Page 78 of Never Started
Not backing down, she pokes at my chest, continuing, "Why couldn't you follow my simple rules? Why didn't you run from me when I clearly warned you to? Why did you persist when I told you I didn't want a relationship? Why didn't you just give up? And why on Earth did you have to make me fall in love with you!?" By the time she's finished, she's panting, her fists are clenched, and a lone tear rolls down her cheek.
I hear her words, processing them, but all I can focus on is one thing replaying in my mind that leaves me standing still, stuck in place from shock.
"Iz, did you just admit that you love me?" I ask, barely above a whisper.
She lets out a sigh. Her shoulders slump forward, and she drops her head as she wipes away her tears.
I begin to walk toward her, attempting to reach out to her to pull her into me, but I'm stopped short. She shoots a hand out, pushing at my chest, softly, halting my movements.
"Get out," she whispers, her tone filled with every ounce of her sadness.
"Babe—"
"Mav, please. Just get out. For now."
I cannot bring myself to upset her further, since that was never my intention. I nod, and with that, I walk out the door and head to the main house of Cole Ranch to celebrate Thanksgiving... Without her.
There’s something I’m missing, but at the same time, I feel like I understand it all so clearly. She may not want to admit anything to me, or even herself, but I saw it in the way that guy looked at me and in the way she responded. There was something between those two. Somethingmore. For some reason, it’s been kept a secret, and that’s not my business to divulge.
In the end, it doesn’t really matter.
I’m in her life now, and I’m here to stay.
Chapter thirty-five
Maverick
November 2023
“Hey, y’all. Happy Thanksgiving,” I call out the moment I walk through the front door of the main house.
Via rushes from the kitchen, barreling my way with a smile that quickly fades when she notices I’m here alone. Her brows furrow, and she quickly pulls me into a hug.
“Mav, what’s wrong?” she whispers into my ear.
"Please go check on her, V,” I say, trying to keep my voice even, but all the sadness I’m bottling up rings clear in my tone.
Without another word needed, she nods, grabs the keys to the ATV, and signals to Ander that she’ll be back. It’s then that I catch sight of Jett standing nearby. I can tell he picks up on what's going on by the way his jaw flexes and posture tenses, then he begins walking my way.
For a moment, I think he’s going to greet me. He doesn’t. He just walks right past me, as if I don’t exist.
Dick.
“I have to go run to the barn and check on something. I’ll be back,” he announces, rushing out the front door.
“Okay, honey,” Mrs. Kristen calls out, but the door is already closed.
I blink a few times, my heartbeat picking up its pace in my chest. It’s then that I piece it all together. “Going to the barn, my ass,” I murmur to myself. I know he’s going with Via to check on Izzy. I can feel it in my bones.
Part of me wants to follow after him. Demand answers from him since I can't get them out of her.
I don’t.
Whatever history is there, it’s in the past. I have to trust that. Trust her.
So instead, I shrug it off, push further into the house, and pretend as if everything is fine. Apparently, I fail because after a while, Ander catches on.
“You okay, man?” he asks, patting my shoulder.
