”

“What pony?” Amelia asks as she walks by me into the house and hands me the bag of cupcakes.

“The one Mimi and Grandpop are getting me,” Rosie announces proudly, and Lenny places a finger over her own lips as Annabelle and Amelia both laugh . . . hard.

“Oh, Maverick is going to kill you.” Amelia kisses Rosie’s cheek and grabs the bottles from Lenny’s hands. “How many glasses?”

“Four,” Annabelle calls out as she follows her into the kitchen, and I watch, wondering what the heck is happening.

“Umm . . . three. I’m not drinking,” I tell them, but Amelia waves her hand over her head without looking back.

Lenny stands up and looks at me, like she’s waiting for something.

“I’ve got Rosie. I can’t drink,” I finally say, and she smiles again, like I just passed a test.

“Three glasses, Amelia,” she yells down the hall, and I get the distinct impression I’m about to be interrogated.

Rosie takes Lenny’s hand and tugs. “Emmie was going to read me a bedtime story. Can you read me one instead?”

“I’d love to, Briar Rose.” She picks her up and turns to me. “Say goodnight to Emmie.”

Rosie leans forward and kisses my cheek. “Night, Emmie. If you get scared tonight, Butterfly can sleep with you.”

This little girl may never know how she’s helped heal a piece of me I thought was irrevocably broken, but she has in her own innocent way, and I’ll never forget it.

“Goodnight, my little rose. I won’t get scared. I promise. I’ll be right down the hall if you need me, okay?”

She nods, and Lenny’s smile grows before she walks away.

Oh, what the hell?

I pull my phone from my pocket.

The dots stop and start a few times before disappearing.

Amelia and Annabelle walk into the room with wine and cupcakes and devious smiles, and I brace for whatever is about to come.

I’m going to kill him.

Maverick

I wait until Jamie is in the shower before I FaceTime Emmie later that night.

The phone rings once. Twice. And I start to wonder if she’s already asleep before she finally picks up. Her beautiful face comes into focus. Dark wet hair hangs around her shoulders, and her fresh face is free of makeup and so damn pretty. “Did they leave?”

She adjusts the phone and leans back against a bright white pillow, and I get a great shot of the low-cut neckline of a pale pink night shirt and her cleavage pushing up against it.

Emmie’s in bed, and my mind suddenly strays from my mom and aunts to a much better place.

“Oh, they left. Your dad had to come pick them up because none of them could drive.” She shakes her head but smiles. “Like, really drunk. They finished the two bottles they brought with them, then went shopping in your wine cellar and found another one to drink and one your mom took home. She said it was for safekeeping.”

“Fuck. I’m sorry.” I run my hand through my hair and try not to laugh, but Emmie beats me to it.

“Don’t be. They’re hilarious together. And the stories they had to share about you were priceless.” She catches her lip between her teeth and smiles, and goddamn, I want to bite that lip. “And I got to enjoy the way they talk about you and your cousins—it’s pretty amazing. You’ve got to realize I don’t have the big extended family you do, so I’ve never experienced this before.” The phone moves, and I get another boob shot. Is she doing this on purpose?

She rights the phone, and I wish she was next to me instead of hours away. “It was fun . . . until they asked me what my intentions were toward you.”

“Fucking hell . . . they didn’t.” I’m twenty-six years old, and my mom is trying to get me a girlfriend. I’m gonna kill her.

Her smile spreads, and her eyes sparkle with amusement. “Oh, but they did. Your mom wanted to know my intentions. Your aunt wanted to know if I’m Catholic and if I wanted kids. Then Annabelle asked if I knew what Amelia’s husband does for a living, and Amelia stole her wine. So I kinda want to know what the heck your uncle does, but I get the feeling I shouldn’t ask.”

“Don’t ask,” I groan. “It’s better for everyone.”

“Amelia asked if I had any sisters because she wants to find a good girl for your cousin Maddox.”

I sit back on the bed and watch the way her tits bounce when she laughs at my family. “Did you tell them about Vivi?”

“No. I didn’t get a chance to because that’s when your mom asked me if you were a generous lover, and I almost vomited.”

“Sweet fucking hell. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. When I didn’t answer and your mom wondered if you’re anything like your father, Amelia slapped her hand over Lenny’s mouth, and Annabelle fell off the couch, laughing. But let’s just say I now know how large your father’s penis is and that it gets used often.”

I’m not sure whether to be mortified or to tell her mine is bigger.

“So I kinda want to know . . .”

“Mav’s is bigger,” Jamie announces as the bathroom door slams open, and my asshole best friend laughs his ass off.

“Eww,” Emmie squeals. “Why do you know that?”

“We’re men, Em. We all pee in front of each other,” Jamie tells her from the other side of the room, and I nail him in the face with a pillow.

“Go find somewhere else to be, Murphy,” I groan.

“No can do, Beneventi. It’s past curfew.”

Emmie shakes her head and pulls the blanket up. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

“Sweet dreams, Em.”

“Sweet dreams, hot nanny,” Jamie fucking cackles.

I’m gonna kill him . . . until I hear Em laughing.

He’s lucky. He gets to live another day.