Jace was right. Something didn’t add up.
Which left Maverick with a decision.
Fresh start?
Or dredge up the past?
Chapter Eight
Apparently, Ella’s excuses were no longer working.
She’d been a guest at Edith’s home for three weeks, which had included three Sundays. Ella had learned early on that Edith frequently joined the Storms for their weekly Sunday dinner. Edith had skipped it the first week Ella was here, since she’d only arrived the day before. The past two Sundays, Ella had refused Edith’s invitation to join her and Manny, claiming she didn’t want to impose on what was clearly a family thing, reassuring her host that she was perfectly happy hanging out on her own.
This week, Edith wasn’t taking no for an answer. Probably because she wasn’t the only one applying the pressure. Gretchen and Mila—who were already becoming good friends—had both called at different times this morning, insisting that Edith drag her along.
To be honest, if it had been any other family in Gracemont, Ella would have joined Edith her second week in town. However, she’d been too uncertain of how Maverick would feel about her basically crashing a family meal, so she’d steered clear.
While she still wasn’t sure about his feelings, she was a bit less hesitant today, though nervous by the prospect.
He’d been friendly enough on Wednesday night, when he’d followed his brothers over to the table she was sharing with the girls, pulled up the seat next to hers, and started a conversation.
Ella had spent too much time the past couple of weeks analyzing Maverick’s behavior toward her, since her arrival in Gracemont. He’d definitely thawed since that initial run-in a few weeks ago, but she wasn’t sure how to interpret this current friendliness.
Perhaps he was being friendly because she was nothing more than part of his past, and he’d moved on, any and all feelings—including anger or pain—completely gone. If she ran into her ex from college or Silas, she’d certainly be friendly, since she had no lingering feelings toward them, good or bad.
Maverick had made no mention of their breakup, or even their relationship, which left her in the dark regarding how he felt about how it ended. Of course, she hadn’t brought it up either. Shame and guilt kept her silent on the subject for reasons she really, truly wished weren’t there.
She feared if she tried to talk to him about it all, he would go cold or grow angry, and the tentative friendliness they’d established would end. Ella wasn’t sure how much longer she intended to remain in town, but her masochistic side wanted to see more of him.
Because even now, after all this time, Maverick drew her like a moth to a flame. She was just as enamored and charmed by him at thirty-two as she’d been at seventeen.
Even though nothing could come of it.
Maverick Storm was off-limits. Her life was a fucking mess right now, so even considering starting something with her first love was insane. Until she sorted out Gigi’s house situation, figured out where she stood with her family, and made some solid decisions about her future, she would be smart not to add more weight to an already heavy load.
Her back was about to break as it was.
Plus, while Edith had warned her not to listen to gossip, Ella still couldn’t let go of Maverick’s one-and-done reputation. Exaggerated or not, it had to be rooted in some truth because no one was saying the same things about his brothers.
And then, there was the whole Roni thing. The woman had been a bitch to her in school, which Maverick knew. The idea that he would sleep with her just gave Ella the icks.
So yeah…lots of reasons why she should keep her distance from Maverick.
Ella glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece. Manny would be here to pick them up in less than an hour, so if she was going to find a way to get out of attending this evening, she needed to come up with something quick.
“You know, I’m not hungry after that big breakfast you made us this morning,” Ella said to Edith. “I’m not used to eating quite so much. Without Gigi to eat with, lately I’ve been living on soup or cereal. I’d probably be better off staying here and just having tea and toast for dinner, something small.”
Edith smirked, definitely on to her. “You won’t offend Claire or Mila if you only eat small portions.”
Ella pursed her lips. “It’s just…I know this is a family thing, so I don’t think it’s appropriate for?—”
“I’m not family,” Edith interjected. “And neither is Manny. It doesn’t matter. Claire calls itSundaydinner, notfamilydinner.”
“Yes, but?—”
Edith put her bookmark in the novel she’d been reading and set it on the end table. “Ella, I don’t understand this reticence. You’ve gone out quite a few times with various members of the Storm family and enjoyed yourself. Why is going to dinner at the farm any different?”
Ella sighed…then decided the best—and probably only—way to get out of tonight was full disclosure. She’d been toying withthe idea of talking to Edith about her and Maverick anyway. It was hard keeping her own counsel, spoiled after so many years of having Gigi as a sounding board for all her concerns. “I’m not sure everyone would be comfortable with having me there.”