FALLING FOR MY BOSS'S BROTHER

EIGHT

It was the weekend. I didn’t think there was a reason for me to go to work so I thought I might spend the day with Maverick. I drop by his club and from a distance I could see him arguing with an older man. The argument looked so heated, I was expecting blows to be exchanged but Maverick took a deep breath then pointed the man to the door. They were walking towards me, I stood there clueless, didn’t know what to do. Should I greet the old man or not? I wondered. I guess, if he talks to me or Maverick introduced me then I would greet him.

“I’m doing this for your own good.” I heard the old man say.

“No, you’re not. You’re just doing that so you could control me even when I’m not under your wing anymore.” Maverick yelled.

“Of course you’d think that.” The man said, “you never notice the things I try to do for your own good. Where do you think the money you went to law school with came from?!” The man yelled.

Maverick was about to reply but then he stopped, “I’m not going to waste anymore breath because as usual you never listen to what I say so just leave.” His voice showed defeat. The man looked at him then at me, he walked past me and left. I guess no greetings then I thought.

I slowly walked towards Maverick, pulled him to a chair, held his hands in mine. “Are you okay?” I asked.

He sighed, “I wish there was a way I could make him understand me the way he understands…” he paused, “never mind.”

I could feel his pain; I had never seen him in such a state. He’s always so headstrong, determined, motivated but never defeated. “I’m here if you want to talk about it.” I offered.

He looked at me, placed his hand on my face as his thumb gently rubbed my cheek, he smiled, “thank you for offering.” He said, “but aren’t you supposed to be at work?”

I smiled, “I’m not working today so I thought we would spend the day together.” I said.

“Where do you want to go?” He asked sounding a bit chirper than before.

I smirked, “give me your keys and you’ll see.” I opened my palm for him to give me his keys.

He was about to hand them to me when he stopped, “do you know how to ride a bike?” He asked.

I sighed, “you think because I’m a woman I can’t ride a motorcycle?” I blurted out.

“Whoa! Where did that come from?” Maverick asked a bit surprised by my outburst.

I stood up and took the keys, “I have had a long week. I need to let off some steam and I want to ride your bike for that.” I said as I walked to the door, “come along. We don’t want to be late.”

I remember Maverick suggesting that he would get me a helmet since we ride his bike a lot together. True to his word he did get me a helmet, black like his. I picked it up, “you got one like you promised.” I shrieked.

He smiled, “I am a man of my word. What I can’t believe is I’m the one who is going to seat behind you.”

“Why not because you are a man and that’s a female thing to do?” I asked as I put my helmet on.

“Nothing I say has anything to do with gender identity.” Maverick clarified, “just because you meet jerks in your line of work doesn’t mean I am one.”

I sighed, “I know. I’ll try not to accuse you of anything anymore. Now get on.” I said with a smirk.

“You have wanted to tell me that for a long time, huh?” Maverick asked with a smile.

I chuckled, “you have no idea. You ready?”

“Where did you say we are going again?” Maverick asked.

I smirked, “I didn’t.” I replied before I sped away.

I took him to an auto racing track, when I was in varsity I had a friend who loved dating older guys and she took me to this place. I looked seeing the races, how high the cars go, the driver’s seemed to be having a lot of fun so I made a few friends of my own that I would occasionally come to ride with.

“What are we doing here?” Maverick asked as he followed me.

“Remember how you took me to that forest and we looked at the stars?” I asked and he nodded. “This is my place like that. So come on, I promise you’re going to love it.” As if on cue one of the trucks flew into the air, it was awesome.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Maverick asked.

I shrugged.

“Yo, Rex, what’s up?” I called out to this man who was slightly older than me but he looked way older.

“Maeve, where have you been?” Rex asked.

“You know hustling. You going on next?” I asked as we turned to look at the tracks.

“I am.” Rex answered.

“Mind if my friend and I tag along?” I asked.

Rex eyed Maverick then turned back to look at the tracks without saying a word to him. “You know what to do sweetie.”

I pulled Maverick aside, “you need to take off any loose sharp objects you might have. The trucks jump up and down so it might fly off and hurt someone.”

“I don’t think I would be joining you in this ride. It doesn’t seem safe and it doesn’t look safe either.” Maverick said.

I sighed, “you ride a motorcycle. The chances of you dying in that are higher than you dying in this.” I explained.

“But still, I control the bike but in this case I won’t be controlling it. I don’t know what might happen.” Maverick said.

I chuckled, “I didn’t think you were afraid of anything. I guess there is a first time for everything. Do you know how to shoot?” I asked.

Maverick looked at me for a while, “that is a random thing to ask. But I do.”

“Maeve!” Rex yelled my name, “are we going or not?” He asked.

I looked at Maverick, “see you in a bit.”

I joined Rex in his truck, I had raced with him a couple of times. I loved it because the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not I’d die gave me such a rush. It was the first time ever since I lost my parents that I felt so alive again and I loved it. It was like getting your first high, the feeling was so good that I didn’t want to lose it. I screamed, laughed and cheered Rex on and he loved the hype as I loved the rush. I guess deep down I knew that it was an unhealthy way of coping with my emotions but I had learned from a long time ago that opening up to people doesn’t necessarily mean they would keep your secrets.

The race was over; Rex came in second but I had the time of my life. I hugged him and said goodbye to Rex as I went to Maverick. “Let’s go.” I yelled as I ran to his bike.

I was about to climb on when Maverick stopped me, “how about I drive this time?” He asked.

“But you don’t know where I want to go next.” I said.

He showed me my phone, “the gun range you wanted to go to is closed. They just sent a message confirming that. I’ll take you to a gun range I know.”

I smiled, “and here I was starting to think you aren’t fun.”

“I am fun but I would like to have fun with things that I could control. And that right there,” he pointed to the auto car race, “it’s not safe in the least.”

“How about we agree to disagree?” I asked.

“Okay then.” Maverick put on his helmet.

Unlike the auto car racing, I have never been to a gun range before. I thought it would have been a fun thing to do with Maverick so I tried to find a gun range and booked us a spot. But I guess Maverick will take me to one that he has tried before.

We got there and it seemed like a fancy little club, “this is the gun range you were talking about?” I asked as I looked around.

“It’s some sort of club with a gun range inside.” Maverick explained as we entered.

“I want you to teach me how to shoot.” I whispered to him.

He turned around so quickly, “you don’t know how to shoot already?” He asked.

“No.” I replied, “Why would you assume that I did?” I asked.

“Because you already had booked a spot.” He stated.

“Because I was hoping you would show me.” I said as I flattered my eyelashes.

He chuckled, “come with me.” He took me to this gun range with guns handing around. He had a conversation with the guy behind the counter and then he handed me some noise cancelling headphones and we went to the backroom.

“Do you know basic stance required when shooting a gun?” He asked.

I looked at the gun on the small table, I picked it up, “I have never touched a gun before now.”

“Then maybe I should take that away from you.” He went to reach for the gun but I placed it back where I picked it from then I turned around to face him.

“I thought you were teaching me.” I said looking up at him.

He looked at him and for a second his eyes went to my lips, “I-I-I’m trying to but first you need to learn a few things.” He responded.

He showed me where to stand and how to go, a few things here and there then I picked the gun up. He stood behind me, showing me how to place my hands, where my feet need to be then he said I should fire. The first two shots I fired hit the target on point.

“Whoa! I thought you never shot a gun before?” He asked.

I turned to look at him, “beginner’s luck maybe.”

His eyes went to my lips again and I decided to take the first step and kiss him. He seemed surprised but then he kissed me back passionately. “Let’s get out of here?” He asked and I nodded.