Page 78 of Ruse
“Levi? What are you doing here?” Maverick demands, clearly upset about her presence.
A look of confusion washes over her, the flickering string lights above illuminating her as she stands there before us, everyone around us now staring and curiously watching her.
“What do you mean Maverick?” Levi asks, taken aback by his reaction. My eyes flick from hers back to Maverick who looks nervously around the yard. “You told me to come. You said they were ready to meet me.” Levi adds, her voice now an inaudible murmur only we can hear.
Maverick leaves my side and rushes over to her, grabbing her by the arm, mumbling something I can't quite hear.
I’m no longer confused. Now I’m angry watching him put his hands on her like she means something to him. I recall the time I ran into Levi at Chelseas Boutique, the way she was fawning over Maverick as she spoke about him, mentioning how hot and in demand he was. The little bitch.
“What the hell Maverick? Who is she?” I shout, letting the jealousy get the best of me.
He grunts, not bothering to look back at me. “Not now Nyx.”
His dismissal only irritates me further and confirms my suspicion. “You brought her here to my house, is this some kind of sick joke?”
“I said not now,” he shouts louder.
“Then tell me who the fuck is she?”
“I swear to god Phoenix.”
Coming up behind him, I shove him toward her, making her stumble back and fall on her ass. Instead of helping her up, Maverick turns to me with fury raging in his eyes, like the violent and wild flames of hell's inferno blazing within his blue irises. “I told you to back off Phoenix. This doesn’t concern you. Whoever she is, she’s leaving.” He turns back to face Levi who’s getting up off the floor, dusting her skirt off with her hands. “Now!” he shouts, once again grabbing her by the arm, but the chick doesn’t seem like she’s eager to follow his command.
Now it’s me who turns volatile, the fire inside of me burning rampant at his rejection. “After what Chad did to me,” I whisper, tears pricking my eyes and making his body go rigid. Slowly turning to me with a look that proves his betrayal only slightly overshadowed by the hint of remorse, he watches me, unsure of what to say, or unwilling to say anything.
“It’s not what you think baby,” he mutters, letting Levi go and reaching for me. Mav grabs my wrist, but I pull away from him, frantically yelling for him to get away.
“Don’t touch me,” I cry out, swatting at his chest. Everyone around us is now completely engrossed in the scene playing out in front of them. Deep inside I know what this is, but I refuse to believe him capable of it, because if I do, if what I think is true, I don’t think I could survive it. I swallow down my pride and ask what I wish isn’t true. “Are you cheating on me Maverick?”
His gaze drops to his feet, shame and betrayal evident in the way he softly shakes his head denying it only because he’s run out of excuses. What does the song say,don’t tell me sorry because you’re not, you’re only sorry you got caught.
“Oh honey, you’re going to wish that’s all it was.”
The three of us turn to find Tate standing behind us, her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, and the still present pink streak of hair, matching the color of her outfit, falling in a spiral curl down her face. But it is the look of satisfaction written all over her face, which proves she’s the one to blame for whatever’s going on. As expected, since she’s the only person in the crowd watching us who’s smiling. The only one who seems to know exactly what’s happening.
Tate steps around us and over to Levi, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Levi, darling I’m so glad you could make it. I know it was so last minute but I’m happy you’re here.”
“Tate,” Maverick warns, glaring at her like he’s contemplating the consequences of strangling her to death. I for one say go for it. At this point I’d strangle the bitch myself.
Of course, Brooklyn decides now is the right time to show up again, “What the hell is going on?” Barely able to stand on his own two feet and yelling barbarically, he looks between Maverick and I, then toward Tate and Levi, his eyes squinting low trying to read the situation in front of him. Surprisingly, he puts two and two together. “You brought your side chick to our house? The same house you’re currently fucking my sister in?”
“Brooklyn,” Donovan shouts, appearing from the crowd and rushing over to my brother who’s about to swing his fist at Maverick.
Great, everyone’s here.
Maverick, however, easily ducks away having seen the punch coming a mile away, and instead leans forward to steady Brooklyn who’s just shy of comatose, nearly falling over as he throws another hit.
This is all too much, and I can’t take any more of this bullshit from anyone here. However, just as I’m about to walk away, another familiar, yet unexpected person appears behind us. “Levi,” she says, placing a hand on Levi’s other shoulder since Tate’s still holding onto her right.
“Mom?” Levi says, turning around to face the woman I know and recognize.
“Chelsea?” I murmur, taking a step toward them.
Levi looks frantically between her mother, Maverick, and me, while Chelsea turns to face me looking relieved to see me or resigned to accept whatever the hell is about to happen here.
“Mom, what are you doing here?” Levi shouts.
Chelsea, who I now see is the perfect mirror image of her teenage daughter, grabs Levi by her wrist, nervously looking around the yard as if she’s hiding from someone or doesn’t want to be seen. “We need to go sweetie, now.”
