Crazy beautiful mess....in a wedding dress

Chapter 2

My jaw almost dropped at the thought of being this man's neighbor.

"I can see. You should call your husband though he would have more pull with Mr. Frank. He owes your husband a favor or two for the many nights he's picked him up from here."

Hanna jumped up and grabbed her phone. "Oh, Lainey, this is my brother Maverick. Mav this is Rocky bride" she announced before walking off making me laugh a little.

"Sorry about her. She's a little outgoing."

"I don't mind, kind of nice after the day I've had."

"I'm sorry about your ex. For what it's worth, it looks like he lost more than what he thinks." I felt a little ping in my heart, but I knew I couldn't let that get to me. I had to stay true to the plan.

He walked off leaving another drink right in front of me.

"Good news, you can stay next to my brother!" Hanna sat down again putting her phone away.

"That's great!"

"Only thing is my brother will have to give you his blowup mattress because there's no furniture in the house."

"That's fine."

"Who knows if you decide to stay here, maybe we can go shopping one day for some!"

At least part of my plan was working.

I smiled, "That sounds great."

"Hey, Mav you have a new neighbor!" We locked eyes and I just hoped that this man didn't see how he affected me.
Mavericks POV

I watched her walk through the door. She was a mess in a wedding dress. I couldn't believe I was seeing this actually right now in my bar.

She had bruises and blood on her face and God only knows what else. Her dress was all messed up but that seemed to be the least of her worries. When she sat down at my bar I was hooked right away. I wanted to know her story. I wanted to know who I was going to have to fight for hurting her like this.

I wasn't expecting a happy girl when she sat but she was carefree, but I know that we all hide things.

When she started talking to my sister, I couldn't believe how she could crack a smile and go on with her story that I made sure to stay in earshot to hear. When I heard she fought her sister and her ass of an ex I had to keep a smile in. At least she defended herself.

"Would you mind showing her to the apartment and all? I have to get home to Austin and I'm honestly so tired." I knew that was my sister's way of saying she was tipsy. I took her glass from her and put water in front of her as I watched Lainey walk off to the bathroom. It was kind of cute to see her struggle in the dress.

"Ohhh no brother you're not doing this to me!" She said getting in front of my view.

"What?"

"You're not going to start with this girl! I like her and you will fuck it up."

"Hanna, come on. That's not what's going on. I'm just concerned for the girl."

"Yeahhh I am too...but hey she's here now and maybe we can help her a little. Hell, maybe she will even stay in town."

God if this woman stayed in town, she might break the little resolve I have and that will get people talking which I don't need. I already got my mom on my back about finding a girlfriend and people in this town have been waiting for my bachelor days to end and I wasn't ready for that.

Lainey stumbled out of the bathroom tripping over her dress a little. She knew everyone was watching her, but she didn't let it bother her. She walked right up to the bar, sat down and put her head in her hands.

"Do you guys by chance have Advil behind that bar?"

"If I did then I would have given it to you a long time ago." I laughed while giving her a cup of water.

"Ok, I think it's time I go." Hanna tried to get up. I grabbed her phone fast, ordering her an Uber.

"Maverick, what would I do without you."

"Make sure you lock your car. I'll call Austin and let him know to be waiting for you with your favorite ice cream."

"MINT!" Hanna jumped to her feet. She turned to Lainey and asked for her phone. I watched as she put her number in and gave it back before giving her a hug.

"I'll be over tomorrow and maybe we can go get lunch or something!"

"I would love that," Lainey smiled.

I walked Hanna out to her Uber and called Austin before going back into the bar. Lainey was still there now taking off her heels that didn't look white anymore.

"I just have to close up which is in about an hour and then I can drive you to the apartment."

"That's fine with me." She picked up her glass of water and started to chug it.

I tried to work the rest of the night without looking at this girl. It was hard to keep my eyes off of her. I wanted to know so much more but that would definitely be too much.

Once people had gone and the bar had been cleaned up, I finally found myself looking at this girl who was looking down at her phone. She had a pout on her face like something was wrong.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah." She quickly sat up and put on a smile acting like nothing was wrong.

We walked out of the bar together and I closed up.

"How did you get here?"

"This car." She pointed to this convertible on the side of the parking lot.

"Just lock it. You don't have anything in it that's important right?"

"Not my car." She threw the keys at me and looked around.

"Where's your car?"

I pointed at the truck that was behind me and she walked off to it. I ran and opened the door for her and saw a smile go on her face.

"Ohhh you're one of those."

"What?"

"Open the doors and make sure that I'm walking on the right side of the street."

"Well, that's what a man is supposed to do." I held my hand out for her and helped her get into the truck with the dress that she bunched up.

"Must be a country thing because where I'm from I don't think many guys would do this."

"Maybe you're looking at the wrong guys."

The look on her face made me instantly regret what I said but in a second she was laughing.

"You know maybe you're right considering I'm in a wedding dress and I'm going home with a stranger." She put her head back laughing some more but I could have sworn I saw a tear forming in her eye.

I ran around and jumped in my truck starting it up and getting out of this place.