Page 33 of Maverick

"Any plans tonight?" I ask him.

His gaze sharpens, and he looks at me with that familiar, assessing look he often wears dealing with all of us. "None that can't be canceled."

"Good. I need a wingman."

10

MAVERICK

"Two beers," Ransom says to the bartender as we settle onto bar stools. This place is dim, the music's low. It's the kind of place people come to brush up against one another, to make connections, to find company. Sure, there are a few couples, but most of the people in here are like me. They want something.

Someone.

"What are we doing here, brother?" Ransom asks, tapping the glass bottle in front of him. "I thought you had your eye on someone."

"Is everybody talking about that?"

"Yep. You've been pretty damn solitary the last decade. So when you mentioned her, then went to that rescue to spend more time with her, word got back to me."

"It's annoying how much we gossip in this family."

Ransom laughs and props an elbow on the bar. "Fair. I don't see it changing anytime soon, though, so it's something you're going to have to accept."

"I can accept it, but I don't have to fucking like it."

"No man, you don't. Go ahead, rage. I'll wait." He stares at me expectantly, slow blinking.

"Asshole."

He grins and takes a sip of his beer, relaxing. He's always been like this. Quiet, watchful. Until he explodes into action. That's a side of him we don't see as much anymore, but when Ransom gets protective, people bleed.

Both versions of him are a protector, but this time, there's nothing for him to fight. It's just fucking life, the toughest opponent.

"You ever get lonely man?" I ask, staring sightlessly at the bottles behind the bar.

His mouth twists and he shifts on his stool. "Not too long ago, I would have said no. Now? I'm not sure how to answer that. We have a great life. A fucking spectacular life. But things are changing fast."

"We do a little less together than we used to."

"True."

"I know I'm alone more than I used to be. I'm not mad that the women are in our family. I just feel…"

"Left out."

"You too?"

Ransom rubs at the edge of his eyebrow. "Maybe. Which is fucking stupid, considering I hoped this would happen."

"You did? You never talked about us finding women or having kids."

"It's the natural progression of everything we've built, though. Seeing you all married, living lives filled with love and warmth, was always the plan."

"And you."

His mouth tightens, but he doesn't answer, eye tracking around the room. Something uncomfortable pricks at the back of my neck.

"And you, Ran. You'll find someone, get married, have kids."

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