Heartstrings

Chapter Thirty Four

MAVERICK

—

We walked out of a souvenir store where Briar had bought some things, including a shirt that said 'I love whales', a whale stuffed toy for Ryan and she also got me a cap that read the same thing she had on her shirt... unfortunately.

"You can't be serious." I grumbled after she had put the cap on my head.

"Why? You look cute and we are both matching."

I gave her a look, "You are not wearing the shirt."

"Well obviously, it would ruin my outfit. But I could wear it as pajamas later for bed."

"You plan on wearing something for bed?" I tried to joke.

That made Briar's face go bright red as she swat my arm lightly, "I can't believe you said that."

"Did you dislike it?" I asked with actual concern that she had.

"No but you did surprise me." She chuckled and grabbed my hand with her available one. I looked at our intertwined hands and sighed. "You have surprised me all day, it has been great."

"Did you like dinner?"

"I did, a lot." Briar smiled at me.

"Did you like the date?" I asked hoping the nervousness wouldn't slip through my voice. "It was fine right? I tried my best with it."

"I've never seen you nervous before, I didn't think it was possible, but it's adorable." Briar giggled making me frown.

Great.

"Don't get grumpy on me now." She looked at me with amusement.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

"I did like the date, I loved it actually no one has ever being so thoughtful with me during a date." Briar squeezed my hand and leaned in to kiss my cheek.

I tried to fight off the smile and instead I spoke. "Well then they you went out with idiots."

"I still do." She said with a smirk on her face before bursting out in laughter.

"You are not funny." I shook my head.

"Do you forget I can see your smile right there on your face?" Briar stood in front of me now and cupped my face—her wide smile now turned into a tender one as her thumbs caressed my cheeks. "You are so beautiful when you smile."

I hummed looking at her.

"And even more when you blush." She teased me. I bit my lip and shook my head to avoid looking at her. "Let's go back to the hotel... unless you have something else planned for us to do."

"Dinner was really it." I scratched the back of my neck. Maybe I should have planned more. "Is there anything else you want to do? We can keep walking around town or—"

"I'm okay with going back to the hotel, we have a early drive tomorrow anyway." She suggested as she dragged me towards the hotel. I let her drag me all the way until we were finally back in the suite.

I watched her walk into the room first and sit on the edge of the bed—I followed her and sat by her side. Briar looked at me and put a hand on my cheek and leaned in—slowly bringing us into a kiss. I leaned back on the bed and brought her with me as we kissed. Soon enough she was on top of me as we kissed.

But it was also Briar the one that ended the kiss.

"What's wrong?" I asked looking up into her hazel eyes.

"I'm not ready to have sex with you again." She confessed.

I was caught off guard by the revelation—but once I processed what she had said I couldn't help but feel guilty. It's understandable she wouldn't want to after I left her the first and last time we did.

"I— I'm— I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize." Briar shook her head and caressed my face.

"I think I should, things would be different if I had acted correctly back then. You would trust me."

"I don't want things to be different Mave, I like this, I like how it is between us now. Just because I'm not ready for that yet doesn't mean I don't trust you, but I can't lie and say I'm not hurt still." Briar leaned down and put her forehead against mine, her lips hovering over mine.

"I'll make things right... I promise." I put one arm around her waist and the other had my hand tangled in her dark hair.

"You are already doing that." She whispered before connecting our lips against in a slow sensual kiss.

This time I was the one that broke the kiss and laid back on the mattress—Briar looking at me with her usual lovable smile before she laid her head on my chest. I sighed in contempt.

I felt at peace.

"I miss Ryan." Briar mumbled.

"It's only been hours since we last saw him." I said staring at the ceiling.

"I know... would it be bad if I said that I see him as my own?" I felt her move her head to look at me. "I know I'm— I'm not his true mom and I know that I could never replace her... but I've come to think of him as my own, it hurts me to be apart from him."

I didn't know what to say to that.

I wish I shared the same sentiment towards our nephew, but to me he's still just that, my nephew not my son.

Billy's son, not mine.

Anne's son.

"Maverick?" Briar's voice brought me back from my train of thoughts.

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that and I— I think that is what Ryan is going to need. Someone who he one day will be able to call mom."

"You really think he would do that?" Her hazel eyes looking at me full of emotion.

"I do." I honestly believe that.

"I don't want to replace my sister... I don't want to— to replace his mother." Her eyes started to water.

"You are not— you won't. But he needs you." I held her face in my hands.

"He needs you too Maverick, I just hope that one day you will realize that."

No he won't. Who would need a person like me? But I will be there even if he doesn't.

I let go of her face and gave her a slight smile. Briar didn't say anything else she just snuggled against my neck and we laid in silence for what felt like forever.

—

A/N - It's been too long in here sorry, I hope with this chapter out of the way I can finally get over the block.

Anyway thoughts on what the future holds for Maverick?