It’s just our way. I feel guilty. My cell chimes with a text from Gretchen as we pull into the valet parking.
Ur mom called the house after you left. U need to give her ur cell #, Winnie. PS) so sorry. I hope M can still engage landing gear.
I’m surprised my mom called. She never calls anymore. I didn’t think she knew how to work a phone anymore. I thought number five did it for her. Hell, maybe he did tonight, too. I type back to her as I exit the car, feeling where every hair follicle once was.
No landing gear tonight. I can barely walk. What did Kathy want? You owe me anyway.
She was upset. U need to call her 2morrow.
Great. That sounds like a freaking nightmare. She probably drank too much and wanted to talk about how my life was turning into her poor, miserable existence. It wouldn’t be the first time. I debate texting Gretchen back, but realize Maverick is studying me. He glances at my phone. No more confusion in his eyes. He looks angry. The hairs on my neck rise at the sight of him.
“Ready to go in?” I smile and put my cell in my clutch. I’ll talk to Gretchen later. My mother…maybe never. My focus should be on the man I’m with right now. The man who looks absolutely edible. The man who I am going to have to confess Gretchen’s mortal sin to.
“Are you done with your phone?” he asks, with more irritation than I’ve ever heard from him. Maybe even a hint of sarcasm too. I just nod because we’re already in the club, and it’s loud and full of sparkles and wigs and all the crazy-ass slutty costumes that are typical on Halloween. Air conditioning blows to keep all the swaying bodies cool and a slight chill blows up my dress. It gives a little relief. I tuck my hand into Maverick’s elbow and let him lead us to the back where we have a table in the VIP section. The nun and the pope are already there. The pope has the nun pinned to the back of the booth, his hand groping her boob. I scoff.
“You are going to hell. The both of you!” I yell. Morganna looks at me, startled, but her eyes float right back to Stone and go all gooey. It’s one of the few times she doesn’t have her phone in her ear.
“Speaking of going to hell. I need to talk to you.” Maverick pulls me to the other side of the curtain to an empty booth shielded from both the dance floor and from Morganna and Stone.
He forces me against the wall just by proximity. The smell of his soap envelops me. I inhale greedily.
He runs a warm hand down the side of my body and stops on my hip. “Now, are you going to tell me what’s wrong? Or are you going to make me guess?” I think for a second that making him guess will be a fun game, but think better of it.
“I’ll tell you later. I just want to have fun now,” I say leaning up to kiss him on his lips. He shakes his head. I wedge my tongue in between his lips in protest. There’s no fight. He opens up and lets me in with a loud groan. He shifts me a little and I shut my eyes a little tighter when I feel the pain return.
“You fucked someone else,” he whispers in between kisses. I pull away, stunned at what he’s said.
I shake my head and say, “No!” at the same time. For him to be able to pinpoint exactly where I’m hurt is amazing. The fact he’s acting like he wouldn’t care if I did have sex with someone else is even more disconcerting. He disconnects our lips and waits for an explanation. I sigh. “There was someone in between my legs today,” I say, thankful for the dark. He can’t see how furiously I’m blushing.
He takes a few steps away from me and looks at me like I’ve burned him. “I knew it.” He pulls the ends of his hair, something I now know he does when he’s frustrated. I could let this go on all night. But I won’t.
“Stop it,” I say. I’m angry he thinks I would do anything with anyone else, my chest rises and falls rapidly. Does he not see himself? It’s like a death wish for any man who comes