Page 17 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

MAVERICK

Wincing when we hit a pothole, I rub my neck and try to think of what to say to Baylee, whose white knuckles grip the steering wheel as we head back to my condo, but I’m at a loss for words.

After we park, I grit my teeth as I watch her struggle to get Leo out of his car seat. I feel fucking helpless. I should be doing that. Once she’s unstrapped him, I tug the diaper bag down her arm. “Let me carry something.”

She glares at me but eventually concedes.

When we’re in the elevator, I break the silence. “I’m sorry for not telling you.”

“Yup. You said that.”

She’s not going to make this easy. I rub my hands down my jeans.

I’m not even sure how to explain this. “Look, it was easy to keep this in the family because everyone was there in the hospital room. I didn’t have to explain anything to my brothers because the doctors did that.

If I had to describe what happened on the field and say I couldn’t fucking feel my legs for three days, then shit would get real, you know? I was terrified I’d never walk again. ”

Her eyes water, and she nods as she nestles Leo to her chest. “Okay.”

I wait for her to say more. When she doesn’t, I look at her sideways. “That’s it?”

“What am I supposed to say? I feel like an asshole for being upset that you didn’t let me know what was going on with you.

That it was so serious. And I’m freaked out that you broke your damn neck.

” Tears crest her lids and stream down her face.

Jesus, I hate making Baylee cry. She’s the toughest woman I know.

And yet here she stands, upset because of me.

Desperate to make amends, I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head.

“You’re not an asshole. I was a dick for not calling you.

I own that, and I’m sorry. Once I regained feeling in my legs, I still had to recover from surgery on my rotator cuff and the fracture in my spine.

Two months in a rehab center sucked. I would’ve loved to have flown you up there to hang out with me, but you’d just had Leo, so I knew you couldn’t travel. ”

We stand like that, together, and I breathe in her sweet scent. It’s still fruity. Like peaches, I realize.

“Did you… did you not call me because I didn’t tell you I was pregnant?”

I frown. “No. I wouldn’t quid pro quo shit like that. You told me when you were ready, and I respect that. I didn’t call because I was depressed and freaked out.” I squeeze her tighter. “You can’t be mad at me, Bay. I was concussed. Shouldn’t that get me a pass?”

She lets out a sigh. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

We reach our floor, the elevator doors open, and I reluctantly let her go. When we get inside, she motions to the bathroom. “Could you watch Leo for ten minutes? I didn’t get a chance to take a shower this morning.”

“Of course. ”

She puts him in his basket and places that on the couch where I rub his belly as he settles back to sleep.

She gathers a few things and heads to the bathroom. Leaning back on the couch, I close my eyes and try not to think about Baylee in the shower or all those curves getting wet.

Jesus, not another fucking boner.

Someone knocks on the door, and I jerk upright, which makes everything hurt. “Son of a bitch.” I scramble to get up and answer the door before Leo wakes up.

I hobble as quickly as I can across the condo and fling open the door. All I see on the other side is a pile of blankets and pillows and a mess of hair.

“Bro, it’s me,” Jace calls out.

I take the pillows out of his arms and let him in. “What are you doing here?”

“Paige said you’d need this. She said, and I quote, ‘Tell him to open the couch and sleep on the damn bed before he hurts himself.’” He holds up his hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I just do what I’m told.”

I rub my neck, which aches after I sat up so quickly. “Sorry you had to come all this way.”

“Wasn’t any trouble.” He wags his eyebrows. “Got a date.”

I glance at my phone on the counter. “At nearly midnight?”

He smirks. “Okay, fine. A booty call.”

I chuckle. That sounds more like my brother. “Thanks for the supplies, but I’m not sure Baylee wants to share a bed with me.”

Jace pats my shoulder. “Okay. Sure. We’ll go with that.” He motions to the door. “I’m gonna leave you and your tortured soul while I get some TLC. Good to have you back.”

Then he’s gone.

A bed sounds great right now. I could spread out. Maybe I wouldn’t wake up so many times. I take stock of my couch. It’s huge, which means the bed is probably enormous too. Would Baylee care?

I scrub my face with my hand, annoyed that I’m probably overthinking this. Fuck it. I’m gonna make the bed. If she hates it, then… I don’t know. I’ll take the floor. But it seems dumb to have a perfectly fine bed that no one sleeps on.

Gently, I set Leo’s basket to the side and push the shorter end of the couch away before I yank off all the cushions on the longer end.

At the bottom, there are two handles. As I lean down to grab them, a wave of dizziness hits me, and I have to wait it out.

I brace my hands on my thighs to try to regain my balance.

When everything stops spinning, I pull the bed out from the couch.

I press on the mattress. As long as there’s not a metal bar across my back when I lie down, this will be perfect.

I spread the fitted sheet, then the top sheet, and finally the comforter. Paige is the best sister-in-law. I grab my phone and set a reminder for tomorrow. Do something nice for Paige.

I’m in the kitchen when Bay emerges in a t-shirt and sleep shorts. “Good shower?”

She sniffles. “Yes. Thanks.”

Her eyes are red and swollen, and her face is flushed. “Were you crying?”

“No.” But her voice is stuffy.

“What’s going on?”

She shrugs but doesn’t say anything.

“Come on. Talk to me. We never used to have trouble talking to each other.”

She sighs. “That was a long time ago, Maverick. We’re adults now. It’s different.”

“It doesn’t have to be. You’ll always be the most beautiful girl in our class and the only one who could always make me laugh. The Baylee I know is tough as shit and doesn’t put up with my crap. ”

She finally makes eye contact with me. “I’m worried about what happens when you go back to New York. Football is your lifelong dream, but it will kill me if anything happens to you out there while I’m stuck here.”

I think about that for a moment. “So come with me.”

She snorts. “Sure. Just like that, I’m going to take off. Who’s going to run the salon? I can’t leave. I have responsibilities here. I’ll always have responsibilities here. Besides, where will I live in New York? I can’t even afford Wild Heart.”

“I have roommates, but maybe I could find a different apartment, and you and Leo can stay with me.”

That makes her huff. “I bet Kira will love that.”

“Who cares what Kira thinks?”

“Uh, she’s your girlfriend, and if my boyfriend moved in with his female bestie, heads would roll.”

I chuckle. “Remind me not to piss you off again, but Bay, Kira won’t care because I broke up with her.”

She stills. “What?”

“We broke up. I’m not dating anyone.”

“Oh.” She nibbles her enticing bottom lip.

“The truth is that I have no idea what will happen when I go see my doctor in New York. Will I play if given the chance? I’m not sure. Maybe? One doctor already told me flat out that I shouldn’t return to the game, but that feels like a cop-out. What if I can do it? What if I have what it takes?”

She grabs my hand. “You don’t have to prove anything. Play or don’t play. I just don’t want you thinking you’re only good enough if you’re in the NFL.”

I swallow. “Why… what makes you think that?”

Her eyes study mine. “I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I get. That you think you have something to prove.”

“I did have a shitty season, which is embarrassing. Wish I’d done better. What if that one season is the only thing people will remember me by?”

She squeezes my hand. “I don’t mean to be rude, but you’re on a shit team. You can’t be a one-man show out there. That’s not how you win football games.”

“You have a point.”

“Besides, who cares what randos think of you? You’re Maverick fucking Walker. You’re a freaking star in Texas. You can’t walk down the streets of Charming or Wild Heart without getting mobbed by college football fans.”

I wouldn’t describe ESPN commentators as “randos,” but I get what she’s saying.

Baylee’s beautiful when she’s flustered. “You’re just being sweet.”

“The hell I am. I’m being honest. You have a whole life ahead of you. If my mom was here, she’d tell you to be grateful you’re alive and can walk. That you have your health.”

Nodding, I glance down. “Your mom is a wise woman.”

She leans in until our eyes connect. “Would you feel better if I made you some puppy chow tomorrow?”

Chuckling, I tug her into a hug. “Careful, or I’m never gonna let you move out.”