Chapter Seven –
Maeve's hands were still shaking as she shoved open the nearest locker room door and slammed it shut behind her.
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
What the hell had she just done?
She pressed her back against the door, trying to breathe. Trying to think.
But all she could hear was Cody's voice.
"Tell me you didn't feel anything when I kissed you."
She should have lied. Should have walked away.
But no.
She had to go and kiss him instead.
Maeve squeezed her eyes shut. Stupid. So stupid.
She could still feel the shape of his lips against hers, the way his breath had hitched, the way his fingers had tightened around her wrist just before she'd pulled away—before she'd run.
And WWE had it all on tape.
Shit.
A knock at the door made her stomach drop.
She knew who it was.
Of course he'd come looking for her.
Of course he wouldn't just let this go.
"Maeve." Cody's voice was muffled through the door, but he sounded calm. Too calm. "Open up."
She swallowed hard, her fingers tightening on the door handle.
If she let him in, this was only going to get worse.
If she didn't, he'd just wait.
And Cody Rhodes was nothing if not persistent.
"I'm not in the mood for this, Cody," she called back, forcing her voice to stay steady.
"Yeah, well, too bad." His voice was closer now, like he'd leaned in. "Because I am."
Her heart slammed against her ribs.
"Maeve." His tone softened, but it didn't lose its edge. "Open the door."
She squeezed her eyes shut, exhaled sharply, and did the stupidest thing she could've done.
She unlocked the door.
And before she could second-guess it—Cody pushed it open.
Maeve's breath hitched as Cody stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
The locker room felt smaller now. Or maybe that was just him.
He stood there, arms crossed over his chest, watching her.
Not angry. Not smug. Just… waiting.
For her to say something.
For her to explain.
For her to admit what they both already knew.
But she couldn't.
Because if she said it out loud, if she acknowledged what she'd done, there'd be no taking it back.
So she did the only thing she could think of.
She looked away.
Cody let out a low, humorless laugh. "That's it? You're just gonna pretend it didn't happen?"
Maeve folded her arms, staring at the floor. "It didn't mean anything."
Silence.
When she finally forced herself to look up, she regretted it immediately.
Cody's jaw had gone tight. His hands curled into fists at his sides.
And when he spoke again, his voice was low. Controlled. Dangerous.
"Bullshit."
Maeve's pulse skipped.
"You can lie to yourself all you want," Cody said, stepping closer. "But don't lie to me."
She took a step back—instinct.
But there was nowhere to go.
And now Cody was right in front of her, close enough to touch.
Close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off of him, see the way his chest rose and fell, feel the tension in the air thick enough to choke on.
"You ran," Cody murmured, tilting his head. "Why?"
Maeve swallowed. "I—"
"You don't run unless you're scared," he continued, voice dropping even lower. "So tell me, Maeve—"
His fingers brushed lightly against hers. Not quite a touch, but enough to make her shiver.
"What the hell are you so scared of?"
Maeve's heart was pounding.
Not just from Cody standing so damn close—not just from the way his voice sent a shiver down her spine—but from the truth pressing against her ribs.
Because he was right.
She was scared.
And it had nothing to do with WWE finding out. Nothing to do with the consequences.
It was him.
It was the way he looked at her. Like she was something he wanted.
It was the way his fingers ghosted over her skin, how one touch would be all it took to ruin her.
She swallowed hard. "I'm not scared."
Cody's lips twitched—like he almost smiled, but didn't.
"Then prove it."
Before she could react, his fingers slipped beneath her chin, tipping her face up to his.
Maeve's breath hitched.
It was too much. Too close. Too intense.
She could feel the heat of his breath against her lips. The tension coiled between them like a live wire, ready to snap.
"Tell me you don't want this," Cody murmured.
She should. She should push him away. Walk out. Leave this mess before it swallowed her whole.
But she didn't.
Because it was already too late.
Maeve sucked in a breath—and then she did the one thing she swore she wouldn't do.
She kissed him.