“She’s your sister,” Bo said. “She’s the most important thing. More important than me or anyone else.”
There was nothing more important on the planet at that moment than Bo. But her relationship with Bo was ending in less than a day. Her brain told her to focus on her sister, but her body was having a really hard time falling in line.
He rested his hands on her hips. “I’ve had a lot of fun this week.”
A tidal wave of nausea came over her. “You’re saying that like this is the last time I’ll see you.”
He exhaled a deep breath. “Maya, I’m nuts about you, I don’t think that’s a secret, but there’s nowhere this can go. I want you to stay here, hell I want you to move here, but I would never ask that of you. You’ve got your big job you’re starting Monday that you’ve worked your whole career for, and now you’ve got your sister who needs you. You said you’d been asking her to move home for a long time, and it sounds like she’s doing that.” He squeezed her hips, giving her a smile, his eyebrows lifted in encouragement. “That’s great, right?”
She swallowed hard, looking at him, hearing his words, but not wanting to agree with any of it.
His expression dropped, and his brow furrowed. “I don’t want to be in the way of whatever’s going on here. We were gonna be doing this tomorrow morning anyway. It seems like the right thing for us is to go ahead and say bye now. Don’t you think?”
She didn’t think. She didn’t want that at all. She wanted to get back in that truck and pretend Meade wasn’t inside, her eyes clearly bloodshot from crying over some asshole piece of crap who meant nothing. Her throat filled with dread. If she spoke, tears would come, and she wasn’t going to cry, not right here in front of Bo.
“Maya, talk to me,” he said, but she couldn’t. There was nothing to say. She needed to get inside to her sister. This was ending, now, and as much as it felt like her heart was being mutilated by a bear, she had to accept it.
She nodded, trying to force a smile, but there was no way.
He pulled her in close and held her there against his big body. It seemed impossible that she’d never feel his arms around her ever again.
He pulled away. “Good luck with your new job. I want you to be so happy, Maya. I mean that.” He leaned down and kissed her, closed-mouthed and cold.
As he got into his truck, her mouth filled with cotton. She had so much to say, but he was just leaving, done forever. How had he done that? He’d gone from having her in his bed an hour ago to telling her goodbye forever on the spot. She didn’t care if he thought he was doing it for her benefit. It hurt, like hell.
She stepped backward at the sound of his truck’s engine, watching him put the truck in gear and back out of the driveway, not even giving her so much as a backward glance. As his truck rolled out of sight, her breaths came quicker and stronger. It’d been decades, but that old familiar anxiety flooded into her chest and her breaths. She was hyperventilating.
The door to the house opened, and Sebastian was there by her side. He walked her into the house. “Felicity, get a paper bag. They’re in the pantry on the top shelf, right-hand side.” He turned back to Maya. “Come here. You’re okay.” He rubbed her back. “Shh, you’re okay. Shh.”
He kept rubbing her back and helping her quiet down, just like he’d done in high school the time she was falsely accused of cheating on her trig quiz.
“Oh, my God, Maya. You still do this?” Meade said.
“Meade,” Sebastian said, his voice stern but calm. “Please do me a huge favor and take my car to the market on the corner of my neighborhood’s street and 30A. Can you do that and get her a bottle of ginger ale?”
“You go. I’ll stay with her.”
Maya’s breaths got faster and harder. “Meade, please. I’d really appreciate it if you could do that for me, okay?” His voice left no room for argument.
He led Maya to the couch where they sat down. Felicity showed up with the bag, and Maya breathed into it, vaguely aware of the front door closing.
Felicity sat on one side of her and Sebastian on the other as her breaths got slower and steadier. Sebastian kept rubbing her back until she calmed down to her regular breathing pattern, the two of them providing more comfort for her with their mere presence than either of them could know. Finally, Maya looked at Sebastian, searching for answers she knew he didn’t have.
“I know, sweetie,” he said. “I know.”
“He’s gone,” Maya said, her voice flat and dull. “We were supposed to have had this last day together, but he went ahead and said goodbye now.”
He shook his head. “I saw it in his eyes as soon as he assessed the whole situation.”
“Why’s she here?” Maya asked, her voice betraying the frustration in her chest.
“She walked in on Luke fucking some girl in her bed,” Felicity said.
Maya rubbed her aching head, her sisterly connection kicking in, the pain slicing through her heart on Meade’s behalf. She thought about Bo walking in on that same situation, and thinking about how hard it’d been for him ever since.
She clenched her fists. “Goddamn asshole. How’s she been?”
“Crying,” Felicity said. “A lot.”
The sound of Sebastian’s car pulling up in the driveway had Maya sitting up and pulling herself back together.
“Sweetie—” Sebastian said, but she cut him off.
“No, I’ve got this. I’ll be fine. We’re gonna just deal with this one step at a time. Why don’t the two of you go somewhere, and I’ll stay here with her.”
“We want to help,” Felicity said. The car door shut and Meade’s footfalls sounded up the walk.
“No, it’s fine. I’ve got this. I’ll talk to her. We’ll do a whole wallow day and figure out the next steps. You two go.” She took Felicity’s hand and forced a smile. “Enjoy your last day here, okay?” Felicity gave her a look. Maya shook off the episode she was now fully embarrassed to have let herself have. “We may join you somewhere. I’ll text you. Just go about your day, okay?”
Felicity smiled at her as Meade came through the doorway. “I’ve got your ginger ale.” Felicity moved from her spot and Meade took her place.
Maya forced a smile. “Great. Thanks.”
Meade handed it to her and rubbed her shoulder with a concerned look. “You okay, yo-yo?”
Maya nodded, cringing at Meade’s baby name for her. As much as she loved her sister, she couldn’t help the deep resentment she felt toward her at the moment. It was stupid, senseless really. She was going to have to say goodbye to Bo tomorrow anyway, but she couldn’t help equating Bo’s one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn out there with Meade’s being here. No talk of texting to make sure she got home from the drive, or trying for a long-distance relationship, nothing. Just gone.
“Was he an ass to you?” Meade asked.
Maya gritted her teeth and shook her head. “Nope, not at all.” Meade looked confused. For a girl with a genius IQ, she was certainly clueless. Maya forced another smile and patted her sister on the knee. “Tell me about what happened with Luke.”
Meade had looked about as rough as Maya had ever seen her look. Meade had always been the prettier sister. She’d been the older, wiser, better, more attractive one. She’d always been heavier than Maya, but it suited her. She looked healthier than Maya. But she’d not been taking care of herself. She’d lost more weight than looked healthy, and she looked like she’d aged five years since Maya saw her at Christmas. Her hair was frizzy on the ends, and she’d been bleaching it to be platinum blond like Maya’s natural color. Meade’s natural color was a beautiful, golden blond. The idea of bleaching it was incomprehensible, but probably some stupid guy wanted it that way.
Meade started in with the story, and Maya nodded and listened, trying desperately not to think about the fact that what could have become the great love of her life had just faded away.
Chapter Eighteen
Bo swung hard and made contact with th
e baseball, sending it soaring into the net. His shoulder would pay for this tomorrow and the next day, but beating the hell out of baseballs was all he could think to do right now. He needed tomorrow morning to get here quick, because as long as she was here in this same area as him, all he wanted to do was go and steal her away from her sister and bring her back home to his bed.
But it had been his time to walk away, that’d been as clear as crystal when he set his eyes on her sister there at Sebastian’s house. He’d not understood it at first, this woman who looked like a slightly different version of Maya, but she was nothing like Maya. She seemed outgoing and emotional, so different from Maya’s reserve, keeping everything around her in check.
But there was no mistaking the connection Maya had to her sister. She’d talked so much about Meade and how she wanted to get her home and on the right track. Bo guessed she was getting that wish now, and that was a good thing. He needed to step out of the way and let Maya get to work helping her like she needed to.
Bo waited for the next pitch, but the machine was empty. He wanted to go another round, but there was a line, so he slid the bat back in its slot and headed toward the truck. He didn’t want to go home. It still smelled like Maya. As much as he wanted to preserve that smell, he couldn’t be around it, not right now.
He turned into the rear lot of his business and snuck in the back way. He didn’t want to answer any questions, but it wasn’t long before Tracey was at his door. “I thought you were taking the day off.”
“I wanted to be there when they delivered that shipment.”
“How come?”
He exhaled a deep breath. “I just do.”
“You okay, Bo?” she asked.
“Yeah, sorry. I’m fine. Just, weird day.”
“Mmm hmm,” she said, eyeing him. “I’ve had a few of those, too.”
He closed his eyes as she shut his office door behind her. Putting his head on his desk, he counted the seconds till this day would be over. Shayla was coming tomorrow for a few days. That would help get his mind off of Maya, if that was possible.
Bo sat staring at the guys on television analyzing the leagues’ best baseball players. They were on his nerves. He’d finished his beer a half hour prior, but he couldn’t be bothered to make his way to the refrigerator for another one. The crunch of gravel in his front yard had Jake’s ears up. “Sick ‘em,” Bo said, but Jake just gave him that look where he cranked his head to the side.
The doorbell rang, and then a heavy knock sounded. “It’s Chase. You home?”
He rolled his eyes. “No.”
“Let me in. Come on.” Bo hauled his ass up off the couch and lumbered to the door. He opened it and then went back to the couch. Chase put his hand to his chest. “Why, yes, I’d love a cold beverage. You need one?”
“Mmm hmm.”
Chase found two beers and popped both caps. He handed one to Bo. “You missed the bonfire.”
“So I did.” He looked Chase up and down. “Shouldn’t you be home with Felicity right now?”
“Ah, no. You fucked that up for me. Thanks, by the way.” He plopped down on the sofa.
Bo frowned at him. “What’d I do?”
“Since you’re not in the picture anymore, they’re planning on getting an early start tomorrow. Felicity kissed my ass goodbye about half an hour ago.”
Bo considered him. “You okay?”
Chase gave him a curious look. “Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“She’s leaving.”
“Felicity?” Chase waved him off. “I’ll love again.”
Bo eyed him. “So it’s that goddamned easy for you, huh?”
Chase set his ankle on his knee. “We were just hanging out. Trust me, she’s not losing any sleep over being separated from me. Besides, I think we’re gonna be friends, like actual ones. I told her I’d call her later on this week after she’d gotten settled back in.”
Bo turned to face him. “So how’s that gonna work, huh? You’re gonna call her and talk into the wee hours of the night sharing all your stupid stories? Tell each other secrets and get to know her real well knowing you’re never gonna have the real thing in the flesh?”
Chase looked off into the distance and then shrugged. “Pretty much. I just like her and want to be her friend. If I never get to have sex with her again, I’m okay with that. I’m sure she’s the same way.”
Bo thought about what it meant to have Maya in his arms, watching her expression morph into a genuine smile when he said something she thought was funny, the scent of her hair when she was lying against his chest, the feel of her bare skin against his as they made love. “I can’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Turn it off like that. Not with Maya, that’s for damn sure.”
Chase slapped his own leg. “All right. That’s enough of this shit. Put on a decent shirt. We’re going to Alligator Alley.”
Bo glared at him. “Isn’t that how I got into this mess?”
Chase held up his big hands. “No women this time. Just you and me. We’re gonna shoot some pool, throw some darts, play Pac Man, and drink enough beer to numb the pain.”
“I didn’t think you felt heartbreak.”
“Your pain. I’m gonna be the responsible one this evening.”
“That’s scary as fuck.”
Chase nudged him. “Come on. Go get on a shirt you haven’t drooled on.”
“It’s Alligator Alley.”
“True. You’re good like that. Let’s go.”
Bo sat in his usual spot at the bar at Alligator Alley, avoiding making eye contact with Jennifer who was playing pool with some people they’d gone to high school with. He didn’t like her comment about Angela the other day or the way she eyed Maya. He had no doubt she was working on something shitty to come say. Whatever it was, he didn’t want to hear it.
His phone rang, and Shayla’s name came across the screen. “Your sister’s calling,” Chase said.
“I know, nosey.” Bo answered it. “Hey.”
“What are you up to tonight?” she asked by way of greeting.
“Sitting at Alligator Alley with a buddy.”
“Which one?”
“Chase. You haven’t met him.” Chase lifted his eyebrows. Bo frowned. Chase was one of his closest friends, but he damn sure didn’t want him anywhere near his sister. He was girl-crazy and couldn’t keep his hands off anything with a set of boobs. “And you don’t want to. What are you doing?”
“Getting off at the Montgomery exit.”
“Dammit, Shayla. You know I hate you driving those backroads in the dark.”
“I’ve done it plenty.”
“I didn’t like it then either. I thought you were driving down tomorrow.”
“I was ready to come on tonight. It’s fine, baby brother. Will you relax?”
“Get a hotel there in Montgomery and drive the rest of the way tomorrow,” he said, knowing his words were futile.
“I’m coming in tonight. Just making sure I didn’t need to crash at Mama and Daddy’s for the night. I know you’ve been seeing that girl this week.”
“That’s done,” he said with a churn in his gut. “Come on to my house. You’ve got your key?”
“Yep,” she said.
Bobby put another beer down in front of him. “I’ve got a seven o’clock tee time with Roy,” Bo said. “I didn’t think you’d been in till later.”
“I think I can manage a day without you. Drink your beer and be careful getting home.”
He hung up, and Chase was looking at him. “What?” Bo asked.
“How come you won’t introduce me to your sister?”
“You’ve never been around when she’s been here.”
Chase eyed him, and Bo gave it right back to him. “Is that the only reason?” Chase asked.
Bo took a sip of his beer, watching the television. He gave Chase the side-eye. “She’s not available.”
“For what?”
/> “For your flavor of the week.”
Chase huffed a laugh. “If you seriously think I’d try to sleep with your sister, you’re more paranoid than I thought.” He pointed at his chest. “I don’t have a death wish.”
Bo pursed his lips at him. Chase was about six inches taller than him, but the idea of Chase in a fight was about as likely as a gorilla crashing through the ceiling.
“I guess I’ll miss her this time, too. I’m headed out tomorrow morning for Minneapolis.”
“Damn shame,” Bo said.
“You want something to eat?” Bobby asked from behind the bar.
“I’m not hungry,” Bo said.
“I am,” Chase said. “Bring us some greasy ass bar food. A bunch of it.”
Bobby nodded. “Coming up.”
Bo and Chase sat in silence for a while, and then Bo said, “Why do people live up north anyway?”
“Don’t fucking ask me. I can’t figure out why anyone would live anywhere but here. White, powdery beaches, salty ocean breezes, warm sun shining down most the time. Hell, I get a chill when it drops below seventy degrees. I’d shrivel up and die if I tried to live up there.”
Jennifer cackled from across the room, then glanced at Bo with that look in her eye. No doubt she was coming his way soon. Bo frowned down at his beer. It didn’t even taste good.
“You want to go play pool?” Chase asked.
“Nah.”
“Well, I’m gonna hit the head. When I get back, you’re getting that ass up out of that seat and we’re doing something, so just get ready.”
Bo stared at the television screen, but he saw her coming out of the corner of his eye. “Too good to come say hi?”
His stomach coiled at the sound of her voice. “You can walk across a room as well as I can.”
She sat next to him, still holding her pool cue. “Your girl-of-the-week go home?”
Bo didn’t want Jennifer even thinking about Maya, much less talking about her. He chose not to respond, hoping she’d get the hint.
She looked him over, running her fingers up and down the pool stick. “There was a time you were chasing me around like that. Remember when you took me to Capt. Anderson’s?”
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