On the way to meet my friends, both of our phones started blowing up. Upon opening my phone, I had to admit I was surprised that I was even on this group text.
Maverick
Hey all, I need help. This is last minute, but this is the SOS to end all SOSs. I’m coming home for my girl. There’s no way I can live without her, and I’m coming to win her back. I am flying in tomorrow morning, and here is my ideal plan. Can someone get her out of Grá around noon? When she’s out, I want to come in and hang something I made behind the counter. Hopefully, my grand gesture will open the door to her forgiveness. I’m not expecting it from her or any of you right away (looking at you, Jules), but I can’t do this life without her. Are you in?
Bennett
About time.
Murphy
Let’s. Fucking. Go.
Maeve
Thank God, Maverick. Tell me when you want her out, and Tucker and I will take her to see a dog we’re looking at.
Jules
Hope your grand gesture is grand, Maverick. Though I think groveling and an apology would be better than just hanging something.
Maverick
There’ll be plenty of that, don’t worry, Jules.
Audra
I’m glad to read this, Maverick.
After everyone responded, I took my turn.
Donovan
Good luck, man. If the thing you’re hanging is anything like that counter, I can’t wait to see it.
That was the truth. Maverick was an extraordinarily talented man, and I couldn’t wait to see what he had concocted.
Maverick
Thanks, guys. This means the world to me. You all mean the world to me. I’m an idiot. Cora Clarke is my damn world.
Not a minute later, Audra’s phone rang. Before she answered, I saw Jules’ name flash. I touched her wrist gently and looked at her.
“Remember, no spilling the beans on Maeve.”
She nodded at me. As if she knew what was coming, she answered the phone on speakerphone.
“Hey Jules, you’re on speakerphone with Donovan here next to me.”
“Hi, lovebirds. Any chance that the two of you are still here in New York?
“Actually, we are! We switched to a later flight,” Audra said.
“I’m in a bind,” Jules began. “My flight doesn’t leave until Sunday, but I don’t want to miss this. Even if it’s just to instill the fear of God in this man, that if he ever does something like this again, I will kill him.”
We laughed, but there was an undercurrent of seriousness there.
I piped up before Jules or Audra could continue, “Comewith us. The plane is leaving around 6:00 p.m. Can you make that work? Or rather, can you make it to my place by 4:00, and we can drive together?” Well, that was a wonderful surprise. I was glad the man came to his senses. Hopefully, he made peace with whatever demons he had to.
