When We Fall Silent

Chapter Six

The sun streamed through the curtains scorching my eyelids. I groaned as a piercing pain shot through my temples. My tongue was stuck to the roof of my mouth. Cotton mouth...gross. My hand blindly reached out fumbling around on the nightstand until my phone was located. I cracked an eye open staring at the time. Two in the afternoon.

Damn.

I huffed, my hands rubbing my face. I was hungover and dehydrated and wanted to promptly die.

Why the hell did I drink so much again?

A frown twisted on my lips. Oh, yeah. Maverick. That's why.

I slowly pulled myself out of bed, securing the curtains shut as I did. Stumbling to the kitchen, I poured a cold glass of water, letting it run down my throat, my body groaning with relief. My hands gripped the edge of the kitchen counter as my head pounded.

I'm never drinking again.

After swallowing some headache medication, I flopped onto the couch, leaning my head back. The memories from last night started to come back as my head cleared from the incessant pain. I remembered being annoyed at Maverick, dancing with Daniel, drinking with Kat and Alec...why did I feel like something was missing?

My cheeks flared with embarrassment as the feel of Maverick's lips on my neck rocketed through my mind. I swallowed nervously as my fingers ghosted over the spot his lips had been. I shivered at the thought.

What was I thinking? What was he thinking?

And then the flashback came.

The tension in the Uber was heavy and stiff. I leaned my spinning head against the cool sheen of the window. Maverick's words spun like thread in my head.

What the hell did he mean by that? We're not nothing?

I sighed, sneaking a side peek of Maverick. He had his head leaned back against the seat, arms crossed over his chest. His eyebrows were slightly furrowed as if he were thinking, but besides that he actually seemed peaceful. I leaned my chin on my head analyzing his face. Jaw taunt with an aristocratic nose, he was unbelievably attractive. It was kind of crazy that someone like him would even dance with me. I mean anyone could see how out of my league he was.

I frowned.

Since when did I care if he was out of my league or not? We're just friends.

I bit my lip, remembering our conversation.

Except we weren't friends.

"Why don't you just say what's on your mind?" Maverick's voice whispered through the tense silence, making me jump slightly. His eyes were on me before I had even met his. They were so dark and swirling, all I could think of was the feel of him on me.

"What was that back there? Since when do you dance?" My voice slightly shook, but the curiosity rang through loudly.

I didn't realize I was holding my breath as his eyes wordlessly scanned my face until he finally answered.

Maverick finally looked away, releasing me from his visual hold. It was annoying how he just did that...held me in place with a simple look. He was just so damn intense sometimes it felt like I was burning alive. I enjoyed it a little too much for my own good.

"I shouldn't have," he simply responded. "You were being annoying."

I raised my eyebrows in irritation, shifting my body to face him directly.