Your blowing your thoughts out of proportion, my mind yells at me. And I grit my teeth, trying and failing to calm my anger.
The light goes green and we fly to Jessica’s apartment with her stunned into silence for the rest of the way. I’m still pissed at her little stunt at Slate, but now there’s Suzanna to deal with too. They’re both acting like children and I can’t deal with this crap now that I’m so close to getting into the state games. None of them are worth this golden opportunity and I need them to get themselves together with some degree of haste.
I pull up to the front of her parents’ home and press the button for her to get out.
“You’re not coming up?” she asks quietly, and I spare her a glance.
“No.”
“Are you still mad about the other night?”
“Get out Jessica. I need to go.”
“Maverick, I already apologized for what happened, but if you need to hear it again-”
My jaw seems to have been wound up tightly all evening, and I take a deep breath with my eyes closed before I turn to look at her.
“I’m not doing this with you anymore.”
Her mouth falls open and her eyes water almost instantly.
It’s been a crappy day from start to finish and something tells me it’s not about to get any better. I don’t need to add one of Jessica’s temper tantrums to my list of things to take care of. I’ve already got Jared, Beth and her boy toy on my shit list; Jessica’s name has too many syllables and I simply do not have the energy or the desire to put up with any more of the melodrama.
“What are you saying?” she shrieks, and I start the engine.
“‘I’m saying, I need a break from you and your constant crap. You and Suzie are more work than you’re worth, really.”
“Maverick-”
“Jessica. Out!” I point to the curb that’s eagerly awaiting her.
She slowly drags herself out of the car and I close the doors and speed away before she even reaches the sidewalk.
My flat is only a few blocks away, but there’s something else more urgent on my mind that I need to do, or I’m going to explode.
I make a sharp U-turn at the end of her street and head back towards the direction of my offending bride and her overly eager friend.
The taillights before me fade away quickly as I race back to the restaurant.
I’m back in time to see them closing up and I barely park the car before I jump out, my heart thumping in my ear as I feel my arms winding up to throw punches. I shove the door open and step inside, the bright lights hitting my eyes at an awkward angle, making me squint.
I spot Beth in her gaudy black barista outfit, leaning against the counter, talking to what’s his face and my fists clench the closer I get to them. She’s laughing at something he said and tucking one of her fly-away hairs behind her ear, blushing like a wall being doused with spray paint.
My strides are long and swift, shortening the gap in record time, and I still have no idea what I intend to do. I’m not even sure why I’m here or why I’m so riled up, but I’ve become an automaton and all I can do is watch the radical side of me seek retribution.
The smirking boy toy spots me first and his shoulders bristle instantly. “Can I help you with something?” he asks brusquely.
“No. Just taking what’s rightfully mine,” I snap back, latching onto Beth’s wrist and turning to leave.
The booths are empty, and in the silence of the night, all I can hear is the raging caveman beating his chest inside my head.
Beth is shocked at my presence, and gawking at the rough contact, but quickly recovers and starts to pull away from me.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she protests loudly. “Maverick let go of me.” She’s struggling as I drag her along with me.
From the corner of my eye I can see her boy-toy coming around the counter at top speed to her rescue.
“Maverick!” she screams again.
“Hey! Buddy! I don’t know what your problem is man, but I’m gonna need you to let her go!”
I glance over my shoulder to see him holding a baseball bat. So he’s willing to get bloody just for little Miss Beth here? I suppose they really are fucking.
Something about that pisses me off even more and I yank her in one tug to the other side of me and turn my back to her, blocking her from him.
“Are you gonna come and get her?”
“What the hell, Maverick! What the fuck is wrong with you?”
She’s back between us again, holding up her arms towards me in animated confusion, panic written all over her face, her eyes wildly looking around as if she expects someone else to hop out of the woodworks and join the party.
“We’re leaving,” I hear myself say and her brows form an M in her forehead.
“What?”
“You’re coming with me.” I grab her arm and she starts hitting me again.
Her friend is faster than I expect him to be, and he’s at my throat with a fistful of my shirt tightly gripped between his fingers.
“Let her go,” he growls, and I lose all reason.
I shove him out of my face and step towards him, but Beth finds her way between us again, falling flat almost instantly in the scuffle.
“Are you alright?” he asks, stooping down to her side and she nods.
The whole scene is annoying to watch. I can feel my scowl deepening and I hold my hand out to her, ordering her to take it.
“Let’s go.”
“I don’t want to go anywhere with you,” she barks back.
I stick my hand out. The look on my face is animalistic; a lion baring his teeth. “Take my hand and come with me or I’ll tell him exactly who I am to you.”
Her eyelids peel back so far they seem to have disappeared into her face.
“Maverick please,” she shrieks.
Good, she’s scared, I think. But for some reason, that doesn’t feel like such a good thing. This bastard means something to her; so much so that panic fills her eyes at the prospect of him finding out our relationship status.
“What is he talking about?” he asks her as she stands and swats my hand away.
“I’m sorry, Tyler. I have to go.” She whispers the words, her voice quivering with unshed tears. Good. I’m not exactly a happy camper either.
“Today’s her last day,” I inform him, marching out and dragging Beth behind me.
Lover-boy’s hardened expression gives way to confusion as he watches her leave behind me, and my inner caveman does a victory lap around the barren desert of my heart.
20
“What the hell was that?” I huff, wishing I could slam this ridiculous door. I drag the seatbelt down as hard as I can instead, hoping it will rip right out. If it does, maybe I’ll fucking strangle him with it.
As my back presses against the coolness of the leather seat, one thing becomes ridiculously clear. Maverick is a spiteful, vengeful, waste of space. I cannot believe he just threatened to out me, when he’s the one who’s so terrified to be associated with me.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I sail a fist into his shoulder and he jumps, apparently startled, but his expression doesn’t change. Why would it? It’s not like he actually cares.