The Arrangement

Chapter 22: Amends and Preparations

"You almost done in there, Mav?" I called, walking from the closet to the bed. Maverick stepped out of the bathroom and nodded with a weak smile. I frowned. "What's wrong, Maverick?"

I stood back up and walked towards him. He just shrugged, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pursing my lips.

"Maverick," I spoke, gently. "What's wrong?"

He wrapped his arms around my waist, burying his face in my neck.

"Why won't my parents just care about what I want for once?" Maverick asked. I ran my fingers through his hair. Maverick grasped the back of my tank top tightly.

"Maverick, what do you mean?"

"First, they immediately had to try and tell us what to do when we found out about Miriam. Now, they're trying to change my choice of marrying you. When they found out I'd proposed they didn't seem all too happy, then that whole thing went down at dinner seven- maybe eight- months ago, and they didn't show up to the rehearsal tonight. Keely told me they called Amil and her, saying that Dad wasn't doing well, so they would go over there. Turns out, nothing was wrong, Mom was just trying to make everything difficult."

"That's why they weren't here?"

"Yeah," he said, his voice cracking as he started crying. I hugged him even tighter.

"What can I do, Maverick?" He didn't say anything as he sobbed into my shoulder. I lightly ran my hand up and down his back, trying to comfort him. "Maverick, what can I do to help you?"

"Nothing. You don't have to do anything. It'll be fine," he said. Maverick pulled away, and his eyes were red and puffy as he smiled at me. "We're getting married tomorrow."

I smiled and nodded at him. He pressed a kiss to my lips. We separated and climbed into bed.

Maverick fell asleep, holding me with my back against his chest. I couldn't fall asleep, though. My mind could only think of Maverick's tears.

He'd helped me through so many things. He'd been my rock through everything, and I hadn't helped him at all.

That was my chance.

I gently slid out from Maverick's arms. I pulled a t-shirt over my tank top before walking out to the car.

Pulling into the driveway of Maverick's parents' home, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves before climbing out of the car. I walked up to the door, fidgeting my hands, before exhaling sharply and ringing the doorbell.

It took a minute or so, but someone finally answered the door. The door was pulled open to reveal Connie, Maverick's mother.

I smiled gently. "Hey, Connie."

"What do you need, Emerson?" she asked. I bit the inside of my cheek.

"Could I just speak with you for a bit?" She looked me up and down, suspicious, before nodding.

She stepped aside and motioned me into the house. "Just have a seat on the couch, Emerson."

I nodded, sitting down as she closed the door. Connie sat down in one of the armchairs, looking at me expectantly.

We spoke for a bit about random things like what her and Roland had been up to, and we talked about Miriam. She seemed to be getting less reserved the more we spoke.

"How have you been, Connie?" I asked. "It's been awhile since I've spoken with you."

She seemed a tad shocked but answered, "I've been doing fine. What about you, Emerson?"