Maverick stepped out of the apartment, determined to clear his head.
Her words had struck him harder than anything before. He felt broken and sad, and the only way to keep from breaking down in front of her was to excuse himself, claiming he had other things to do.
In reality, he had nothing to do. He grabbed his bike, donned his helmet, and took off across Cinder City.
Whenever emotions overwhelmed him, riding at full speed was the only way to regain his composure. He had found her, and everything had seemed perfect until someone else entered the picture.
Maverick felt as though he were cursed; how could one woman wield such control over his emotions?
He had attempted to date other women in the past, but his relationships had fizzled out almost immediately. None of them could take the place of Melody in his heart. If only she recognized the turmoil she caused, but he realized forcing his feelings on her would only damage their relationship.
After racing through various parts of Cinder City, Maverick stopped at an unfinished building. He sprawled out in an open space, letting his feet dangle as he gazed out at the streets. Time slipped away as he sat there, lost in thought, contemplating how to manage his feelings.
By evening, he finally left the spot with a sense of stability. They were friends, and that was all it had to be. She could choose whoever she wanted in her life, and so could he. Acknowledging that they were only meant to be friends, he felt the weight of his emotions begin to lift.
He knew that completely moving on wouldn't happen overnight, but the feelings would gradually fade.
He rode back as night fell, the sun disappearing from the sky. With streetlights illuminating the road and the honking of cars surrounding him, he made his way to Melody's apartment.
As he approached, he noticed an elderly woman searching for a taxi, clearly anxious about getting home. Something inside him urged him to help, so he sped across the road and stopped in front of her.
Startled by his sudden appearance, the woman took a step back, observing Maverick with cautious curiosity.
Removing his helmet and tossing his hair, Maverick focused on her. "Where are you headed, ma'am?" he asked.
Nina, clutching her grocery bags, looked back at him. When she didn't respond, he pressed on, "Are you going home? I can give you a ride."
She hesitated, well aware of how dangerous Cinder City could be. Looks could be deceiving, and though Maverick seemed handsome, she couldn't blindly trust him. But recalling Melody's experience with a helpful biker, she felt a flicker of trust towards this stranger. "Yes, I'm heading home," she finally answered.
"Great, I'll give you a ride. It's hard to catch a cab around here; they usually stop a few junctions away," he explained confidently.
Nina nodded, feeling the urgency to get off the street. She approached the bike, grocery items in hand.
"Let me help you," Maverick offered, taking the bags from her to ensure she could sit comfortably.
He glanced to the side as he adjusted the bike and lifted his head just in time to see someone familiar across the road. A car had just parked, and a stunning woman dressed in red exited. It was the man standing beside her, Ethan – the same guy who had begged Melody on his knees that morning. Maverick's gaze narrowed as he recognized the same man entwined with this lady.
Maverick tightened his grip on his fist as he watched Ethan hug the woman, followed by a kiss, before the guy waved her off and hopped back into his car. Maverick turned his head sharply as the vehicle sped away, anger bubbling inside him.
He was certain of it—Ethan was not serious about Melody. She was too infatuated to see the truth, completely blinded by her feelings. Because of that loser, she had pushed Maverick aside. He was desperate to show her the truth about Ethan; the man had no respect for her whatsoever. How could he so easily move on to another woman after that morning's show? It was clear: Ethan was a selfish jerk.
Maverick wished Melody could figure it out on her own, but at the same time, he didn't want her to endure the pain of finding out. So, he'd hold his tongue for now. Maybe one day, she'd see for herself. He refused to be the one to shatter her hope; he'd rather watch from a distance instead.
"I'm already seated," Nina's voice cut through his thoughts, bringing him back to reality.
"Alright, let's go," he replied, revving his bike and speeding off in the opposite direction.
Melody, you deserve better than this animal, he thought inwardly.
The drive to the woman's house was quite a distance, but Maverick maintained a steady speed, carefully ensuring the old lady felt comfortable on his bike. After about forty-five minutes, they arrived in front of her house. Nina dismounted, and Maverick quickly grabbed the grocery bag, following her to the door.
"You really don't have to do this; you've already helped me enough," Nina said with a nervous chuckle, feeling fortunate to have encountered someone so kind.
"It's no trouble at all," Maverick replied, his tone firm, as he believed in assisting those in need especially the elderly.
As the woman smiled and unlocked her door, she stepped inside and accepted the grocery bags from Maverick. Just as he was about to leave, she hesitated and said, "I would have invited you for a meal. It's not every day you meet someone nice, and I like to show my appreciation."
Maverick flashed a grin. "You don't need to worry about that, Aunt. I appreciate the offer, but I'm all good, thanks."
Nina nodded, then added playfully, "I wish my niece wasn't taken so I could introduce her to you. You're handsome and kind—if only I had met you sooner."
Maverick chuckled, "That's quite the compliment." He straightened up, ready to take his leave. "Alright, Aunt, I'll be on my way now."
"Drive safely," Nina called as he turned away, a little surprised by how easy their conversation had been. Though he was a stranger, he didn't feel like one at all. She couldn't help but think he would be a perfect match for her niece, if only Melody weren't already with someone else.