Page 19 of Spurred On

Chapter 13

Maverick

We walk into the big house after a long day of shitstorms. Everything that could go wrong did: the fence was down, the cattle decided it was a free-for-all and roamed two miles down the road, and my truck got a flat tire. Even if the day was total shit, it was still nice to be home and with my people. I don’t have to have the perfect persona here; in this house, I can just be Maverick.

“Hello boys, how was your day?” Mabel asks as she turns her head, looking away from whatever she is whipping up on the stove. It smells so good, it makes my stomach rumble.

“Well, it’s 4:30 and I already need a beer,” Weston says, the dirt covering his face really enhancing the display of how shitty this day was.

“And that’s different, how?” Rhett pipes in as he pulls his boots off his feet.

“Fuck off. I’ve settled down in my old age.” Weston glares, and he has, compared to high school and college Weston, this one is practically a golden child.

“If you boys start talking about thirty being old, I’m going to have to whoop your asses,” Jack says. His mostly hidden lips turn up in a smile.

“What do you boys say about staying over for dinner tonight? I’m whipping up a big pot of chili, and I’ve got enough cornbread tofeed an army,” Mabel says as she walks out from the kitchen, around the large island, and into the living room. She dusts her hands before looking at all of us, knowing good and well that we don’t ever turn down her homemade meals.

“You don’t have to tell us twice, Mom,” Weston says as he walks into the kitchen to give Mabel a peck on the cheek. He is a giant mama’s boy, even if he doesn't have the balls to admit it.

“Mav, I’ve got cookies in the oven for you right now.” I knew I smelled chocolate chip cookies when I walked in here.

“You sure know the way to a man’s heart.”

“Speaking of, why don’t you call your little lady friend and have her join us? I’d love to get to know her better.” Mabel leans into the counter, brushing her long braid behind her.

“Oooh, me too!” Weston’s sister, Aspen, walks in. Her brown hair is pulled back into her usual bun. Her oversized hoodie covers up the majority of her long legs. While Weston took after Jack, Mabel and Aspen are carbon copies of each other. Aspen did inherit her dad’s sarcastic attitude, though.

“Us too. He never lets us come over anymore.” Weston looks to Rhett, who has a shit-eating grin on his face. These assholes live to make me uncomfortable. I know without a doubt they will be grilling me about her the second they turn their ears. There is nothing to tell…or nothing I am willing to share with the group.

“I can see if she wants to swing by. I know for sure she likes your cooking.” I’m still not over her swiping my dinner plate. The little thief may not have known meatloaf is my favorite, but I’m still salty over it. Pulling out my phone, I shoot her a text asking if she wants to come by. Can’t blame her if she doesn’t want to join. This is quite the crowd to throw yourself into.

I go to sit at the island in the center of the kitchen and my phone dings from my back pocket. My eyebrows shoot to my forehead when I read the message.

“Uhm, she said she will come.”

“Oh yay! We need another girl around here. All this testosterone is suffocating.” Aspen waves her hand around in the air to add to her dramatics. She has always had a personality that was bigger than life.

I look around the room. “Listen here, none of you better make her uncomfortable. She’s new around town, and I’ve already put her in a shitty spot. I will whip all your asses if you make this weird.”

“Do I sense some protectiveness coming off you, Mav?” Aspen leans her forearms on the marble counter and wags her eyebrows at me. Off to a real good start of not making shit weird.

“No. I just know y’all can be a lot.”

Everyone in the room looks at each other and has a silent conversation like I'm not sitting here. Getting off the stool, I make my way to the fridge. I’m going to need a beer for this.

Within a few minutes, there is a knock at the front door, and my heart races with nervous energy. These are all my people, and I want her to like them. I want them to like her. Why do I need that though? I’ve never worried about that with any other girls before. My palms suddenly feel sweaty, so I rub them against my jeans while walking to the front door. I swing it open, and she shyly smiles.

“Come on in. I will formally introduce you to the group.” She steps inside and slides off her tennis shoes. “Here, let me take your coat.” I pull the coat off her shoulders and see she’s dressed up a little. Her long-sleeved shirt forms perfectly against her curves, and if all eyes weren’t on us right now, I’d be taking my time to look. Her jeans sit high on her hips and flare out toward the bottom.

Placing my hand on her lower back, I guide her forward. “Everyone, this is Ava. I’m sure you have all kind of met or talked to her.”

“Hi, sweetheart. It’s great to see you again.” Weston’s mom comes up and gives her a big hug. I watch some of the tension in her body melt. Her hugs have the tendency to do that. She naturally becomes everyone’s mom, I don’t know how she does it.

“This giant is Rhett.” He dips his head as a hello; he’s almost 6’5 and towers over everyone, so if she needs an identifying factor for him, giant will do it. “And this is Weston. This is his parent’s house.” Which I am pretty sure I have already told her, but my nerves are making me feel a little frayed. “And this is Aspen, Weston’s sister.” Aspen comes running over.

“I am so happy you are here!” Aspen says, and Ava’s eyes light up in surprise to her warm welcome, almost as if she was startled. I shake my head, chuckling under my breath. Ava’s eyes find me, and I smile in encouragement.

“Well, since we are all here, let's get to the table and dig in!” Mabel says.

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