“You’ll sort it out. He’s your brother, and he’s about to find out that he’s a father. It isn’t going to be easy for him.”
“You know what’s crazy? I’m actually relieved that Gavin’s the father. Totally, profoundly… relieved. How fucked up is that?” I confessed. “Don’t get me wrong. I love John Warren, always have. But when I held him in my arms, it just didn’t feel like he was mine. It’s hard to explain. Something didn’t feel right. I cared for him. Loved him and wanted to protect him, but I felt this emptiness in the pit of my stomach. I thought I was fucked up, that something was wrong with me, and I honestly felt like he was better off with Lily and Goliath.”
“There was never anything wrong with you, Maverick. Your instincts were right, and in the end, you were doing what you thought was best for John Warren. That’s all that really matters.”
“I really did want him to be happy, to be safe. I knew Lily would be a good mother to him,” I told her.
“Of course, you did. Lily and Goliath adore that child. You made them all very happy.”
“Gavin…” I started, but his name got stuck in my throat.
“Is an asshole,” she said, laughing under her breath.
When I looked over to her and saw that sexy, little grin spreading across her face, I couldn’t help but smile back at her. Damn. My world had just been turned upside down, and Henley was here making me fucking smile. What was it about this girl? She had me thinking I might just have a future worth fighting for – a future with her.
Chapter 18
Henley
?
The minute Maverick parked the car, I jumped out and headed for the dock. It was such a beautiful day, and I wanted to get a better view of all the boats. As I walked along the wooded walkway, the warmth of the afternoon sun was comforting. The waves rocked back and forth beneath my feet, and the cool water seemed to call out my name, begging me to jump in. I continued to walk along the narrow wooded path, completely enthralled with the luxury house boats that lined the dock, and I desperately wanted to look inside one of them. A large, white yacht with a golden trim caught my attention, and I just had to look inside. Leaning over to peek in one of the windows, I heard Maverick’s footsteps coming up behind me. When I looked over at him, there was a mischievous gleam in his eyes. He grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the back of the yacht.
“Whoa! What are you doing?” I asked as my feet stumbled behind him.
“Watch your step,” he warned, stepping over the ledge and onto the massive boat.
As I followed him up on the railing, I read the name, The Emma Lou that was written on the side. I’d never heard him talk about anyone named Emma, so I asked, “Wait… do you actually know the people who own this boat?”
“No,” he answered nonchalantly. Still holding my hand, he gently tugged me towards the back door of the boat.
“What do you mean, no? Doesn’t that mean we’re trespassing?” I questioned. I quickly looked around to see if anyone was watching us. I’d never done anything like this, and I couldn’t imagine being any more excited than I was at that moment.
“Technically, yes,” he laughed. He reached for his wallet and pulled out one of his credit cards, carefully nudging it between the door and the lock. When the door popped open, he gave me a devilish grin and motioned for me to step inside.
“What if someone saw us?” I asked, looking out the large, glass window still paranoid that someone might have seen us.
“Then, we’ll probably get arrested,” he snickered.
“Maverick!”
“Henley, look around. No one has been on this boat in weeks. There are no swimsuits, no food or drinks. Besides, it’s not like we’re going to steal their boat. We’re just looking around,” he explained as he leaned against the kitchen sink.
“I’ve never been on one of these before. Have you?” I asked, running my hand over the smooth marble countertop.
“First time,” he said, following me into the living room.
When I looked around, I was amazed at how luxurious the yacht really was. Every corner and crevice sparkled with elegance. The sunlight bounced off the large crystal chandelier, casting an orange glow, making it feel more like a home than just a boat. Each piece of furniture looked like it was picked out by their own personal designer. I’d never seen anything like it. The floor-to-ceiling windows basked the entire interior with the warm light of the sun. The master bedroom was perfect, with its oversized sleigh bed facing the river. I could imagine myself watching a gorgeous sunset every single night through the beautiful bay windows.