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CHAPTER TWENTY

Rumor has it she was only a pawn in his game.

Ainsley

“ I did it. I applied!”

My voice is loud enough that Maverick winces, but I don’t care.

After waking up in Maverick’s bed, Lawrence snuggled in between us, I realized it was time to take my life back.

I finally had a man—or a really amazing friend—we haven’t labeled it yet—who gives me extreme orgasms and never minds sleeping with a stuffed sea lion in his bed.

It was Maverick who inspired me to chase my dreams. Lying there in his arms while he talked passionately to a guy about his retirement, not only turned me on, but convinced me I wanted that passion again.

So I decided to take my life back. Never again will I miss out on doing me. If someone can’t stand behind my dreams, then they don’t deserve to be in my life.

“Thank you for pushing me to fill out the application this morning.”

Maverick squeezes me in his brawny arms and I take a moment to soak him all in. Has he always smelled this good? Wait, that’s me. He smells like me, which is even better.

“I didn’t push you,” he says smugly. “I simply agreed that you needed to apply during your passionate girl-power-women’s-rights speech you gave me after we watched GI Jane last night.

” Oh yeah, that movie inspired me too. I had forgotten about that.

It happens when Maverick scrambles your brain with morning sex.

“It was a good movie.” I grin, snuggling in deeper. “Either way, this has been the best day ever, and I think we need to celebrate by getting lunch together after class, since it’s your first day and all.”

Can you believe it? He actually came to class.

Ever since he had that talk with his pops, he’s seemed lighter.

He is still working since he and Pops haven’t settled on an applicant yet.

Honestly, I think Maverick is trying to drag it out, so he won’t have to hire anyone.

I get it. He’s territorial. But from the arguments transpiring between him and Pops, they will be hiring help.

Apparently, Maverick has grown the company so big that even if he wasn’t trying to finish school, they would still need help with all the accounts he has.

Pops threatens him regularly about his heart and even makes him send a snapshot of his watch readings, which haven’t been too bad recently. Probably because we’re having crazy amounts of sex. Luke was right, it really is the best way to reduce stress.

Either way, things have been different. Maverick and I have been spending a lot more time together and now we are doing couple-y things like eating lunch after class in honor of his first day.

“I’d rather eat at home,” he says in a gravelly voice, dragging his finger along the inside of my jeans.

“Mmm . . . That sounds like a great idea,” I agree. “But I’m afraid I won’t make it back in time for my afternoon class.”

“Skip it.”

The mere suggestion sends a smile to my face. Gah, I’d love to be a bad girl and crawl in bed with this undercover nerd and veg out, but who are we kidding? We might bang each other’s brains out, but once we recovered, Maverick would be back at his laptop and I would hurry off to class.

Reaching up, I trail my hand along his jaw. “Tomorrow, when I don’t have an afternoon class.” I can feel the muscles clench underneath. “Besides, you have an afternoon class too. ”

He frowns like he just remembered he’s been reduced to a mere college student and not a finance mogul. Is that even a thing?

“Fine.” He groans, stepping back and putting distance between us. “Run before I change my mind.”

It’s cute how he says it so seriously, like he’s really tempted to grab me and run away. “Don’t worry. You’ll be fine. First days are hard on everyone.”

He rolls his eyes. “Funny. I’ll meet you here after class. Don’t be late.” He says the last part firmly and I have to stifle a grin.

I get it. He isn’t used to being on campus or even out in the public.

My closet water-drinking-nerd is used to sitting up in his kingdom and ordering people around via email.

When he does get out, it’s always at night and always with his crew.

Him going to class all alone is really out of his element.

Standing on my tiptoes, I place a chaste kiss to his lips. “I promise. I’ll be waiting.”

For the first time in months, I don’t mind the titters and whispers going on while I sit at a picnic table waiting for Maverick.

Had it not been for the rumors about Maverick, and my history with fire, I wouldn’t have ended up at Maverick’s door.

I wouldn’t have struck a deal and become his roommate and he damn sure wouldn’t have found me so irresistible that he let me stay with him.

So bring on the freaking rumors, I welcome them.

I text Maverick. I’m freaking starving.

Me: I’m going to eat your food. You better hurry.

He’s only five minutes late but still. I may be able to handle all the rumors, but it doesn’t mean I want to sit out here all alone. Luckily, he responds quickly .

Water drinking nerd: I had to grant a favor. #genielife Be there soon.

I grin at the screen, giving everyone something to lie about when another text comes through.

Water drinking nerd: And don’t eat my food!

I pocket my phone and consider eating Mav’s chips. He doesn’t know I bought him anything but a sandwich, and really, his heart doesn’t need fattening chips anyway. Maybe I will eat them.

Opening the bag, I grab my sandwich and unwrap it. I’m about to take the biggest bite ever when I hear, “Ainsley.”

Slowly, as if Ted Bundy himself is behind me, I turn and meet the eyes of the man who shattered my heart and stomped all over it while he moved his shit into my apartment.

“Tucker,” I grit, giving him a hello eye roll. “What do you want?”

With some nerve, he eases down into the bench across from me. “Can we talk?”

I take a bite of my sandwich, channeling my inner Maverick, and shrug like I don’t give a fuck if he even breathes.

“Okay,” he says after a moment, watching as I chew. “Look.” He pauses, clearly nervous, and swipes a hand through his hair. It’s gotten longer since the last time I saw him. “I just wanted to tell you I’m sorry about how things went down between us.”

Ha! So he’s not sorry that he cheated, but he’s sorry about how “things went down”? What the fuck does that even mean?

“Aww, you’re so sweet, Tucker. How did things not work out between us?”

Tucker picks up on my sarcasm.

“Look, Ainsley. I never meant to hurt you, but you knew things between us had been rocky for a while.”

I rear back. “How were they rocky? I came here with you—for you! ”

“Exactly!” His voice rises and his fists clench. “You were so clingy. Coming to Havemeyer was supposed to be the time of my life. Instead, I was just as tied down as I was in high school. You were supposed to go to Florida!”

I can feel my face heat and my eyes swell with unshed tears. “Get the fuck out of my face, Thomas.”

Tucker cocks his head to the side like he isn’t sure if I called him Thomas.

I did. I took a page out of Mav’s book and called him something random.

I don’t want him thinking he just ripped my heart out again.

I’m stronger now, though. Now I’m able to tell him to get the hell out of my face and move his sorry, disgusting soul from my table.

I’m done with him.

Screw him and the “time of his fucking life.” They can eat shit for all I care.

“All I’m saying, Ainsley, is we should have spent some time apart. Couples do long-distance relationships all the time.”

What he really means to say is he wanted to fuck all the sorority sisters in peace and when he was good and spent, he would come home to me on the holidays and we would pose for his parents’ Christmas card.

I am so done with being treated as a pawn in his game.

“Goodbye, Tucker. Catch an STD and live the good life.” I wave my hand like I’m sweeping his disgusting ass away from me while I take another bite of my sandwich. I’m definitely eating Mav’s chips after this. I deserve them. Maverick will agree after he hears this shit.

“Look, I just came over here to apologize and ask you for a favor.”

Ha! I stare at him all wide-eyed. “Why would I ever do you a favor?”

“Because you once cared about me,” he bites back.

I sneer. “ Once being the operative word.”

“Come on, Ainsley. Don’t be like me. You’re better than that.”

See how freaking manipulative he is? He wants me to feel bad for being mean to him. Honestly, it’s working. Being mean is not in my nature .

“What favor do you want?”

I have to admit, I’m curious. Tucker’s family is wealthier than mine. What could he possibly want that he can’t get himself?

He scrubs a hand through his hair and looks around. “You know Sebastian, the internet guy?”

I arch a brow. “Maverick’s friend?”

He nods. “Are you friends with him?”

“No . . .” I drawl, still confused as ever. “Why? What do you want with him?”

Tucker blows out a breath and looks at the sky before slowly lowering his head to meet my eyes. “I need him to stop posting clips of Taylor on his MyView videos. It’s making her look bad.”

My heart fucking sinks. “You came to me for a favor to help Taylor?” I take a big breath and laugh. “I can’t believe you. After all these years.”

I’m not hungry anymore. I roll the sandwich up and put it in the bag with Maverick’s. “Enjoy your life, Tucker.”

I stand to leave when his next sentence stops me cold. “Maverick and I had a deal!”

“What did you say?” The wind blows a lock of hair in my face. “When did you make a deal with Maverick?”

His eyes stare down at the ground and then it hits me.

“That day I dumped food in his lap . . . You weren’t comping his meal because of me; you were negotiating for your little girlfriend.

” This is unbelievable. “Tell me, Tucker. Did you ever care about me or was I just someone to pass the time with?”

Why I even asked, I’ll never know. The point is, it doesn’t matter—lesson freaking learned.