Page 16 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

He broke his goddamn neck and no one bothered to tell me?

Fuming, I rock Leo and try to keep my emotions off my face.

Rhett and Beau pepper Mav with questions.

“What’s the prognosis?”

“Did your fracture heal?”

“Did you talk to your coach?”

“Are you still in pain?”

“Bro, football isn’t everything,” Beau finally adds, which has Maverick side-eyeing him. “What? I’m just glad you can walk now.”

Maverick couldn’t walk? I take a deep breath to calm down.

He scrubs his face. “Look, the last time y’all saw me, I was barely able to sit up. I’m doing better. My shoulder feels better, and I’m not in so much pain. The insomnia isn’t so bad anymore, but I still wake up a lot, and I lose my balance sometimes, but I’ve come a long way.”

Pain. Insomnia. Balance issues. And he’s sleeping on a fucking couch.

He’s going to get an earful from me when we leave tonight.

Leo and I are obviously going to have to find a new place to live.

Maverick needs to sleep in a real bed so he can heal, and the only way to get that is if he unfolds his couch.

Rhett gently puts his hand on Mav’s shoulder. “You’ve come a long way, and we’re all proud of you. Regaining your health is the most important thing here.”

Mav swallows. “My neurosurgeon said given the fact that I was paralyzed for a few days after the injury, it’s likely I won’t play professional football again. He said I’m lucky I’m not in traction and that another good hit could paralyze me permanently.”

He could be paralyzed!

My eyes burn, and I work like hell to choke down my emotions. “Being a pro football player isn’t worth killing your body.”

Mav’s eyes meet mine, and he quietly adds, “If I don’t play, I won’t be able to help my brothers pay off the ranch.”

Rhett shakes his head. “That’s why you’re all twisted up about this? When have I ever put that responsibility on you?”

Mav turns to his oldest brother. “You’re the one who paid for me to play football.

For all the camps and equipment. You’re the one who drove me to pee-wee tournaments and summer leagues.

You. Not our asshole father. So I feel like I owe you.

Like I need to pull my weight around here, and I always thought I’d do that by helping you pay off our mortgage. ”

With a sigh, Rhett closes his eyes for a moment. “All I care about is that you’re healthy. That you’re doing something you love. Your family is just as proud of you whether you play football or not.”

Mav stares at the floor. “I have one more shot. I have to go back to New York in a month. I got a second opinion who said there’s a possibility I might be healed enough to play down the road, but I’ll need a lot of rehab.

And because I was on the injured reserve list, that whittled down my pay this year. ”

Jace groans. “Bro, that sucks. I thought you had that payout no matter what.”

“It wasn’t a fully guaranteed contract. The NFL can’t offer those to everyone because it’s such a high-injury sport. But here’s another problem. Even if I’m able to play, I’ve been wondering if Heller was planning to trade me.”

Beau scoffs. “You’re a first-round draft pick.”

“Who didn’t have a great season and got injured.” Mav shakes his head. “I’m just not sure what I’ll do if I don’t play.”

No wonder I’ve caught him looking so sad sometimes.

Paige gets up with Ella in her arms. “I need food for this conversation. I’m going to put Ella down, and then I’ll get us some snacks.”

I’d offer to help, but I don’t want to miss any more revelations.

I’m glad Beau gets up to lend a hand. I return my attention to Maverick.

“Can we recap for those of us who are just hearing about your catastrophic injuries for the first time?” He mouths “sorry” and I roll my eyes.

“So you basically have another month to convalesce before you have to go back to New York where you’ll find out if you’ll continue in the NFL or retire. Right?”

“‘Retire’ sounds weird. I’m twenty-three, not sixty.”

“I think the point is you want to live to see sixty, but if you break your fu—” I cut myself off because the boys are in the room. “If you break your pretty little neck, you won’t be able to do jack squat.”

“She has a point,” Beau calls out from the kitchen.

Jace motions toward his brother. “Does this mean you won’t make any more on your contract after this year?”

“There’s some kind of payout, but it won’t last me the rest of my life or anything.”

“Couldn’t you just stay on the injured reserve and keep collecting the dough?” Jace leans forward. “I know that would suck, but you’ve worked so damn hard, and maybe things could change for you if you give it time.”

Maverick considers that for a moment, then shakes his head. “Remember when I was out a few games in high school with that knee injury? There’s nothing worse than being part of a team and sitting on the sidelines, not able to play. Plus, I don’t like the idea of cashing in checks I haven’t earned.”

Paige and Beau bring over chips, dips, and hot queso . She motions to me. “Ladies first, because the guys will decimate this plate in under a minute. Let me take Leo for a bit and give you a break.”

He’s snoozing on my shoulder. I hand him to her, and she kisses his fuzzy head. “I love him so much.”

“Thanks for the help.” I grab a plate and fill it up before I hand it to Maverick.

He just stares at me. “What? You probably shouldn’t lean over so far if you’ve been dizzy, right?

How else are you going to eat?” While he’s mystified that I’ve been paying attention, I make myself a plate and return to my seat.

Paige sits next to me and whispers, “How’s it going at the condo? I swear I had no idea he was returning.”

I shrug and whisper back, “It’s fine, but I think I should move into the camper.”

“Is he being a bad roommate?”

“No, he’s great.” And that’s a problem. I don’t need to be reminded of how sweet, helpful, and charming Maverick is. I need to focus on Leo, work, and making more money. And maybe figuring out who’s been vandalizing my stuff. “I just think he needs his space.” Or maybe I do.

I dial back into the conversation the guys are having.

Maverick sets down his half-empty plate. “I’d like to buy a truck or an SUV. Baylee can use it if I return to New York, but it would be great to have something to get around in while I’m here. ”

This man makes me insane. “You can’t just loan me your truck like that.”

He frowns. “Why not? If I want to let you use it, what’s the problem?”

I don’t know why that pisses me off, but it does. Why does he always have to be considerate like that?

“Should you be driving right now?” Rhett asks him.

“I can handle it.” Rhett looks dubious, so Maverick makes a face. “I promise to drive slow, Mom.”

Rhett motions around the room. “Let us know if you need any help. Beau, Jace, and I can meet up to stretch or work out. Bring you food. Whatever you need.” I love how the guys always pull for each other.

I hold up my hand. “I hate to interrupt this bromance here, but I was wondering if Leo and I could move into Beau’s camper later this week. Paige, you mentioned wanting to clean it up for me, but you don’t need to do that.”

The frown on Maverick’s face is fierce. “I told you it wasn’t a big deal for you to stay with me.”

“You need to sleep in a bed. A man who broke his neck should not be curled up on the couch.”

Rhett whistles. “I have to agree with Baylee on this. I thought you fully furnished the place.”

Mav shrugs. “All we have is a big couch. L-shaped like this one.”

“The bedroom furniture is backordered,” I explain before I look at Beau. “Do you mind if I crash at your place? You’re staying in the cabin now, right?” They have an old cabin on the property that he’s been renovating.

He glances back and forth between me and Mav. “I don’t mind, but the camper is a mess. Jace had a little problem cooking in there, and now it smells like cheese and dirty feet. ”

Paige snorts. “Jace forgot about the food on the stove and started a fire.”

Jace started a fire in the fireman’s camper. Nice. I fold my lips between my teeth so I don’t laugh. “Hmm. Jace, I wonder what had you so preoccupied.”

Everyone chuckles because we all know it must’ve involved a woman.

Jace tosses up his hands. “I’m sorry, okay? But the feet smell started long before the fire.”

Beau shakes his head. “Lies.”

As Rhett leans over to dust crumbs off Austin, he tilts his head to me. “Baylee, you’re always welcome here. You’re family to us, so our house is your house. I sure wish you had told me what was going on with your living situation earlier. Would’ve liked to have helped.”

I glance down at my lap and shrug. “I don’t want to mooch off my friends.”

“You and your mama have always been there for us. Hell, if it wasn’t for your mom, I’m not sure I would’ve gotten my head outta my ass and figured out my relationship with Paige.”

My best friend nods. “It’s true. Your mom was really clutch. Plus, she got me my wedding dress. I can honestly never repay you guys for everything you’ve done for me over the years.”

Jace claps his hands and shouts, “Group hug!” in a feminine voice, and everyone laughs. Everyone except for Maverick, who struggles to a stand. “Baylee doesn’t need to stay in the camper because she’s staying with me. We’ll figure it out.”

Rhett’s brows lift as he watches Mav wobble off to the kitchen.

That’s when I remember I’m still upset with everyone. “I love y’all, but I have a bone to pick. I can’t believe no one told me Maverick was critically injured,” I hiss .

Rhett’s eyes soften. “Baylee, he didn’t want to worry you, especially when he didn’t know his prognosis.”

“I’ll deal with Maverick later.” I point at Rhett with one hand before I take Leo back from Paige and tuck him against my chest. “As my friend and honorary big brother, if you ever do that again, I am going to spike your sweet tea with a laxative that will have you crapping your pants every time you try to mount your horse.”

He chuckles. “Yes, ma’am.”

The rest of the night goes by in a blur. I’m tired and upset. I don’t want to make this about myself, so I paste on a smile and follow along, but the whole time, I can’t stop thinking about one thing.

Maverick almost died on that football field.

Worse?

He’s thinking about returning to the game that almost paralyzed him.