“Yeah, we can stay here, babe.” I quickly lock up and then scoop Gwen up into my arms and carry her to the spare bedroom.
“Tell me, how are things going?” Joanna, the therapist for the department, asks as I take a drink of my water. This is my first visit, and honestly I think this will be my only visit. I’m not waking anymore feeling claustrophobic.
I shrug. “So much better. I can actually think about the accident now without my heart racing. I haven’t started using a blanket yet, but I don’t think I would have a problem if I did.” I take a drink from my coffee cup. “Gwen, my girlfriend, was the girl in the van with me. She still jerks in her sleep, but she is no longer fighting sleep.”
“Were you in a relationship before the accident?” I shake my head. “You went through a traumatic experience together. It’s normal for people who go through something together to lean on the other person because of a shared experience.”
I lean forward. “Are you saying that our relationship isn’t real? There was an attraction before the accident, we just didn’t act on it because—well I don’t know about her, but I didn’t because she’s my boss’s daughter.”
Joanna holds up her hand. “No, I’m not saying that. I apologize if that’s what you thought. Sometimes trauma can put a strain on a relationship.”
We talk a little while longer and when I leave I don’t make any plans to come back. Honestly, it feels like I just wasted my time. This is something I probably should’ve done sooner than this.
I step out of the building and walk down to the station to my bike. On the ride home, my thoughts are plagued by what Joanna said. Are Gwen and me together just because we went through the accident together? No, I’m falling in love with her, those feelings are real, I feel it deep.
That hit me the other night while lying in Troy’s spare bedroom with her wrapped around me like a spider monkey. I haven’t told her, I know she’s got feelings for me too, but she hasn’t said anything either.
When I get home, I pull into the driveway and find it empty. I let myself inside and whistle for Butch, but I get no response. “Butch, come here, boy.” I move through the house and in the kitchen I find a note.
Hey baby!
Butch and I went for a car ride. I needed some clean clothes and he told me he wanted to see my parents. We’ll be back later.
Gwen
I smile and then set the note down on the counter. I grab my phone out of my pocket and open up Gwen’s Instagram page and sure enough, there’s a picture of her and Butch sitting in her car.
The caption makes me smile. Hanging with my favorite four-legged boy.
I like it and then set my phone down. While I’m changing, the doorbell chimes so I know it’s not Gwen since she’s got a key. I throw on red basketball shorts and a white sleeveless t-shirt. The doorbell chimes again and I walk barefoot out to the living room.
When I pull the door open, I find Tawney on the other side. I haven’t seen her since the fight between her and Gwen. “What are you doing here?” I cross my arms over my chest.
“I’ve been seeing you and Gwen together a lot. That still going on?”
I sigh. “Not like it’s any of your business, but yes, it’s still going on. Is that all you needed?”
“No, dammit—why her? I’m hotter than she is, better in bed, and better for you.”
I shake my head. “We fucked three times, that’s it. I’m sorry if you thought there was something more, but I made it very clear that it was just sex.”
Butch comes around Tawney and right to me. Shit, Gwen’s home.
Eighteen
Gwen
“Come on, Butch. Let’s go bye-bye.” He groans as he gets up from his spot on the floor. I wrap my arms around Dad and kiss his cheek. “Sorry I’m taking your buddy away.”
Surprise, surprise, Dad absolutely loves Butch and the way the traitor followed him around it was mutual. I came by earlier to have lunch with them and afterward Mom and Dad took Butch for a walk while I hung out with my brother and sister.
“I suppose you’re heading back to his house?” Dad crosses his arms and sighs.
I wrap my arms around his waist. “He’s a good guy, Dad. You wouldn’t have him working for you if he wasn’t a good guy.”
“He is a good officer—one of the best on the force, but no one is ever going to be good enough for my girls.” Dad kisses my forehead. “I love you.”
I smile up at him. “I love you, too.”
Butch hops into the back seat and I buckle him into the little contraption that’ll protect him if I get in an accident. I close the door and then climb in the driver’s side.
I roll down the window for Butch to stick his head out. We drive thru a coffee shop and I order an iced coffee and they give me a little cup of whipped cream for Butch. I hear him in my back seat going to town on that cup.
When I pull down Maverick’s street I see someone standing on the porch. It’s not until I pull up in front of the house that I see it’s Tawney. My stomach pitches and my blood boils. I’m not sure why she won’t just disappear.
I let Butch out and follow him up the stairs.
“We fucked three times, that’s it. I’m sorry if you thought there was something more, but I made it very clear that it was just sex.”
“Come on, Mavey. We had a good time.” I step forward so she can see me, and when she does, she rolls her eyes. “He’ll get tired of you and he’ll come back to me, they always do.”
I don’t even give her the satisfaction. Instead, I move toward Maverick, get up on my tiptoes, and kiss the shit out of him. Then I slam the door in her face. “She’s like a bad penny.”
He laughs, takes my iced coffee out of my hands, setting it down, and then picks me up, throwing me over his shoulder. Maverick slaps my ass. “My girl is sassy.”
He starts moving through the house and then I’m flying through the air, landing with a bounce on his bed. Maverick follows me down and rolls us until I’m straddling him. I lean down, kissing him.
“I’m sorry she was here. I swear she just showed up right before you came home.”
I kiss behind his ear and then nip at his earlobe. “I believe you. You don’t owe me any explanation. She just doesn’t like not getting her way and she hasn’t changed in all of the years that I’ve known her.”
“I don’t think she’ll do anything, but maybe for the time being if you see her coming, just turn around and go the other way.”
“Okay, I promise I’ll walk the other way.”
Maverick pulls me down for a kiss, my tongue brushes his as our kiss intensifies. This man knows how to give me toe-curling kisses. He pulls back. “I’m gonna fuck you, and then I’m gonna feed you.”
I do a full body shiver and then he does what he says; he fucks me and then he feeds me.
"Hi Gwenaphiles, I hope you enjoyed my video from my amazing trip to Fiji. It was an experience I’ll never forget. I’m starting to plan my next adventure and I’ll share it with you when everything is set.” I smile. “I want to thank you all for supporting me, following me, and sharing your own adventures with me. Until next time, peace and love.”