THE CRAZY GOOD SERIES - Rachel Robinson Page 0,2

and the silent words we exchanged simply by looking at one another. I clutch my stomach in physical pain.

I hear her sheets rustle as she comes to stand on the other side of his bed. I meet her angry gaze. Staring each other straight in the eyes, we have a silent standoff. I know who loses these things. The other woman. The diamond and solid band sparkling on her left hand signifies my status in this duel. I feel the tears rolling down my cheeks like hot traitors. Worrying about what his wife thinks doesn’t even register. The sting of Maverick’s betrayal is all-encompassing. You knew he was fucked up, my inner voice whispers. A wife? He’s married. A wedding. A bride. Another life I have no clue about. Lies. I shudder. Nothing but lies.

“Why?” I ask. The question is involuntary; it just comes garbling out of my mouth on its own.

“Because he asked me to marry him five years ago. Why else?” She doesn’t realize I wasn’t talking to her. I look down at Maverick.

My fists balled so hard I think my nails are slicing me, I try to swallow down the bitterness. “Why? Why didn’t you tell me? You asshole! You lying asshole! You promised me honesty! Why?” I scream. It’s loud and echoing and I don’t give a shit. Silent, complacent Windsor is gone. I suck in air trying to fill my lungs, but they refuse to fill.

The wife backs away from his bed and sits on the cot. The self-satisfied look on her stunning, make-up free face causes my blood to boil. I take a step away from Mav’s bed too, like maybe more of his horrible lies might seep out of his comatose body and enter me.

I stab my finger toward her. “He never mentioned you. Not once,” I rasp. Her smile disappears. Finally the in control Windsor seems to be making an appearance. I take another step away from him. I latch onto the only thing that strikes as true. He never mentioned her, a wife, not once. Surely, I’d have taken off at a fast pace the second he did. “What’s your name?” I ask. I know my anger should be directed at Maverick, but there are too many unknown variables.

She raises both arms over her head to fix her hair and sighs loudly. She wants me to think I’m inconveniencing her. “Monica Hart.” She enunciates her last name thoroughly. Bitch. She ignores the accusations. She stands again and grabs his hand. “Did you really think someone like Maverick would be with someone like you for long?” She motions to my bedraggled appearance. I am already acutely aware of all of my shortcomings; I don’t need the lying bastard’s wife pointing them out. I feel like the broken woman I was the day I met him. Broken, untrusting, and freaking vulnerable.

“I guess everything comes full circle. Doesn’t it Maverick?” I say, my voice still louder than prudent in a silent hospital in the middle of the night. Aware that Mrs. Hart is watching my every move, I approach and lean over Mav’s bed.

“Take a leap, Windsor. Trust me, Windsor. It’s always only going to be you, Windsor. Forever,” I choke out the words. “I love you, Windsor.” I raise my gaze to Monica’s. My words horrify her. As I give all of his words straight back to him, I feel the black pit forming inside. Lies. All of them. “I’m in, Windsor. I’m all in. That’s what you said, Maverick.” I straighten up and swipe under my eyes with my fingertips. “I guess he was only half in,” I tell his wife, shrugging my shoulders. She just stares, wetness glazing her eyes. I grab Maverick’s hand. It feels heavy…wrong.

“Guess what, Maverick?” I stutter, unable to answer my own question. I rub his knuckles knowing this will be the last time I see him. Or touch him. My stomach is warring with my heart. I know I’m doing the right thing, I just feel stupid. This is my fault. I took a leap and Maverick Hart let me fall flat on my face. Stroking his jaw with my thumb, I silently say goodbye. He was never mine to begin with. The realization hits me full force. I want to cry and pummel something at the same time.

I glare at Monica. “You won’t mind if I break up with my boyfriend, will you?” She doesn’t respond, doesn’t nod, or remove her eyes from Maverick’s face.