Page 25 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

“Why haven’t you returned my calls?” Kira cries out before she sees me and freezes. Her eyes narrow into slits. “What are you doing here?”

That’s not the friendliest greeting. “Hi, Kira. I see you’re still working on your personality. Don’t feel bad. Change takes time.”

Turning to Maverick, she sputters. “Has she been here this whole time? Is she why you left New York?”

I really don’t understand why she thinks I’m part of his equation. “Sorry for the dumb question, but didn’t you two break up?”

She pushes her long blonde hair out of her face. “Maverick suggested taking a break. He never said we were breaking up.”

He laughs coldly. “Kira, I haven’t seen you in months. Why would you think barging in here is okay? How did you even know where to find me?”

“My sister is a realtor, and she told me you bought this condo.”

“That’s not creepy,” I mutter.

She looks around the living room, pausing on my stuff. “Is Baylee living here?” she shrieks, startling Leo .

I pick him up and move farther away because she’s obviously unhinged.

Maverick scrubs his face. “Trust me when I say I’m not trying to be an asshole, but who I live with is none of your business.”

“I’ve always known you had a thing for her. You denied it, but you always smiled when she’d text!” She glances back and forth between me and Mav. “Did you sleep with her when you were with me?”

He rolls his eyes. “I’m a lot of things, but a cheater isn’t one of them.” He motions toward the door. “You need to go.”

One second, she’s yelling, and the next, she’s plastered herself to his body, sobbing. “We can’t be over. This can’t be the end! I love you.”

Sighing, he stands there stick straight, staring up at the ceiling.

I look away, hating that I’m jealous. But I also feel bad for Kira because I know what it’s like to be in love with Maverick and watch him move on.

Maybe I’m the one who should go. With Leo in one arm, I grab his diaper bag and my purse in my other. “I’m going to give you two some privacy.”

Alarmed, he shakes his head and mouths, “Don’t go.”

Hmm. Maybe Kira really is a nutcase. Mav can usually handle himself. I scramble to think of what to do to help. “I’m going to grab coffee with Mr. Reynolds ,” I say.

Maverick nods when he realizes what I’m saying. “That’s a great idea. In fact, maybe bring him back here with you.”

“You got it. Be back soon. Kira, don’t do anything illegal.”

As soon as I get to the elevator, I make the call. When he picks up, I rush to tell him, “Sheriff, I need your help. Maverick has a stage five clinger who won’t leave his condo.”

He chuckles. “Is that what you kids are calling crazy fans these days? ”

“Yes, sir.”

He instructs me to wait in the lobby, and he arrives in his cruiser a few minutes later.

We’re just about to reach Mav’s floor when I realize I should mention the horrible letter some asshole left on my car when we hear Kira shrieking as the elevator doors open.

“How could you trade me in for her? She’s so frumpy. ”

Mortified, I freeze as the sheriff knocks on the door. “Maverick, this is the sheriff. Can you let me in, son?”

I stare down at my baggy flannel and old jeans. My face flames. I’ve always been kinda curvy, and I just had a baby a few months ago. No one can expect me to be rail thin like Kira, who’s always so fashionable.

As I think about the women Maverick’s hung around with over the years, I realize they all have something in common. They’re usually tall, slender, and blonde.

Basically, the opposite of me.

From the vestibule, I watch the sheriff escort Kira out of the condo, and I realize it’s smart not to hang my hat on a relationship with Maverick.

He’s probably depressed about his rehab, so he’s sitting at home, slumming it with me, and the minute he returns to New York, he’ll be back to banging supermodels.

As if my night couldn’t get any worse, my phone lights up with a call from Sean.

When I don’t pick up, he texts: When can I see Leo???

My fingers fly over the screen. Why? So you can bail again at the last minute?

As irritated as I am with my ex, we’ll eventually work out our custody arrangement, and I’ll have to share Leo. My heart sinks.