Everleigh was nothing if not the most stubborn person known to mankind. So, when she saw a shirt that would guarantee to give her mother a heart attack if she wore it to Christmas dinner, Everleigh vowed to wear it for the rest of December.

Which subsequently meant that she ended up in Vegas, waiting for Kingston Maverick at a restaurant that probably shouldn't have let her in, with a shirt that said there's some Ho's in this house with a cartoon Santa on it.

It was worse that she was somehow more embarrassed to be sitting alone than she was to be wearing a Christmas shirt on New Year's Eve.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry." A sprinting Maverick slid into the chair across from Everleigh with enough speed that he almost slid off the other side onto the floor. He used the table to catch himself, but nearly sent it toppling with him until Everleigh pressed her hands to the top and kept it steady. All he'd managed in the end was to nearly fling his hearing aid across the floor, but even that managed to dangle from his ear and hold on. Maverick grinned sheepishly as he put the hearing aid back in properly. He pushed his glasses up his nose with his pinkie finger. "I was late for my flight."

Everleigh rolled her eyes. Almost playfully, still semi-annoyed. "Course you were."

"I really did try. Got stuck in traffic this time."

"It's fine."

"Not really."

"How was the flight?"

"Didn't like the attendants as much as the flight to Australia."

Everleigh shook her head—mostly at the fact she'd laughed.

"How'd your final exam go?"

"I passed the class. That's what matters."

"Congratulations."

"Are you saying congratulations because you mean it or because you're relieved I'm not going to hold a fail over your head?"

"Both," Maverick said. "Mostly proud of you, though."

"Kinda takes away from it when you say both." Everleigh wrinkled her nose. At least she was used to playing second fiddle—Florence had made sure of that one.

Maverick looked at the time on his—Everleigh's—phone instead of replying to her. Everleigh fought the urge to take it from him and leave. "We gotta go."

"You just got here." Everleigh hated how desperate that sounded. Maybe she didn't want to spend New Year's alone like she'd thought. The thought of friendship was comforting.

"I said we gotta go. You're not getting rid of me yet, Everleigh Meadowlark." Maverick waved her phone around, holding it away from her. "I still have your phone."

"What? No." Everleigh held her hand out. "Give it back, please."

Maverick held it farther away.

Everleigh raised an eyebrow. "You know I'm taller than you, right? And thus—" She went to lean across the table when Maverick threw his arm back further, nearly taking out a tray of water glasses a waiter had been holding. He apologized before Everleigh glared at him. "—my arms are longer than yours."

"Consider tonight a late birthday present."

"You already got me a birthday present."

"I got you a couple cups of coffee." Maverick swatted his hand in her direction as he pocketed her phone once again. "That's nothing."

"Kingston—"

"Everleigh." God, Maverick had a bad mocking English accent.

"We haven't even eaten." Everleigh didn't even want to think about the days leading up to this dinner where she didn't eat a thing. She had been prepared. Fought panic attacks and made sure she'd be as comfortable as she could be for her meal with Maverick. Fuck leaving. "I'm..." Everleigh cringed. "... starving."

"I'll buy you a popcorn at the show."

"What show?"

Maverick smiled. "You'll have to come with me and find out."

"I'm getting serial killer from that statement."

"Gotta trust me, Everleigh Meadowlark."

"That's something serial killers—"

"Christ, Everleigh, I'm not going to murder you."

"That's also—"

"Do you really want me to spoil the surprise or will you just come with me, please?"

Everleigh narrowed her eyes for a moment. "Do I need to change?"

Maverick's eyes darted down to her t-shirt. Before he thought about it and promptly looked back to Everleigh's face. "No. You're good."

"You promise?" Everleigh pressed her hands to the table as she stood up, reminding herself to drop something in the tip jar for taking up a table at the restaurant and not ordering anything of substance.

Maverick offered Everleigh his arm. Everleigh stared at him for a moment, causing Maverick to clear his throat, drop his arm, and motion in the direction of the front door.

"Can we stop for food on the way?" Everleigh asked.

"You really don't owe me for the Greggs card, if that's what you're worried about."

That's only partially what she was thinking of.

Everleigh swallowed hard. "Okay. Sorry."

Maverick frowned. "Are you okay?"

"Fine." Everleigh forced a smile. "Should we go?"

"I—yeah. Yes. Yes. We should."

"Lead the way."

Maverick fought a smile. "You're going to die."

"Kingston—"

"God, not like that. Let's go!"

"Drop my body in a dumpster so racoons can have it, would you?"

"Morbid."

"You're the one who's murdering me."

*

"I'm dying. Are you serious?"

Maverick smiled. "Happy birthday."

"I could—" Everleigh stopped herself before she could say kiss you because that was not something she'd be doing to Maverick any time soon. "You're kidding me."

"I told you I was friends with Stevie. We met while we were working on the soundtrack for Keira Lim's Work, Wife."

Everleigh's eyes lit up with the rotating spotlights in front of the stadium. The neon, flashing signs with MARS surrounded by swirling planets that turned into the Nuclear Fusion record cover and dissolved into sparkles for the deluxe edition. A smiling Stevie lit up the screen before clips of the other band members played, Everleigh could stare at that billboard all night.

"I can't believe you."

"Thought you deserved to see them in concert."

"I can't wear this, are you kidding me?"

"Here." Maverick slid his hoodie off his shoulders and held it out to her. "Stevie would like the shirt, though. She'd probably want one."

Everleigh snatched the hoodie from his hand and put it on, grabbing the sides and wrapping herself up in it. "Thank you. I don't trust you."

Maverick put a hand to his chest and one in the air. "I haven't murdered you yet, Everleigh Meadowlark."

"Yet?"

Maverick laughed. "Why would I give you my jacket if I was going to murder you? That'll lead them right back to me."

Everleigh held the edges of the hoodie tighter. "I will marginally trust you."

"I can work with that."

"Good. It's all I'm giving you."

"Would you like to get going?"

"We're going in?"

"Oh, Everleigh," Maverick mused, "you didn't think I was bringing you outside to look at the sign, did you?"

"I didn't put it past you."

"Come on, we might have time for some popcorn if we hurry."

"Might?" Everleigh's eyebrows knit together.

"I don't know when the show officially starts. I can't remember if they had an opener or not."

"Do you always have to be late to everything?" Everleigh asked. "First your flight, then our dinner, now a MARS concert..."

Maverick frowned at Everleigh for a moment. "I did try. I was in London like eleven hours ago."

"You—I—" Everleigh took a second to evaluate how fucking defensive she was being. Christ. "Sorry."

"Are you okay?"

"Fine." Everleigh swallowed hard.

"Let me know if that changes?"

Probably not. "Sure."

Maverick nodded his head as he pulled a beanie on and opened the car door. Everleigh had been in a limo before, but never with someone who seemed like he was trying to be inconspicuous. She wasn't sure Kingston Maverick could ever be anything other than conspicuous, to be honest. He had a kind of energy that drew people toward him; her coworkers followed his every move, Everleigh was sure it was the same with fans of his music.

Kingston Maverick was the kind of person you got along with whether you wanted to or not—Everleigh was an expert in that. He had the kind of smile that made days better and the kind of laugh that felt like a hug on a terrible day. He—

Jesus Christ, what was she thinking?

Everleigh got out of the car and nearly hit Maverick with the door. Probably would've if he hadn't leapt out of the way.

"I—sorry."

"Sorry," Maverick said at the same time.

"I didn't—"

"Wasn't going to leave you in there." Maverick scratched the back of his neck. "Went to open your—"

"Yeah. Um. Thank you."

"We should get in."

"Right. Yeah."

Maverick waved a hand. "This way. I know the security for our gate."

"Lead the way." Everleigh zipped up Maverick's hoodie as they walked, digging her hands into the pockets. (She absolutely did not feel a lighter and a tin. Nope.) (If Maverick got her arrested for smuggling marijuana into a concert, she'd never forgive him.)

Maverick walked in stride with Everleigh but somehow never lead her astray. Hands tucked into his jean pockets and head ducked slightly, Maverick moved through the crowd like a shadow—there but never noticed for who he was. Everleigh followed closely behind, making sure to keep him in her sights so she didn't become a victim of the crowd. They stood together in line for their gate, though Everleigh was sure Maverick probably could've walked to the front and got in right away. She was surprised he didn't try, but figured he was going for the least noticeable way to get in.

A flash came from beside them and Maverick physically tensed up. Everleigh turned to where the flash had come from to see a group of teenage girls taking a photo together in front of a MARS poster on the wall.

"Kingston," Everleigh said, nudging him with her elbow. "It's nothing to worry about."

"It's always something to worry about." Maverick's shoulders lowered a little as he recognized who had taken the picture and why. "But thank you."

"Come on," Everleigh said, "you're with me."

"That's all the more reason to take photos, you know that, right?"

"I am completely insignificant. You're safe with me."

Maverick stared at her for a moment, looking like he wanted to say something.

"Floor's yours."

"I—You—I mean—" Maverick stumbled over his words and coughed into his fist to try and cover it up. Ever the poet. "You don't really think that, do you?"

Everleigh used the line moving to ignore the question, the screaming teens behind them helped her accomplish her feat. She pushed her bangs back and looked around. The excitement of the line sparked in her veins.

When Everleigh eventually looked back to Maverick, he was already looking at her. Everleigh's eyes darted back and forth for a moment before landing back on him.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Maverick swallowed hard and shook his head. "Do you... uh... are you wanting a t-shirt or something?"

"I'll probably grab a pin off the website or something."

"Are you sure?"

Everleigh nodded. She didn't want to talk to Maverick about how much buying t-shirts made her want to cry. They didn't have enough time to get into how women's sizes were more confusing than quadratic equations and they really didn't have enough time to get into why Everleigh hated trying on clothes. That was a story for no one.

Maverick kept staring at her like there were a thousand things he refused to say. Everleigh didn't know if she wanted to hear them given the face he was making at her. Even the lights reflecting off his glasses didn't manage to shield her from the knit eyebrows and soft eyes he was giving her. Like she was a puppy with a broken leg whimpering on the ground.

Everleigh stood a little straighter and tried to shake off whatever feeling he'd given her that made her potentially want to spill everything to him. "Gotta pack light. I've got a lot of trips between now and my next time in London. Bringing you those Witcher books took a lot of suitcase room."

Maverick stepped forward with the line, which was moving steadily. "You brought me your Witchers?"

"Thought you were interested in reading them. I assume you'll have some down time when your tour is over." Everleigh also needed an excuse to continue talking to him while she figured out if she wanted to keep talking to him. It was a vicious cycle.

"Just have North America left."

"Did you go to South America?"

Maverick nodded. "At the start."

"You went South America to Asia to Europe to North America?"

"I never said we were good at planning, Everleigh Meadowlark. That's how the cookie crumbles sometimes."

Everleigh swallowed hard. "Well. Offer stands if you want to borrow them."

"Does that mean you're potentially going to see me again?"

"Only to get my Yennefer of Vengerberg back."

"Naturally."

"Better not wreck my copies, Kingston Maverick."

"I'll do my damndest not to."

Maverick smiled at the security guard at the gate. They were let in without a lot of clearing their pockets. (Everleigh was still far too nervous about the weed in her pocket—the tin had her fingerprints all over it.) Everleigh shuffled through quickly, nearly running into Maverick's back as she did so.

While Everleigh wasn't usually one for crowds, the excitement in the air was contagious. It crackled and sparked like electricity. She almost found it soothing when it should've been like a shot of adrenaline.

"Everleigh?"

"Yes?" Everleigh hadn't realized she'd been staring at the menu board at the concession until she turned back to Maverick.

Maverick held his hand out. "You okay if I hold your elbow so we don't get separated?"

"You can hold my hand since you asked so nicely."

"Really?"

"Scared of it?" Everleigh asked, waving her hand at him. "I promise I won't squeeze too hard. And it's non-toxic."

Maverick looked around for a moment.

"No one's in here to take pictures. They're here to see MARS, not you. And it's not like this is a date, so should anyone post anything, you'll have your phone back to deny it professionally that we aren't romantically involved. It'll be fine, Kingston." Everleigh shrugged. Looked at him for a moment as she waited a beat. "I'm half kidding but if you want to, you can."

Maverick didn't look like he enjoyed that comment, but he grabbed her hand all the same. Probably to call her bluff. His hands were softer than Everleigh would've imagined, she tried not to focus too hard on that and focus more on the task at hand of finding their seats. Even if she'd be out of hers most of the concert. Everleigh wasn't sure she'd be able to sit still if she managed to sit her ass down in the first place.

Maverick didn't tug on her hand like she thought he would. Instead, he guided without pulling, lead without running. Weaved without yanking. Everleigh felt quite respected, even if it was only handholding. She tried to tell herself it was actual respect and not the fact that her legs were longer than his and made her move faster.

Though there wasn't an opener, the closer they got to the stage, the more Everleigh's heart pounded against her chest. He really had pulled all the stops out, hadn't he? They were on the floor for the MARS concert Everleigh wouldn't have attended otherwise. It almost made her forget how hungry she was.

"Ta da," Maverick sang.

"This is amazing."

"Glad you like it," Maverick said. "You'll have to thank Stevie for letting us in."

"What? Text her using your phone before I give you it back?"

Maverick smiled like he knew something Everleigh didn't. Christ. "Almost forgot." He dug into the front pocket of his jeans before holding up a small plastic bag. "Here."

Everleigh took it from him and popped it open when she saw the orange foam and blue string. She put one into the ear farthest from Maverick, dangling the other ear plug over her shoulder, ready to be put in when MARS took the stage. "Thanks."

"Don't sweat it."

Everleigh genuinely couldn't believe her eyes. The stage had the instruments ready to go. She spotted lights around the rim of the stage that she was certain would hit them with purples and golds like the cover of the Nuclear Fusion cover and deluxe cover. Everleigh had no doubt in her mind she'd probably cry when the band came out on stage. She should've worn waterproof mascara. God damn.

"I think I love you." Everleigh didn't realize what was leaving her lips until after she blurted it. Good God. She slapped a hand over her mouth. This would be a wonderful time for Maverick to have accidentally turned his hearing aids off.

"What?" Maverick turned her way.

"Nothing."

"No, you said something."

Everleigh couldn't read the expression on his face. He looked amused ninety-nine percent of the time, anyway. The other one percent he looked like he had a thousand thoughts a minute running through his head and he never vocalized any of them to Everleigh. Maverick was giving her the former at that moment. A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth—Everleigh was convinced he had heard her.

Until.

"Believe it or not, I do care about what you have to say. You can repeat yourself. Just gotta tap me on the shoulder before you talk to me next time so I know. It's loud in here but I thought I caught something from your direction." Maverick leaned a little closer to her when he spoke. Probably easier for him to hear her response that way and still read her lips if he needed to.

Everleigh would've felt worse if she pretended she hadn't said anything and made him doubt himself. "I... I said thank you. Thank you for... this. All of this."

"You're welcome." Maverick smiled, but it was a little stiffer than before. "Glad you agreed to come with me. Stevie would've roasted me alive if you hadn't. She already kind of thought you were imaginary."

"You've been texting her from a different phone and she thought I was imaginary?"

"I mean the truth was stupid," Maverick said. "I don't blame her for mostly not believing me but playing along enough to give us tickets."

"Speaking of the phone."

Maverick laughed and dug his hand into his pocket. "Yeah, yeah, here you go. Fill your boots, Meadowlark."

He held her phone out to her, and held his other hand out. Everleigh pulled his phone from her pocket and placed it in his empty hand as she took her phone back.

"Thank you."

"You kids are addicted to these things," Maverick teased, checking the time on his phone. He laughed loudly. "Wow, thank you so much for the new wallpaper."

Everleigh could've gone for something he might've liked. Something music related—she even considered finding a picture of him on the internet to make him laugh. She was sure if she spent twenty seconds on Instagram she could've found a fan account of his and taken a picture from there of the crowd at one of his concerts. He said he loved them, after all.

But, naturally, Everleigh had gone for something else.

In all her glory, between chapters to study, Everleigh had taken a photo in her bathroom mirror wearing a Midsommar shirt and some blue jeans while flipping Maverick off. Her middle finger took up most of the screen, just as she intended. An artistic vision, if she said so herself.

"It's beautiful," Maverick said. Everleigh didn't like that he still had that tight smile on his face. Part of her wanted to smack it off him and let him be mad at her if that's what was going on. The other part of her wasn't allowed to speak. It was confused.

"Some of my best photography, I think."

"Esmé put you up to changing my wallpaper, didn't she?"

"Maybe I just wanted to give you a token to always remember me by."

"Well, this is clearly the best choice. Embodies you perfectly."

"I think so."

"Too bad you're stuck seeing me again after I'm done holding your books hostage."

Everleigh clicked her tongue. "That just means I can flip you off in person."

Maverick laughed. "How will I ever survive not being flipped off by Everleigh Meadowlark?"

"Keep that as your wallpaper and you'll never be deprived."

"I think I might."

"Seriously?"

"A one of a kind Everleigh Meadowlark photo? Absolutely."

"Hardly one of a kind when I flip off everyone I know."

"I'm keeping it. You look nice."

"I look nice flipping you off?"

A loud hum of music sounded as lights lit up the stage. Everleigh already recognized they were leading with Nuclear Fusion. It took a lot for her to keep her eyes on Maverick and not the stage.

Maverick grinned and leaned in closer enough that Everleigh could feel his breath on her ear when he spoke. "You're not as mean as you think you are."

"Was that a line from 10 Things I Hate About You?"

Maverick tapped his ear and waved his finger around, mouthing can't hear you with a shit-eating grin on his face. The crowd started cheering and Everleigh's heart drummed with excitement. He tugged on the ear plug that Everleigh hadn't put in and pressed it gently into her ear.

Everleigh smiled at him for a moment. "Thank you."

Maverick smiled back at her when Everleigh caught movement in her peripheral. She turned, seeing the back of the stage ascending with MARS on it. Everleigh couldn't fight the scream that escaped, but it disappeared into the sea of screams from the crowd.

Everleigh leaned a little closer to Maverick so he could hear her, tapping his tricep with her knuckle. She yelled over the crowd, "Oh my God, Stevie looks gorgeous!"

Sometimes when Everleigh worked an overnight flight and the cabin lights were off, passengers asleep, she liked to look out the window and see the stars twinkling. At peace with the world that slept under their blanket. Stevie shimmered in the lights like a thousand stars sparkling in a clear night's sky.

Maverick nodded and gave her a half smile. "Think I have the same bra."

Everleigh snorted out a laugh.