Page 36 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

As we head for the elevator, there’s a petite blonde coming toward us from the other entrance. I don’t recognize her right away because her sleek hair is in her face, but I’m immediately impressed with whatever conditioner she’s using. When she finally looks up, my heart drops.

I’ve always thought Nicole was beautiful, but tonight I’m worn out and slumming it in jeans, a t-shirt, and an old jacket while she’s decked out in an elegant peacoat over a slinky cocktail dress. She does a double-take when she sees us, and her eyes widen in delight.

“Oh my God. Mav!” She launches herself at him, nearly bumping into the stroller.

He winces as he stumbles backwards. “Hey, Nic. How’s it going?”

Nic? He calls her Nic?

“I heard you were back in town,” she says as she grabs his arm. “Are you visiting Chet too?”

“He lives in this building?”

“On the seventh floor.”

“That’s crazy.” Mav chuckles. “I’m one flight above him. ”

“It’s such a small world.” She beams up at him. “How do you like living here? Isn’t this building amazing?”

“Yeah, we love it,” he says as he looks at me.

I blink back at him, expressionless.

“We?” she asks as she finally glances at me.

“Hi, Nicole.” I try to lift my lips into a semblance of a smile as I commandeer the stroller and push the button for the elevator.

“Oh, hey, Baylee,” she says as though she didn’t realize I was standing two feet away. “Are you staying with Mav now? That’s so sweet of him.”

The way she looks at me like I’m an orphan from a Dickens novel makes me want to throat-punch her.

Maverick coughs. “So… Nic. What have you been up to? Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Not since that time you beat Clemson.” She lowers her voice into a sultry purr. “We had so much fun that night, didn’t we?”

So not only were they a thing in high school, they also fucked in college. Awesome. I hit the button again with more force than necessary.

“Uh… Yeah, I mean… It was a great game.” He stammers, and I can feel his eyes on me, which I studiously avoid.

She takes a step closer to him. “I’m teaching French at the high school now. I’ll be chaperoning students to Paris this summer.” Then she rattles off something in French, and I roll my eyes.

“That’s great,” he says.

Out of my peripheral vision, I watch her squeeze his biceps. “You know what? We’re going to be neighbors. I’m just about to close on a unit on the fifth floor.”

Sometimes, I really hate small towns.

“That’s cool,” he says.

Yes. So fucking cool .

I hit the button again and the elevator finally arrives.

As soon as the doors open, I push Leo’s stroller in and turn around.

Mav stands next to me, and Nicole moves to his other side.

As I stare at the image of the three of us in the reflective doors, I feel like I’m looking at a crossroads.

On one hand, Maverick could be with a woman like Nicole, whose family is loaded.

Then there’s me. I’m broke as fuck and homeless.

“Mav, would you like to stop by Chet’s place? I’m sure he’d love to see you,” she chirps as she fiddles with a long strand of hair.

“It’s been a long day, but thanks for the offer. Tell him to swing by my condo when he gets the chance.”

Great. I love hanging out with jocks who smash beer cans with their heads.

“Actually, he’s having a bunch of our high school crew over this weekend if you’d like to stop by.”

“Uh…” Maverick glances at me, and I clench my teeth and stare ahead. “I’m not sure…”

“Oh, please.” She tugs on his arm. He winces but doesn’t mention his injury. “It’ll be just like old times.”

When he turns to me again, I shrug. “Don’t let me stand in the way of a good time.”

His expression flattens, but I’m two seconds from ripping this woman’s hair out by the roots, so he can deal with my sarcasm.

“Baylee doesn’t mind,” Nicole says sweetly as she turns to me. “Guess you’re still tagging along with Mav, huh? That’s really awesome that y’all are still friends.”

I almost correct her and say “friends who fuck,” but then I remember that she’s fucked him too, and I clench my teeth.

When the elevator reaches Chet’s floor, she juts out her bottom lip.

“Well, this is my stop. Soon, it’ll be on the fifth floor!

Yay! I’ll let you know when I close on my unit.

” She reaches over and hugs him again. “Mav, my condo will always be open to you.”

The doors finally close again, and I unclench my jaw. “What she means is her vagina will always be open to you.” She might as well have had a motel sign over her head that says “vacancy.”

“Babe…”

“Don’t ‘babe’ me.”

When we reach our floor, I push Leo out of the elevator and wait for Maverick to unlock his condo.

“That’s been over for a long time,” he says.

“Not my business.” I park Leo’s stroller by the couch.

“We were never serious.”

“Good to know you fucked around for fun.”

“Baylee.”

Turning to face him, I make grabby hands like I’m fondling him the way Nicole did and use her chirpy, annoying voice. “‘Oh, Mav, it’s so great to see you even though you’re still hanging out with that street urchin Baylee.’” I don’t care that I sound jealous.

“Peach, come on. What was I supposed to do? Tell her to fuck off? Her father sells grain to my brothers.”

“Is that why you fucked her? So your family could get a good deal at the Ashbury Feed and Seed?”

“Jesus.” He runs his hand through his hair.

“No, Jesus left the building when you let that harpy touch you and reminisce about all the sex you had.”

“It happened, like, three times.”

My eyes sting. “Twice more than with me.”

“Fuck.” I hear the torment in his voice, but that doesn’t fill the hole in my heart.

I finally ask the question I’ve always wondered about. “She was your first, wasn’t she? Before I tried to kiss you in high school, you slept with her.” When he looks away, my stomach drops because I’m right. “Then you obviously banged her after homecoming and the Clemson game in college.”

Jealousy screams through my veins, and although I know things have changed between us, these blaring reminders of his past hurt.

It takes me a solid minute to get a hold of my emotions.

“Look, I know it’s not fair to blame you for the past when we weren’t together, but I was honest with you about how this shit affects me.

I told you it makes me unhinged, and trust me, I don’t like this version of myself.

If you want a chill little girlfriend who falls at your feet and doesn’t care that other women fawn all over you, you should date Nicole. Because that will never be me.”

I hate myself for suggesting that because the thought of him dating her again makes me want to fling both of them off the balcony.

But it’s a scenario that’s well within the range of possibility.

He’ll be home for holidays and maybe he stays here in his condo, and she’ll be downstairs to welcome him with open arms and a gaping vagina.

It was tough enough dating Sean while he lived in Dallas. Being with Mav while he lives in New York will be impossible. I’ve been delusional to think Maverick and I will work.

He takes my hand. “I’m sorry. I really am. I wish I could go back in time and make different decisions.”

Pulling back, I nod, hating that I’ve lashed out at him. “I’m sorry too. I’ve bottled this up for a long time.” That probably wasn’t healthy.

I grab Leo and tuck him to my shoulder. “I think I’ll sleep in the nursery.” I need some space.

He blows out a breath. “Bay, take the couch. I can sleep on the floor.”

“It’s okay.” I don’t want to be responsible for him injuring himself again. “I appreciate the chivalry, but I’ll be fine.” I force a smile. “Don’t forget to ice your shoulder.”