Page 84 of Savage Heart

But then . . . it’s like I suddenly wake out of a dream, and I panic. I open my mouth, but no sound comes out. I shift, and he looks at me.

“Iris? Are you okay?”

“I should go,” I whisper.

“Right now?”

I nod.

He gradually pulls out and shifts off of me, and I move to the side of the bed, grabbing my clothes. I hurriedly put them on, hands shaking.

“Iris, stay. Please. We can keep talking. I shouldn’t have—the timing was not . . . I’m sorry I rushed this. Are you okay?”

“You know . . . you abandoned me, Maverick. You abandoned me at the worst time in my life. I called and called. You wouldn’t even listen to me. I was just cut off . . . from all of you. Your family had been like mine, and so had Lincoln’s. I was devastated and pregnant and alone.”

He’s sitting up now and staring at me with something like despair in his eyes, but I can’t stop now that I’ve started.

“You know how my mom was—you think she wanted another baby around the trailer? If it hadn’t been for Otis and Kell and Russell . . . I don’t know what I would’ve done. I know you lost Lincoln that night, but I lost both of you. I loved Lincoln so much. He was my best friend. But you were my best friend too . . . you were my family . . . you were my everything, Maverick.” My voice cracks and there are tears streaming down my face.

He puts his briefs on hurriedly and comes to stand in front of me, his face crumbling.

“I loved you more than anything in this world.” I swipe my face and take a gasping breath. “I pushed you away that summer that we kissed, but I always hoped we would find our way back together . . . I knew I’d never say no again.”

I blink up at him, and his eyes are full of tears.

“There’s just no excuse for the way I’ve been,” he whispers. “I only know that I want to spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you. If you’ll let me.” He puts his hand out and I take it. “Will you think about it?”

“We’ve talked, and now you know the truth. That’s all I have for you. I need to leave. Now.”

“Iris, please don’t leave like this.” He follows me down the stairs and to the door.

I rush past him and only inhale deeply when I’m finally in my car. I drive out of Harrington Ranch and cry all the way to Little Lark, not even sure why I’m sobbing so hard.

All I know is that my heart hurts.

This has been too much for one day.

My brain hasn’t caught up with the whiplash of everything from the past twelve years being erased in a heartbeat.

That isn’t how my life works.

I’ll wake up tomorrow, and it will all be a mistake.

Because loving Maverick and losing him isn’t something I can survive again.

Chapter 22: Baby Steps

Maverick

Charlie: Should I send the cavalry in, Mavvie? Unidentifiable car at your place in the late hours

Grady: I noticed that too. Send out smoke signals if you’re in trouble

Cameron: Damn. I’m not home or I would drop by with a twelve-pack to snoop

Billie: What does the car look like?

Charlie: It kinda looks like that one that Otis Miller drives, but that can’t be right . . . can it?