Page 38 of Pit Stop

CHAPTER

TWENTY

SKYE

I spend the entire weekend with Maverick, unwilling to leave him. Because I missed him, because I love him, and because, like the doctor said, being with him is healing me. My body no longer aches, I’m eating again, and I feel happy.

For the first time in weeks, I’m laughing. Smiling. Feeling content.

Part of me knows it’s physical and hormonal, but the other part of me knows Maverick is the one I want. He’s the reason I’m better. Because with him, I feel like myself.

The only thing the two of us haven’t talked about is my next heat, Red, and what we’re going to do about school, which I need to do soon. Gods truth, I don’t want to live away from him.

I don’t want to be apart from him ever again. The thought of it sends me spiraling slightly.

“I no longer hate him,” Rob says. “I’m just happy you’re happy and no longer dying.”

I grin at him and take a bite of fruit that Mav cut up for me. He’s always doing that, making sure I’ve eaten. Looking back on our time together, I realize he’s always done that. He’s always taken care of me in his own way.

I’m spoiled rotten with him.

“I am happy. We’re not mated though, and I kinda want that again, if I’m honest.”

“Do you?”

“Yeah, especially with my next heat coming up, but I need to talk to him about school and what we’re going to do about that.”

Rob eyes me and then leans back in his chair.

We’re outside the trailer, waiting for Maverick to come home from a run to the store where he’s buying food for dinner.

We’re having my family over tonight. It’s then that I plan on asking Forest what he’s actually done about Red and if he’s the one who blocked our numbers after we unbonded.

I really hope it wasn’t him.

But I’m so happy at the moment, I don’t even know if I’ll be upset with him for doing it.

“Well, you’ll figure it out. Just sucks I have to find a new roommate. Don’t wanna hear you two bone all the livelong day.”

I let out a laugh. “We wouldn’t do it when you’re around, obviously.”

He leans up and arches an eyebrow. “You’re so full of shit. You fuck all the time even when you’re not in heat. It will be miserable living with you two.”

“Rob, are you kicking me out? Seriously?”

“Well, I’m giving you notice. When you talk to him and figure something out, you can find your own place. Together. Because I’m assuming you’re not quitting school.”

“I’m not. That can’t be an option. I could switch to one closer to here…”

“No,” Rob says. “No way he’d let you do that. He loves you too much. It’s disgusting, really.”

I sigh and then rub a hand over my chest. I miss him and he hasn’t even been gone an hour. I can’t wait for him to get back home. I don’t know how I made it all those weeks without him.

“I know. He won’t let me. I just think he’d be miserable in the city.”

“He loves you. He’d move for you. Trust me. I see how he stares at you. All gooey-eyed.”

I blush when he says that. I know. I’ve seen him watching me.

He really does love me. I don’t know how I didn’t notice that before. I was probably blinded by the past and my bias.

The sound of Maverick’s car turns my head and I watch as he steps out with bags in his hands. Fuck, he’s so hot. Like, no one should be this good-looking. I just want to kiss him, to run my hands across his body and then suck his dick.

He must see the intent in my eyes because he bites his bottom lip as he makes his way toward me.

“Ugh. That’s my cue,” Rob says, standing and giving us a wave. “I’m going to wait by the side of the road for Sage to show up. At least I’ll have company while you two do whatever it is you’re gonna do.”

I laugh, and so does Mav, pulling the door open and setting the bags of food on the counter.

“We have fifteen minutes,” I say as he pulls me into him.

“You must be going into heat soon. You’re fucking horny.”

“I am. The moon is changing colors. But whatever, that doesn’t matter. Can I suck your dick or what?”

“You can.”

But before I can get on my knees, the door flies open and River appears. Backward hat, thin t-shirt, ripped jean shorts. As annoying as ever.

“Oh, fuck off with that,” he grunts as he steps inside. “I’m hungry. Where’s the chips and dip?”

“Fuck off, River. You’re early.”

“I was hungry. I couldn’t wait.”

I grumble as Maverick moves me away, telling me not so subtly that we need to put out the food he bought. So I help him, listening as my brother rambles on about his current crush and workout routine. Not that we asked, but he’s telling us anyway.

“Melons and ten-pound weights, amiright?”

No idea how those two things fit together, but he thinks they do. So I try to follow his train of thought. It’s kind of hard, though. And honestly, I’m more annoyed that he interrupted us.

I want to suck cock.

Maverick’s cock. But that will have to wait.

Several minutes later, the rest of my family shows up. Forest and Sage, my dad and Glenn. Rob is back too, joking with Sage about something. Forest is chatting with Maverick, and I move over to them, nudging Forest with my shoulder.

“You look better,” he says, ruffling my hair.

“You look like shit.”

Forest glowers at me and then shoves at me slightly, making Maverick growl.

“Don’t touch him like that.”

“Yeah, all right. Thought you weren’t mated, but you sure are acting like it.”

Maverick’s eyes meet mine, and I stare back at him. What I wouldn’t give to be tied to him like that. But after what we just went through, I think we need time, time to decide on forever together.

“Hey, question for you,” Maverick tells my brother as he pats the burgers with the spatula.

“What’s up?” Forest asks, popping the top of a beer can and taking a sip.

“Skye and I were talking, and we found out our numbers were blocked on each other’s phones. Did you do that?”

Forest stops and stares at us in disbelief. “What the fuck? Why would I do that?”

“No idea, just…I don’t know who would have.”

“Probably those shitty shifters. Probably did it to fuck with you.”

“Like Ten?” I ask, and Forest’s face turns a little pink.

He sips on his beer again. “Yeah, like that asshole.”

“What happened with you two anyway?” I ask before Maverick throws me a look. Right, we shouldn’t be asking this. Not until he’s ready to tell us.

“Nothing.”

“And Red?” I ask to change the subject.

“I took care of it. Don’t worry about him. You’re safe. He’s off the scent.”

“What did you do?” I ask, and Forest shrugs, finishing off his beer and tossing it into the garbage can.

“Let’s just say, I took one for the team.”

He burps loudly, turns, and walks away, moving to talk with River.

I turn to Mav, eyes wide, “You don’t think he…with Red? No. Would he?”

“Just let it go,” Maverick says, shaking his head. “It’s not really our business.”

I just nod, a little stunned, and then step away, letting Maverick focus on grilling. And as I do, my dad beckons me over and pulls me into a side hug.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, better now that I’m here.”

He clears his throat, letting go of me. “What are you gonna do about school? You have classes tomorrow. You can’t miss much more.”

I peer over his shoulder at Mav, who is watching me. He must have heard it.

I really need to talk to him. We need to discuss it.

Like tonight. Shit, I should have done it sooner, but I was so wrapped up in him, in being with him. I just let it slip away. I didn’t want to think about being parted from him again.

“I need to talk to him,” I say.

“You want things to continue with him?”

“Yeah, I think—shit, Dad. I think the unbonding was a mistake. I fucking made a mistake. I want to mate with him again sometime in the future, but yeah…”

I flush, feeling embarrassed that I put them through all of that, and now I’ve changed my mind.

“You need to be sure, Skye. I don’t want you ill again,” my dad says softly.

“I know. But it will be different this time. I promise.”

He clears his throat, his eyes watering slightly. “I don’t want to lose you like I lost your mom. It’s so hard on the body, on the mind.”

“I know, but I…well, I know this is right. That he’s the one for me. We can make it work. I know we can. We’ll discuss it. We’ll make sure it’s what we want. Together.”

“Promise you’ll take care of yourself. That you won’t let yourself go like before.”

“I promise.”

I feel someone place their arm around my shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of him,” Maverick says. “I know we haven’t discussed it yet, but I already talked to my uncle.”

I pull away and stare up at him. “What? What do you mean? Why did you talk to your uncle?”

Everyone is looking at us now, and Maverick shifts on his feet.

“Shit, Skye. Can I talk to you?” he asks, and I cock my head, letting him pull me behind the trailer where my family is less likely to snoop.

“What did you do, Mav?” I ask when we’re alone.

He runs a hand across the back of his neck and looks at me sheepishly.

“Um, well, I’m going to get a job near you. I already decided. I meant to tell you, but I just wanted you to focus on healing.”

“Mav, you’ll hate the city.”

“I know, but I won’t hate being near you. And I can manage for the school year until you’re done. And then we can find somewhere to be together. Somewhere we’re both happy.”

“Mav,” I choke out. “I can’t let you do that.”

“You can,” he whispers, grabbing my hands and pressing them to his lips. “Please don’t say you don’t want this.”

The way his voice cracks when he says it has me stumbling into him and holding him tightly.

“Of course I want it. I want you. I just don’t want you to regret it, regret me.”

“I could never,” he says, burrowing his face in my hair and inhaling. “I won’t. I love you. I want to be near you. Always. And if that means I work at a friend’s shop for a while, I will. My work isn’t much anyway. I can get hired anywhere.”

I stare up at him and shake my head. “No. Don’t say that.

Don’t talk about yourself like that. You’re more.

You do things that people need. You provide a service.

You’re talented. You’ve always said I’m smart, that I’m going places, but you are too.

I don’t think you realize it, but you are.

In your own way, you’re fucking genius, Mav. You’re enough.”

I clutch him to me harder.

“I love you,” I say. “I love who you are. Inside and out.”

He stares at me, his eyes blinking wildly.

“You shouldn’t say such nice things about me. I have a past. A mom who is shit, a brother in jail, a dad who’s dead…”

“I don’t care. You’re not them. You’re Maverick. Mine. You’re fucking mine, and I love you .”

He breathes deeply, a loud sigh. “Does this mean you’ll let me move near you?”

I peer up at him, those dark, assessing eyes. “How about you move in with me? I don’t think I’d like you just near. I want you next to me. Every day.”

His lips twitch and he smiles. “Yeah, I was hoping for that, but didn’t want to press my luck.”

“It’s settled then. You’ll move in with me. We’ll live near school while it’s in session and come home during breaks.”

“Yeah.”

“And we’ll be happy.”

“Yeah, we will.”

I stand on my tiptoes and press my lips to his.

Fuck yes. This. Right here.

We may not be mates. Yet. But we will be, in time. It will all work out.