Page 35 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

A cool breeze blows off the river, but I’m wearing a light coat, and Leo is bundled in a blanket as Mav and I enjoy some street tacos from Guac ’N’ Roll, a local food truck that parks by the river. Twinkle lights blink along the walkway, illuminating a dozen picnic tables.

Even though the vibe is romantic, I can’t help but scan the shadows. I hate that whoever ransacked my house is still out there.

“This doesn’t count as our first date,” Maverick grouses as he holds Leo with one arm and downs tacos with the other.

“Why not?” I remind myself that I’m here with Maverick. That Leo and I are safe because he’ll always protect us. I finally start to relax.

“Because we’re eating at a food truck, Baylee.” He frowns at me before he unwraps another taco.

Dipping my chip into the guacamole, I shrug. “That’s okay. It’s not about the expense. It’s about the experience. Besides, this is great. I’m enjoying having dinner with my two favorite guys.”

“Babe, our first date needs to be epic.” He glances around at the lovely albeit simple setting. “We could do this anytime. It’s not special enough.”

Maverick looks so grumpy, I almost laugh.

Throughout dinner, I can’t stop staring at him. He’s a natural with my son.

“Are you sure I can’t hold Leo?” I ask as I wipe my mouth with a napkin.

“I got him, babe.”

Babe. I’ll never get tired of hearing him call me that.

My phone rings in my purse, and my eyes widen. “It’s my mom.”

“Answer it.”

“But she’ll have questions. You know, about us.”

He shrugs. “So tell her.”

Mav makes it sound so easy. “Are you ready for the inquisition?”

The phone stops ringing, and I let out a breath. I don’t know why I’m weird about sharing this kind of stuff with my mother, but I’m not a fan of dishing about my love life with her. Maybe it’s because she’s good at giving relationship advice but not so good at taking it.

It rings again, this time as a video chat. I roll my eyes and reluctantly swipe. “Hey, Mom. Sorry I missed your call.”

“How’s my boy?”

I’m about to tell her the baby is fine when Maverick slides onto the bench next to me. As he holds Leo, he smiles at the screen. “I’m great, Sylvia. How are you?”

She gasps in surprise. “Maverick! How are you, mijo ?”

“I’m great. I love having Baylee and Leo as my roommates.”

I scowl at him, and he smiles like this is no big deal. My mother frowns. “I didn’t know… Wait. Are y’all staying at the ranch?”

I’m seconds away from elbowing Maverick when I remember he’s injured, and I probably shouldn’t. “Actually, Mom, I’m staying at Maverick’s condo. He bought a place here recently, and he was planning to rent it out once it’s fully furnished.”

“That’s nice,” she says slowly . “I really appreciate you letting Baylee and Leo stay with you, Maverick.” I can see the wheels turning as she stares at us. “So…” She motions between the two of us. “Is this a thing now?”

Damn. She’s good. Maverick and I answer at the same time.

“Yes.”

“It’s complicated.” I turn to look at him, and he shrugs.

I take Leo out of his arms and hand him the phone. “Mom, we’re playing it by ear.”

She coos at Leo a minute before she turns to Maverick again. “ Mijo , how are you feeling? I’ve been praying for you.”

“Thank you. I appreciate that. I’m doing better. Not where I want to be, but on the mend.”

“ Gracias a Dios. We were all so worried about you. Did you know that my daughter saw you get hurt in that game and went into early labor? Leo wasn’t due until Christmas.”

“Mother.” I widen my eyes.

Mav jerks his head to look at me and winces. He rubs his neck as he whispers, “Is she serious?”

I narrow my eyes at the screen. “Thanks, Mom. This has been fun, but maybe we should chat another time.”

Ignoring me, she motions to Maverick. “When do you go back to New York?”

“In a few weeks.”

After a battery of questions about his rehab, she finally glances at me. Don’t do it, Mom. Don’t put me on the spot again. She twists the ring on her finger, and I brace myself.

“You two know long distance is difficult to do, yes?”

“Mom, we’re taking it slow and seeing where things go. ”

She pinches the bridge of her nose. “Baylee, living together isn’t exactly taking things slow.”

Exasperated, I blow out a breath. “Mother, I’ve liked him since I was young. If I go any slower, I’ll be in the nursing home before we date.”

Like she hasn’t heard a thing I’ve said, she turns to Maverick. “ Mijo , you know I love you, right? But Baylee has a son now. She can’t just pick up and leave. Sean’s going to come to his senses soon and want a relationship with Leo, which he can’t do if the boy’s in New York.”

So much for a nice dinner. I grit my teeth. “We know this, Mom.” I glance around, hating that there are a few people at the nearby picnic tables who can probably hear us. “Sean actually stopped by yesterday to talk and apologize.”

She nods knowingly. “I had a dream he’d get it together.”

“It would’ve been helpful if you’d had a dream that he was going to dump me before we got serious,” I mumble.

“You know our gift doesn’t work that way.

The universe tells us what we need to know, not what we want to know.

Like when you had that dream that Danny was sick.

You got to tell our sweet Paige to stay with her brother at night so he’d have someone at the hospital when he passed.

It might not feel like it, but that’s bigger than a breakup, mija . ”

My mother always knows what to say to put me in my place. I want to crawl under the picnic table in shame because she’s right, but Maverick nudges me. When I glance at him, he leans over to kiss me on the forehead. “Don’t be upset,” he whispers.

When I turn back to the phone, I realize he didn’t turn the screen away, and my mom saw us just now. I can see the conflict in her eyes, but fortunately, she holds her tongue this time. Instead, she asks about Leo, and I fill her in on him smiling and laughing and the adorable sounds he makes .

By the time we get off the video call, I feel like I just waded through a minefield.

On the walk back to the condo, I keep looking at the night sky.

“Looking for a shooting star?” Mav asks as he pushes Leo’s beautiful new stroller, which he shouldn’t be doing, but he won’t let me push it myself.

“How’d you know?”

“Lucky guess.” He frowns. “Did my accident really cause you to go into early labor?”

I shrug. “It’s hard to tell. My back had been hurting that whole day. I should’ve taken it easy, but I couldn’t afford to cancel any appointments.”

He stops me and grabs my hand. “You know you could’ve asked me for help, right? I would’ve paid your rent so you didn’t lose your house. I feel like an asshole for not being there for you.”

Emotion tightens my throat, and I blink.

“I never would’ve asked you for money. You’re not a freaking bank.

Just because you’ve had some success doesn’t mean it’s right for people to ask you for things.

” I don’t tell him how guilty I feel about what he’s spent on me since he’s been home because I know it would hurt his feelings.

“Baylee, you’re not ‘people.’ You’ve had my back since we were kids, and I’ll always have yours. If you get in trouble, I want you to call me.”

I hear what he’s not saying. That when he’s back in New York, he hopes I’ll lean on him in the same ways I am now.

I can’t promise that. It’s difficult for me to ask for help.

“I’m sorry my mom told you that story. You don’t need to feel bad.”

“She means well,” he says.

“What bugs me is that she was such a basket case about my dad. You’d think she’d be more understanding about us needing time to figure things out.”

“As long as she likes me more than Sean.”

I snort. “That’s what you care about?”

“Sylvia has always loved me. Sean can’t compete with that. As long as I’m your mom’s favorite, we’re good.”

Smiling, I shake my head.

I’m feeling better.

Until we walk into the lobby of Maverick’s condo and run into another one of his exes.