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Josie Lee, is still controlled by some high-school bully. I planned for it to be different this year. I’d promised myself that before I left.
It still could be. I’d never talked back to him, not since ninth grade when he waited for me to get close enough to jump from the swing and land on top of me.
This was not going to happen anymore. The next four years of my life would not mimic the last four.
I swallowed, gently pushing my hair from my shoulder. “There isn’t anylike alwaysanymore, Maverick,” I said, not recognizing my voice. I turned toward Jordan who looked uncomfortable. “This isn’t going to work out. I’m sorry.”
Gathering my nerve and my suitcase, I started toward the door, loving the way I felt by walking away with my self-worth. I made it to the cracked door to open it, when I felt his grip on my wrist.
It stung as he squeezed it tightly. I swung around to face him, meeting his eyes with as much disdain as I could muster. The side of his lip rose in a challenge that struck me deep. “You don’t want to be my roommate, Lee? You afraid?”
Jordan stood in the distance judging the conversation with a worried expression. I was sure he could stand his own with Maverick, and I didn’t think he was afraid, more like confused.
“Afraid of what?” I bit out. “You? Not anymore.” I tried to pull away but he squeezed and brought me closer to him. The scent of his masculine cologne stung my nose; stirring up feelings I hated myself for having.
Maverick searched my face for something I didn’t understand and smirked before letting go.
“Prove it.”
Chapter Two
Maverick
There she stood. All five foot three inches of the girl I remembered from high school. The girl that scared me beyond all the beautiful eighteen-year-olds that had fallen into my bed over the last two years.
The only difference with Josie Lee was that she wasn’t standardly beautiful, but quirky and shy, which made it hard to hate her.But—oh, did I hate her.And she had no idea why.
I watched her small frame walk toward the front door of our apartment and fear laced its fingers around my neck as I grabbed her wrist in my grasp. She swung around to face me, meeting me with a look that I didn’t remember from before. The side of her lip rose, and damn myself to Hell, if it didn’t send heat through my veins.
“You don’t want to be my roommate, Lee? You afraid?” I asked, knowing she didn’t. Knowing she hated me, and knowing I wanted her there more than anything else in the world.
Her gaze jumped over my shoulder to Jordan, who I assumed was confused with our exchange, and I wouldn’t tell him. I wouldn’t tell anyone the reason I hated Josie Lee. Because telling would mean to bare my soul and I spit on the idea of anyone knowing more about me than they needed.
“Afraid of what?” she almost hissed. “You? Not anymore.” She tried to pull away but I tugged her closer, bringing her fresh linen scent closer to me.
I searched her face for any kind of bluff that she tried to hide. Noticing suddenly how the slant in her eyes made the point of her cheekbones sharper.
“Prove it,” I said.
The challenge traveled across her face and landed on the corners of her mouth in a frown. Deep down, I wanted to say something that would make her stay, but ultimately, I knew that wouldn’t happen.
Every time I tried to say something nice, I thought about the reasons I couldn’t let her get close and they all fumbled down my throat and landed in the pit of my stomach.
She scoffed, this time when she pulled away I let her. Josie wrapped her palm around her wrist and stared at me for a few good seconds. “I’d rather eat nails than live with you.”
Jordan cleared his throat, drawing Josie’s attention. I didn’t look, I wanted to get a good look at her, and she looked different. It’d only been one summer since senior year yet she looked like a different person.
“I can see this isn’t ideal for either of you,” Jordan said. “I had no idea you two—whatever this is—so you can leave, Josie. Sorry, it didn’t work out. I know you needed a place.”
Questions ofwhyfilled my head. If Josie had been anything in school, it was prepared. She wouldn’t have shown up to school without a place to stay or a plan.
Josie sighed deeply, a wrinkle formed in the center of her forehead before she straightened. “It’s fine, I’m sure I’ll find somewhere else to go.” Her dark eyes drug to mine and held. “And I’m sure you’ll find a roommate that can tolerate …this,” she said, gesturing toward me.
Before I could chuckle, or try to hide the way it made me feel, she turned on her heel and walked out of the front door.
Jordan whistled, drawing me out of my stupor. He glared at me when I turned around, his long arms stretched wide beside him before dramatically slapping them against his thighs. “What was that? I mean, do I even want to know? Did you screw her?”
I wished.
