Thrill Me (Fool's Gold #18)(89)

Maya wondered what differences would have occurred in her life if she’d had a sibling. Someone with whom to share the journey. The blame from her mother would have been split between them, she thought. At least she could hope it would have been. Maybe hearing how someone else ruined her mother’s life would have made her realize sooner that she wasn’t actually to blame. That would have changed her relationship with Del.

If only, she thought sadly. If only she’d been able to tell him the truth all those years ago. If only she’d been able to say she was scared instead of dumping him by telling him he was too boring. So many regrets.

As for what had happened with his mother, she still didn’t have an answer. If Del couldn’t understand why she’d kept her friend’s secret, then he was the wrong guy for her. But saying that didn’t much help her fall out of love with him. If only it could.

Madeline raised her own margarita. “As a sign of love and friendship, Maya, I offer you Jonny Blaze.”

Nearly everyone laughed and there were a few hoots.

“I didn’t know he was yours to give,” Jo said from the kitchen. “Does he know?”

“I suspect somewhere in his soul he senses we’re destined to be together,” Madeline said primly. “He’s resisting, but that only makes our love stronger.”

“You’re a weird and twisted person,” Destiny said cheerfully. “That makes me like you more.” She turned to Maya. “Any interest in our newest, most famous resident?”

“Not really,” Maya said. “No offense.”

“None taken. I know he’s amazing.”

“He probably knows, as well,” Shelby murmured.

Despite the pain inside, Maya joined in the laughter. She hurt everywhere. It was as if she’d been hit by a truck and then thrown off the side of a mountain. Her bones ached, her muscles were sore and her heart, well, it was nothing more than a wound. Odd how her mother had never fallen in love with anyone and yet Maya had turned out to be a one-man woman. Biology was funny that way.

She wanted to tell herself she would get over him, but she knew better. She would always love him.

As if sensing her discomfort, Sophie returned to her side and leaned against her. Maya scratched her ears.

She hoped that with time, she would hurt less. Maybe she would find someone else who made her laugh and love, but even then, there would be Del. She didn’t know why she responded so uniquely to him, but she did.

She didn’t even have the satisfaction of a breakup, she thought. Because they’d never truly been together. Not in a committed way. They’d worked together, become lovers, but had never talked about their personal relationship. Everything had happened under the umbrella of work. Even his offer for her to go with him had been work related. There hadn’t been any intimate words. No confessions. No promises.

She was as guilty as he in that, she thought. She’d never told him how she felt. Not that knowing would change anything for him. He’d made his decision based on what he knew to be true.

Larissa, a pretty blonde in yoga pants and a T-shirt, leaned toward Maya. “Want me to have Jack beat him up?” she offered. “He would. Jack isn’t the beat-up kind of guy, but he has a strong sense of fair play.”

Patience nodded. “Justice would do it, too,” she said. “He knows things.”

“We’re not going to get into a competition of whose husband or boyfriend could beat up Del the best,” Maya said. “Not that I don’t appreciate the offer.”

“We want to help however we can,” Phoebe told her. “Any suggestions?”

Make him love me back. Only that wasn’t going to happen, and she had to figure out a way to move on. She wasn’t going to be like her mom and blame everything on someone else. So her love life sucked. She could be happy in other ways. And she would find them.

“Be my friend,” she told Phoebe.

“Easy enough. I love you and I’ll be your friend forever.”

“Then I’m going to be fine.”

* * *

MAYA SAT IN Mayor Marsha’s office. She’d already handed over her letter of resignation.

“I’m sorry to be making you find someone else so quickly,” she said. “I didn’t mean to be irresponsible. I’ll stay until you find a suitable replacement, unless you’d like me to leave right away.”

Mayor Marsha sat behind her desk, her pleasant expression completely unreadable.

“You’re feeling guilty—I can see that. Well, let me be clear. There’s no need for any of that nonsense. Maya, you’ve been a joy to work with. You got Eddie and Gladys to listen, which isn’t anything I thought could happen. Now you’re ready to go do something else. If you’re happy, then the town is happy.”

Maya didn’t think happy was a word she would use to describe herself. She was more than a little hungover, and she had no idea where, exactly, she was going. But when she’d gotten up that morning, she’d known that she wasn’t going to be staying in Fool’s Gold.

“I appreciate the opportunity you’ve given me,” she said instead. “I’ve really liked working here.”

“I’m glad.” The mayor smiled. “May I ask what you’re going to do next?”

“I’m going to look for a film partner. I want to make documentaries—more educational than entertainment. Stories that are geared toward children.”