Page 102 of IOU

“He posted clips of her and her friend arguing.” Tucker’s face is red, and I want to laugh. He’s very passionate about his girlfriend’s social media page. “That was a private moment!”

Maverick’s eyes narrow. “The way I heard it, your girlfriend had been fat shaming herfriendand teammate. Sebastian simply covered the story.”

“That wasn’t our deal!”

Maverick’s chest vibrates with a chuckle. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Tommy, but I believe your favor was, and I quote, ‘to help your girlfriend become internet famous’.”

Maverick’s arms go up like he shrugged behind me. “I believe I did that. Our deal never included how I got her internet famous.”

Know your opponent he once told me. Tucker definitely did not know his opponent when he struck a deal with Maverick.

I grin. Both of them deserve it. “I guess next time you should know who you’re dealing with,” I add with a smug look.

Tucker shakes his head and scoffs. “Like you? Do you know who you’re dealing with, Ainsley? Who you’re sleeping with?”

A knot forms in my stomach as an unsettling sensation spreads across my skin. “I know my opponent,” I tell him, relishing the strength of Maverick’s tight squeeze around me.

A smug smile tugs along Tucker’s cheating face. “Does she, Maverick? Does she know the only reason you let her stay with you is because you were forced to?”

Gah, Tucker is a moron. “Of course he was forced, stupid. I asked him for a favor and like a good businessman, he honored it.”

Tucker doubles over, his eyes alight with laughter. “She has no idea, does she?”

Suddenly, Maverick’s arm around me doesn’t feel like he’s offering me support, more like he’s keeping me from running. I tug his arm and turn. “What is he talking about?”

I’ll never forget the pain I see cemented in Maverick’s eyes. He swallows, his Adam’s apple working. “I was going to tell you—”

Tucker’s vicious laugh cuts him off. “Sure you were. Allow me, it’s the least I can do.”

Shivers trail down my spine. Part of me wants to run from this whole ordeal, but the other part of me wants to know the truth. I deserve the damn truth! I’ve been tossed around like garbage by Tucker. The least Maverick could do is show me his true colors before we get in too deep.

I’m lying to myself. I’m already in too deep. Whatever Tucker plans to tell me is going to hurt worse than me finding him ass up, plowing into Taylor.

I shove away from Maverick where he can’t touch me. I don’t want to be near either one of them right now.

Tucker grins at the movement, seemingly pleased with destroying me. “You weren’t the first person who asked him to take you in.”

“What?” I whip around and look for the denial in Maverick’s eyes. There isn’t any. His head hangs like he lost a million-dollar poker game.

“I’m sorry,” he says, reaching out for my hand.

I take a step back. “Who asked you to take me in, Maverick?”

My voice is hard, but my mind is racing a thousand miles per hour. Who knew I was kicked out of my apartment? Well, not that question. Everyone heard about me getting kicked out. But who would have asked Maverick for a favor to take me in? Who would do that?

“Tell me!” I shout when he just stands there, worrying his lip.

“I can’t do that.” His words are resigned.

I huff. “Because you’re an honest businessman? Is that it? Tell me, Maverick, do honest businessmen get paid twice for the same favor?”

“It wasn’t like that,” he hurries out. “I owed him a favor. He received nothing in return.”

You have got to be shitting me. “I guess that makes it okay then?” I throw my hands up before deciding it’s not good enough. I rush him and shove the man who made me whole only to cut me in half. “I loved you!” Tears fall down my face. “I trusted you!” A sob bursts from my lips. “And this whole time you’ve been lying to me.”

“I wasn’t lying.” He tries to grab for me, but I sidestep him.

“Lying by omission is the same thing.”

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