Page 50 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

The sun is cresting the sky. Leo’s asleep at my side. In a panic, I sit up.

Why did I have to say all of those horrible things to Maverick last night? I was exhausted from working nonstop, and I lashed out at him when that’s the last thing I wanted to do.

In the light of day, I hear my words and cringe at my self-doubt and insecurity. The man has bent over backwards for me since he’s been home, and I break up with him? What the hell is wrong with me?

I kick off the light blanket and run down the hall.

“Mav!” I fling open the bedroom door.

The bed is made.

I run to the closet. It’s empty.

He left without saying goodbye. Gut-wrenching sorrow overpowers me, and I slump onto the floor.

If I was looking for a sign, I guess I got one.

I grab my phone, hoping he might have sent me a message, but there’s nothing.

In my misery, I call the only person who would know what I’m going through. My voice is thick when my mom answers. “He left.”

“He’ll be back,” she says like she has this all figured out.

“He didn’t say bye.”

“I’m sure he’s hurt.”

“Mom, I feel like shit. Stop giving me mixed signals. I thought I did the right thing last night, but I miss him so much, and I can’t breathe.”

“It’ll hurt for a while, but then it’ll get better. That boy needs to figure out what he wants in life. You two dragging this thing out right now is the worst thing for him.”

I unroll some toilet paper and blow my nose. “I don’t like you very much at the moment.”

“I can take it. Be mad at me. Pero digo la verdad .” I speak the truth.

“I don’t want to go to work. Can I just sit on the bathroom floor and cry?”

She hums. “Your butt will fall asleep on that hard tile. Plus, who will feed Leo?”

“Point taken. I need to go.”

“Are you planning to stay at Maverick’s condo?”

“No. Everything reminds me of him. Plus, I don’t want him to feel like I’m using him. I’ll go stay in Beau’s camper. Pay him rent that I can afford.”

“Baylee, I know this is hard. I wish I was there so I could make you a big bowl of fideo, some extra-crispy sopapillas with honey, and a mug of hot chocolate.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’d settle for a hug.”

After we hang up, I wash my face. I stare at my swollen eyes in the mirror. “Get your shit together. You have a kid, clients, and employees to help today.”

My legs feel like concrete slabs as I trudge back to the living room. Leo’s babbling from his basket .

I sit up on the edge of the couch and reach down to pick him up. I stare down at his chubby face. “I can’t freak out if I have to take care of you, can I?”

I spent half the night trying not to make a sound while I half-choked on tears.

Maverick had gone to his bedroom after that horrible conversation.

I was still awake when Leo needed his two a.m. feeding.

I’m not sure what time I passed out at, but I figured Maverick would wake me before he left.

To say what? I’m not sure. Just… something.

Before I head to work, I spend a few extra minutes to do my makeup and hair because no one wants to go to a salon where the stylist looks like death. It’s Sunday, but I still have a few clients.

Desperate for some caffeine, I grab a bottle of sweet iced tea out of the fridge and then accidentally spill some on Leo when we get downstairs. Damn it. “I’m sorry, baby. I’ll change you in a minute.”

I somehow manage to get to the salon early. I told Maverick I’d open with one of my employees, but I can’t bring myself to give a damn about that today.

When I get to the shop, there’s a huge box with a big bow waiting for me at the back entrance, and I immediately feel a wave of relief.

Maybe this is from Maverick. Maybe he doesn’t hate me after all. Maybe we’ll be okay.

After I bring it inside, I set it on my desk in the small office. There’s no note, but maybe there’s one inside. “Look, Leo. Mommy got a gift.”

He eats his fist as he watches me from his car seat. Smiling for the first time today, I pull the ribbon and tug it off the box.

When I open it, I freeze. It takes me a second to process what I’m seeing.

It’s a big box of shit. Maybe dog crap? Taped to the underside of the lid is a photo of me, Mav, and Leo, but my face is scratched out.

What the fuck?

I think about that night I found the note on my car. About the hang-up calls and trashed bedroom. About my shattered salon window and slashed tires. Why is this person fucking with me? Who have I ever hurt so badly that it warrants sending me shit and harassing me?

I should call the sheriff, but that will make me late for my first appointment, and I still need to change Leo’s outfit.

Overwhelmed, I quickly close the box and toss the container in a back-alley dumpster.

Since that asshole used my own trash cans to destroy my salon with dye, I’ve thrown out anything gross in that dumpster.

As I stand in the alley trembling, I look quickly from side to side. Is someone watching me right now? Do they expect me to crawl into a corner and cry? To wail or rage or be afraid? Fuck that. Right now, I might feel like I’m falling apart on the inside, but I’ll never show it.

Tightening my jaw, I lift my chin, press my shoulders back, and march back to my salon.

Vera walks in as I finish changing Leo, and she waves a hand in front of her face. “What’s that smell? Did Leo blow a big one in his pants?”

“No.” I explain the “gift” someone left me.

“That’s fucked up.”

I don’t share that I hoped it was from Maverick or that we broke up, because that will only start weird rumors. Mav might be pissed at me, but he’d never do something like that.

Getting into my routine helps me calm down, but I’m emotionally spent. The day drags on, and around noon, I get a text from Paige .

Are you okay? Want to grab lunch?

Me: I’m not okay, but yes, I’d like to meet up.

Vera offers to watch Leo during my break, but I’m feeling extra needy and want baby snuggles, so I take him with me.

When I get to the Cactus Blossom, Paige takes one look at me and tosses her arms around me. “I’m so sorry.”

“He’s really mad at me. I just couldn’t do long distance. Nicole stopped me yesterday at the rodeo while you were in the bathroom to tell me all the stuff she and Mav discussed while hanging out at the high school, and it nearly sent me into a tailspin.”

“Aww, is that why you got quiet?”

“Yeah. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about it yesterday, but everyone was having fun, and I didn’t want to be a downer.”

She takes my hand and nods. “It’ll be okay. I’m sure you guys will work things out. Maybe give him a little space.”

Over lunch that I can’t bring myself to eat, I rock Leo and share the conversation I had with my mom.

Paige nods. “I understand where she’s coming from. I had friends in college who had long-distance boyfriends, and honestly, it rarely ended well. But I really do think you and Mav are different.”

After that box of shit, I can’t accept anything that would give me hope because I can’t handle one more disappointment today.

“Would it be okay if I moved into Beau’s camper?

I can clean it myself. I don’t want to put you out.

” Plus, I’ll feel safer living near Paige and Rhett than being by myself in the condo.

“Are you sure? I don’t think Mav would mind you staying in his condo.”

“It wouldn’t be right for me to stay there. I can’t afford to pay him the kind of rent he should get for a place like that. I already owe him so much money.”

She leans forward. “You know he didn’t do anything for you with the expectation of getting paid, right?”

I still hear Nicole’s mother in my ear about saddling Maverick with my problems, and I inwardly cringe. “I know, and I love him for that. But being there makes me really sad. Honestly, I woke up this morning and felt like I’d died and gone to hell. I hate this.”

Paige listens to me complain and offers me hugs and tells me everything will be okay. I don’t really believe her, but I appreciate the optimism.

Once she’s done eating, I tell her about that “present” I received today. “I’ve thought about who might hate me enough to send me a box of crap. I’m guessing it was Kira.”

Paige’s mouth drops open. “Who does something like that?”

“Someone with mental health problems.” I hand Leo his tattered lion rattle. “I’m really starting to think she’s the one who shattered the salon window and trashed my bedroom.”

“We should tell the sheriff.”

“I don’t have any proof.”

“What about those cameras Maverick put up in the salon? Did they catch anything?”

I shake my head. “My building won’t let me install anything outside.

We have two cameras focused on the front.

If she’d come into the salon or left the box at the main entrance, maybe I’d have some solid evidence.

” Even if the third camera had arrived in time for Mav to install it, it would’ve been mounted inside.

As we walk back to my shop, Paige tugs on my arm. “Would you like to come over tonight? I hate the idea of you being alone after getting that horrible gift.”

“I need to clean the condo and pack. That will take me a few days. But I don’t know what to do with Leo’s crib.” Just the thought of dismantling his nursery breaks my heart.

“We might have some storage space in the barn. I’ll talk to Rhett tonight, and we’ll figure something out.”

“Thanks. I really appreciate it.”

We hug in front of my shop. “Take care of yourself.”

“I’ll try.”

I trudge through the rest of my day. I constantly reach for my phone, crestfallen when there aren’t any messages from Maverick.

I’m dying to call him, but I’m not sure what to say. My mom’s words about Mav needing to make this decision without me is haunting. I don’t want to derail his career. I don’t want to be the reason he gives up on his dream.

At the same time, it feels wrong to give up on us.

By the time I close the salon, it’s getting dark, and exhaustion tugs on my eyes. But as I stand in the back alley to lock up, the skin on my neck prickles, and I’m suddenly on edge. My heart starts to pound, and as I grip Leo’s carrier, I whip around.

There’s no one there.

Just trees making creepy shadows along the opposite side of the alley and some croaking frogs.

“I’m losing it, Leo. Let’s go home.”

Only it won’t be home for long.