Page 40 of IOU

“Are you planning to drop me off somewhere deserted where no one can find me?”

You never know. A lot of rumors float around about Maverick. One can never be too careful.

“I might if you don’t get in and hush.”

Hush. That’s better than shut up or “Hey, down this drink and let me secure this gag in your mouth.”

“Where are we going?”

Maverick rubs his forehead like I’m giving him a headache. “To get something to eat. You’re hungry, yes?”

I told you he was an angel, and people just talk shit about him.

I grin really big and do a little bounce on the balls of my feet. “Damn straight I’m hungry!” I streak past him and burrow into his black leather seats. Gah, why must everything of his feel so comfortable? “Besides, you owe me. You scared my blood sugar low.” Seriously. Sitting in this seat, I’m suddenly exhausted and starving—all his fault.

He slams the door, ignoring my comment, and walks around the front of the car, shaking his head. Must be the headache.

In what seems to be an hour, Maverick pulls up to a little pizza place and throws the car in park. “Do you like pizza? I know it’s not mac and cheese but—”

“Don’t even start,” I interrupt. “I’ve had a stressful night, and I could use a little less of your sarcasm right now, okay?”

Yes, it was a bold thing to say, but when he’s sarcastic, he seems to be in a little better mood.

One of his eyebrows arches in a way that could be playful or threatening. I’m going with playful. “I want plain cheese.”

That gets a better reaction out of him. “Just cheese? What kind of person are you?”

I cock my own damn eyebrow. “A plain one.”

He chuckles, getting out of the car. “There’s nothing about you that’s plain.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, following behind him as he pauses to lock the car. “Are you saying I’m complicated?”

I guess that would be true. I have my issues like everyone else.

“What do you want to drink?”

Great, he’s ignoring me. “Why are you asking me about my order in the parking lot and not inside?”

He holds the door open. “Because you started ordering in the car. I thought that might be your thing.”

“I thought I asked you to tone down the sarcasm?”

“I thought I asked you to hush?”

Touché.

I grin, knowing he doesn’t really mean it, and walk inside. The restaurant is small and quaint. Dare I say it’s even cozy. It’s exactly my thing, and I’m in love with it.

We follow the nice woman to a booth in the corner. It seems like she knows Maverick, but she never addresses him by name. After taking our drink orders, she leaves, and of course, I must be nosy. “Do you know her?”

He’s mid-sip into his water. Yes, you heard that correctly. He’s drinking water with his pizza. Who drinks water with their pizza? Everyone knows you need carbonation with pizza.

“Why do you think I know her?”

I watch for any signs of nervousness. None. “She smiled at you,” I note.

“I imagine that would fare well for her with tips.”

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