Page 10 of Tattered
Four
RYAN
Holy shit. What just happened?
I’ve been waiting for what has felt like forever to see Maverick again. It’s crazy how much can change in a matter of twelve hours.
After Maverick told me he’d be waiting, he opened the door and strutted out of the back room like nothing had just happened. I’m usually able to keep my cool, not much is able to break this hard exterior I usually keep locked in place like a fortress.
That has all gone out the window since Maverick walked back into my life. Pulling my hat off my head, I run my hands through my hair and press the back of my hand against my mouth, trying to gain some semblance of control. The attraction I’ve always felt for Maverick hasn’t gone away, even after all this time.
I open the door and walk back out into the bar, heat rising beneath my skin, thinking back to how Maverick had me pressed against the door. His hardness rubbing against my aching center, full of promise of what’s to come later tonight.
As soon as I near the bar, Nadia appears out of nowhere from the back room and pulls me by the arm behind her. My eyes flutter around the room and land on Maverick, where he’s seated at the bar. There’s a knowing smirk on his face as he tips the bottle of Bud Light toward me before taking a long pull.
“What the hell just happened?” Nadia asks, taking the words out of my mouth from just a moment ago.
“What are you talking about?” I question, playing coy. I know it’s stupid considering half the bar likely saw him press me against the wall before I dragged him down the hallway to the supply closet.
I wasn’t even paying attention to what was going on around me, or even who may have been watching us. I had been so caught up in the moment it was like nothing else existed.
“Don’t play those games with me, Ry. I just saw how you two were grinding against each other, right in the middle of the bar might I add. Then, all the sudden I turn around and you’re gone.”
“We were just talking. It’s not a big deal.” I roll my eyes, exasperated.
“Talking, huh? Is that what they call it now? Were you talking about all the ways he’d like to fuck you because that’s what it looked like to me.”
I nearly choke on air, causing me to spiral in a fit of coughs. My eyes furrow at Nadia and the smug as fuck grin on her face says it all.
“You’re a crude one there, Nad.”
“You love me for it.”
Shaking my head, I turn to push the door open and saunter back into the bar but not before she yells behind me, “This is not the end of this conversation, Ryan Marie. I want the details and you better fucking spill them.”
The night creeps by at a snail’s pace after that. Maverick and Graham sit at the end of the bar, shooting the shit and every second that ticks by, I can sense his eyes on me. Undressing me.
Sauntering over to where they are seated, I see that Mav is running low, so I pull another beer out of the cooler and pop the cap before sliding it over to him.
“Trying to get me drunk?” Maverick asks, raising his eyebrow. He flashes me a wink before he swallows what’s left of his beer and sets the bottle on the counter.
“I know you’re a sure thing, Night. No need to get you drunk to have my way with you.”
Graham laughs. He looks like he’s good on his beer, so I turn to check on the other bar patrons.
The rest of the night tends to flow just like that. A couple of Graham’s friends come in later. I don’t know them well, but I’ve seen them around town. I smile at their warm welcome home and give Maverick some time with his friends.
“You can take off now if you want. It’s not super busy tonight so we should be able to cover it while you’re gone,” Nadia says, taking the empty bottle of vodka from my hand.
“You sure? I only have about twenty minutes left before I’m off.”
“I’m sure. I’ve seen the way he’s been eye-fucking you all night. The poor guy needs to be put out of his misery. Call me tomorrow because I want the details. I mean, all of them,” she says, pointing the bottle at me as she raises her eyebrows, making sure I know she’s serious.
Nadia was there for me through all the heartache after Maverick left town. I understand why he left; I do. It doesn’t make the fact it ended before we ever got started hurt any less. We were both in two different places in our lives and I know he didn’t want to drag me down the path he was going on when who knows if it would’ve ever worked.
Printing out their tab, I walk over to where Maverick and Graham are sitting and slide the bill toward them.
“We’re not quite ready yet,” Maverick says. The hint of laughter plays on his lips.
