MAVERICK
“You’re going in that-?” He gestured his finger at my outfit without finishing his sentence- a golden sequin thin strap with a deep plunging top and my black mini skirt.
“Yeah, a club outfit. What’s wrong with this?” I spun around to get his approval.
“You barely cover my goods.” He cupped my breast. “Your tits are spilling out.”
“Your goods?” My laugh was breathless as I swatted his hand. “And no touching, please.”
He shook his head in amusement. At the same time, he didn’t approve it. I could see it in his eyes. “You asked me once how possessive I was.”
“How can I forget?”
“Hmm.” That was all he said.
“Dully noted.” I swiped my hair to cover my chest, making him frown further. “It’s either I go or I won’t, Lake. When was the last time I went to a club? And I’m just going to a bar.”
He gazed at me in silence for long seconds before withdrawing a deep breath. “Fine. Go. Keep your phone with you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m with friends, my co-workers, and Cooper. What can possibly happen to me? Oh, and I won’t be driving.” I saw Homer waiting at the door.
He blew a breath as if he were the father who just watched his daughter going on a first date.
“Aren’t you gonna advise me to use protection?”
His face turned red. I knew it was a stupid joke, and he knew it, but he still didn’t take it lightly.
“Bye. If you don’t come, see you at your house later.”
“Our house.”
“Right.” I walked past him, and he caught me on my elbow.
“Really?” His eyes still narrowed.
“What-?” He held me by the back of my head, kissed me viciously, and made his point that I belonged to him- that was what I felt the kiss was all about. I almost tripped off if he wasn’t fast to support my back, keeping me on my feet.
Seemingly disoriented, I gasped in a breath, blinking. Where the hell did I go? I watched him lick his lips with my lipstick on it. It wasn’t too much because I used a waterproof, but since his kiss was a statement, I knew it smeared all over my lips.
“Let me guess, I need to reapply my lipstick?” I glared back.
“If I get a report that a man is offering you a drink, I will break the glass on his head. Show him your ring if he doesn’t want trouble.” The way he said it, I knew he would do it, but since when did he suddenly become the bad boy, possessive and jealous? Our contract was void two days ago, and we were still both committed to this relationship.
“What’s wrong with you?” I knew for a fact that he wasn’t messing with me.
“I mean it, Maverick.”
“Yes, Lake Archer Asshole.”
He smiled confidently.
I arrived at the Bazz thirty minutes late and received texts from Cooper and Mira.
“Oh, did you happen to be lost to another bar?” Cooper said, looking behind me.
“Save your sarcasm. Wait a second. I’ll be at our table.”
“Fine.” He left, and I went to Genesis and Dallas to hug them.
“You look great, girl.”
“Thanks, GG.”
“Hot. Wait. Where’s Mr. Hot?” Dallas asked, laughing.
“I’m here with my co-workers.”
“Good for you. Have fun, girl.”
“Thanks, Dallas.”
“Is somebody lost?”
I turned around and hugged Rocco. “Hey. I missed you.”
“I thought you forgot us already.” He hugged me back.
“Silly.” I tipped my chin to the new blue-haired girl with a nose ring. “My replacement?”
“Yeah.”
“I really miss you guys.” I smiled at them.
“I’m happy for you. Now go and be with your new friends.”
“Martini for me with four olives.” I pointed at GG before I left.
Mira and Cooper had already started drinking.
“Where’s Danielle and Rocket?”
“Speaking of-” Mira looked behind me.
Rocket had curly hair and said, “Hey guys. Sorry, we’re late.”
Danielle was an Asian American. He took a seat beside me.
“What can I get you guys?” the waitress asked.
“Beer for me,” said Danielle. “Two beers for the two of us. You guys?”
“I got mine on the way,” I told him. At the same time, my phone buzzed. It was probably Lake checking up on me.
I checked my phone before he would go nuclear and came running to the Bazz.
LAKE: I might not be able to make it. I’m with Rusher. Have fun, baby.
MAVERICK: You, too. See you at home.
“Is he strict?” Mira asked as I slipped my phone in my bag.
“Lake? No,” I answered with a shake of my head.
“Jealous and protective? Yes. Possessive, no. I actually like that guy. He’s very supportive of her.” Cooper got a nod from everyone.
“Can we not talk about him? So, who wants to sing?”
Everyone pointed at Danielle but me.
“You guys are being stereotypical.”
I looked at Danielle. “What did I miss?”
“They think every Asian can sing.”
I arched a brow because I had a feeling he could. “Can you?”
“Just go ahead and sing a song. For Pete’s sake, not Careless Whisper,” pushed Cooper.
He sighed deeply before he stood up and walked to the Karaoke machine. “Why there’s a Karaoke machine in this bar, anyway?”
He picked a song, and the customers just roared.
“Damn. That one with high notes,” Cooper reacted.
When the music started, we began jamming even if I wasn’t familiar with the lyrics.
Danielle was confident and even changed a line to New York. All of a sudden, we found ourselves standing before him, cheering for our friend.
When I looked behind me, Rocco, Genesis, Dallas, and the new girl were having fun, too. Homer was there sitting, watching me like a hawk from the bar.
“Damn.” I was amazed at how he reached the high notes effortlessly. He even had his hand gesture that made it more fun.
Once he was done, Mira went up to choose a song and called me.
“I can’t sing, silly.” My eyes widened. As much as I wanted to have fun, I didn’t want to embarrass myself and get booed.
“Just one song. Loosen up a bit, Maverick.”
I turned to Cooper, asking for help. “Help me here, Coop.”
Instead, he just laughed at me. “Just go with it.”
“Oh, my God. I’m dead.”