LAKE
“You were driving like a granny.”
“Did I ask you to ride with me? I didn’t, did I? You have your guys and your Mercedes. You should have been here an hour ago.” Maverick paused, dropped her bag on the couch, and arched a brow at me.
“Wow.” I stared at her in both amusement and surprise. “You just said five sentences. I was messing with you, Maverick.”
“Well, you have a dry sense of humor,” she said as she went to the couch and played with her phone.
“Thank you.” I left her alone and went upstairs. I took a quick shower and changed.
Then my phone rang. It was my cousin, Striker.
“What’s up, cuz?”
“I heard a word on the street that you got married and did not tell me. Why?”
“Linden has such a big mouth. I specifically told him not to tell anyone. At least, not yet.”
“You didn’t tell me, toolbag.” Linden talked.
“Oh, now he’s there with you, gossiping.” I got in bed and leaned against the headboard. I felt tired and sleepy. I even yawned and rubbed my eyes. “Is this the club you’re talking about?”
“I’m still waiting, bro. Uh-huh, hence the French pastries.”
“Wait. You brought for me?”
“Yeah. My assistant sent it to your penthouse.”
“Maybe in my kitchen.” Maverick would love it.
“Don’t change the subject, Lake.”
“Maybe Linden should tell the details.” I almost rolled my eyes.
“I wanna meet her,” London said. The call was probably on speaker.
“Hey, London. How’s my niece?”
“She’s fine. She wants new toys from her uncle.”
“Doesn’t she have a room full of toys?” Their daughter was the cutest and sweetest baby I’d ever seen, and they named her after Striker’s mother, Ines.
“You’re a killjoy. Just give her toys,” Striker said.
“I will.”
“I’m dying for the details, Lake.”
“I know you are, London, and then you will tell uncle. Linden will tell his wife, and my mother will know. I haven’t told her, by the way. So, if you don’t mind, let me break the news to Mom before you nosy people do.”
“Ouch. I’m hurt,” London giggled.
“I was about to tell Estelle tonight, Winston, but sure. You have until Sunday. And by the way, my guys were with me earlier, and they know.”
“Of course. I’m not surprised, asshole.”
Linden laughed.
“What’s she like, Gabe?” London asked Linden.
“Pretty with big fox green eyes.”
“Oh, wow. Sweetheart, I’ll get to choose our next vacation destination if your cousin will fall for-”
“Her name is Maverick,” cut off Linden.
“Pretty name. If Lake will fall for Maverick in three months.” Shit.
“You three shut it. I’m tired.”
“Deal.” My stupid cousin just ignored me. “But if you lose, and my cousin will fall in less than three, I want another baby.”
Linden laughed out loud. “Good luck to you both.”
“You guys are insane.”
“I love you, cuz. Please, I want another baby?”
“Why are you asking me? Am I the one getting pregnant? Go ahead and make babies, asshole, instead of sticking your nose in my personal life. You should have asked Linden first before you made the deal with London.” Now, I was the one laughing.
Don’t get me wrong-I like Maverick. She was funny, authentic, honest, and beautiful, but I was scared. I also knew she was attracted to me, but what if she didn’t want anything but to do her job and then left me once this arrangement was over?
I didn’t want to end up alone and brokenhearted. Knowing I would end up losing in this game, I couldn’t and wouldn’t gamble my heart and feelings.
“Are you still there? I think he just fell asleep.”
“I’m here, cuz.”
“Bring her tomorrow. I wanna meet her.”
“Maybe next week. She’s going to visit her grandma.”
“Aw. She’s sweet. I can’t wait to meet her, Lake. I’m sure I’m going to like her.”
“By the way, Linden. Thanks for being there at the Bazz.” She met Kye, Sax, and Lynx, the Aussie, earlier. Linden liked her right away.
“Anytime, and she’s lovely.”
“What’s Bazz?” London asked.
“A bar. She works there.”
“Oh, now I’m going to meet her. What time?”
“Oh, boy.” I couldn’t help but smile. “She’s actually your fan. She’s going to be thrilled.”
“Really?” She just giggled. “We’re going to be best friends.”
“I just followed her. And we’re chatting.” Linden sounded like he was smirking.
“You’re chatting with my wife?” I asked incredulously.
Striker and Linden just laughed.
“Easy there, bro. We’re all married now.” Striker tsked. “I can’t believe you’re married, Lake.”
“Long story, but you’ll figure it out soon. Got to go. Talk to you all soon.” I hung up the call and got off the bed.
I instantly called Maverick as soon as she reached her door. “Can you come over here?”
“What’s up?”
I widened the door and walked back to my bed. I got in the center and crossed my legs. Maverick was wearing a confused look all over her face.
“Get in the bed?”
“Excuse me?” Her eyes widened, and shock ensued.
“We’ll talk. You don’t have classes tomorrow, and I’m not going to work.”
“Can I just make a quick change? I don’t wanna mess up your bed.”
“All right.”
When she left, I checked my phone for emails and messages. I texted my mother that I would be joining her over dinner. Then I opened my Instagram. Maverick finally followed me. She got new followers from Linden, Striker, and London.
About half an hour later, she came inside jumping and giggling, wearing shorts and a baggy shirt.
“What are you doing?”
“London Vanderford just followed me!” She came to my bed and threw herself at me.
I shook my head in amusement as I returned the hug. “If I knew you would react this way, I should have told her to follow you.”
When she pulled apart, her cheeks were flushing. She just blushed. “Sorry.”
“She wants to meet you.”
She stared at me as she sat beside me. “You’re kidding. Why?”
“Apparently, Linden told my cousin and London that I’m married, and they couldn’t stop babbling about it.”
“How did Linden know?”
“I told him.”
“Why?”
“I asked him a favor, and he asked me details he needed to know. Then he saw this.” I showed her the wedding band.
“What favor?”
“I asked him to find out about your father.”
Her smile faded instantly, and she stared at me hard, filled with horror. “Why did you do that? I want nothing from whoever knocked up my mother.”
“Aren’t you ever a little bit curious?”
“Why would I? Was he a little bit curious about me? I need you to stop digging into my life, Lake. That’s not part of the deal.” She left my side and got out of bed.
“I just want to-”
“To what? Help?” Her eyes hardened on my face. She was furious, her nose flaring. “That’s the help I don’t need. Whatever you’ll find out, it will only bite you in the ass. Don’t waste your freaking money!” She walked out of my room and slammed the door behind her.
“Fuck.” My jaw locked as I breathed noisily.
I typed a text to Linden.
LAKE: Cancel the favor I asked.
LINDEN: Why?
LAKE: She’s pissed off.
LINDEN: Look, it’s already started. You don’t have to tell her what we are going to find out. You can keep the report here.
LAKE: Fine. I’m also a little bit curious.
LINDEN: I know, Winston. That’s what we do if someone is important to us. We want to know about them, and we want to protect them from the truth.
LAKE: You always have a say in everything.
LINDEN: Now go and apologize. Don’t let her sleep angry, toolbag.
LAKE: Fuck you.
I chuckled as I put my phone on the table.
After thirty minutes of contemplating, I got up from bed and went to her room. She could lock the door from the inside, but my keycard had full access to every door in this penthouse.
I unlocked the door, and the lights in her room had already gone off. She was sleeping on her side, and like a creep, as I was, I joined her in bed slowly, making sure I wouldn’t wake her up, and then she would scream bloody murder.