Page 61 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

SIX MONTHS LATER

BAYLEE

The Wild Heart marching band plays “Eye of the Tiger” as we watch the clock count down. We’re just about to head into halftime. We’re slaughtering the Ravens.

“Go, Wolves!” I shout as I bounce Leo in my lap. He just turned ten months.

We’re both decked out in school colors, and I’m wearing a custom football jersey that Paige made for me. It has “Walker” stitched on the back.

My mom, who’s sitting on my other side, holds up my drink. “You need to stay hydrated.”

Smiling, I lean over and take a few sips from the straw. “Thanks, Mom.”

She brushes the bangs out of my face. “You look lovely tonight.”

Maverick helped us find a memory care center for my grandfather that was nearby. And although it was a tough move, Abuelo has finally settled down. It helps that we can see him every day .

Although I’d love to have my mom back at the salon, she says she’s tired and would rather help with Leo. Since my sister stayed in Amarillo because she met someone there, my mom says helping with the baby gives her life meaning.

I can’t explain how much that’s made a difference for me.

Knowing Leo’s with my mom is a huge relief.

Although on the weekends, if I’m working, he stays with Mav, who wears him on a chest harness as he works on our farm.

He’ll send me pics all day of them with our horses and baby goats. Those two are adorable.

My mom shows me her phone. “Your video has gotten over a hundred thousand views. You’re going to be booked through Christmas.”

Vera and I shoot glow-up videos every week. Clients love to get picked to do these. It’s extra work, but super fun. I forgot how much I enjoy posting on social media.

“I think it’s time to hire another stylist.” That will mean all of our stations are full, and since we’ve raised our prices, we’re officially on solid financial footing.

“Is Sean picking Leo up tomorrow morning?” she asks.

“In the afternoon. He and Mav are going fishing first.”

At first, things between them were awkward, but after Leo got kidnapped, Sean and Mav set aside their differences so they could both be great dads to my son.

And then they realized they had a lot in common.

It started slow. When Sean would come to pick up the baby, Mav would invite him in, and they’d talk over breakfast or shoot zombies on the PlayStation.

And now you could say they’re almost friends.

“Let me take Leo tonight and give you and Maverick a night off.” She gives me a funny look.

I try not to think what that look means. Will I be having dirty, sweaty, hot sex with Maverick? Probably. Do I want my mom knowing that? Definitely not .

I cough. “That would be great. Thanks.”

“And tell Sean I made him some fideo. That boy needs some home-cooked meals.”

“I hope you made Maverick some. Don’t want him to get jealous,” I tease.

“Please. I make him fideo every week. I don’t know where he puts it all.” We stare at my handsome boyfriend down on the sideline. He looks every bit the football star as he shouts directions to his athletes.

Maverick kept up with his rehab, and while he shouldn’t ever take another hard tackle by a linebacker, he can do almost everything he needs to on our farm. When he needs help, his brothers pitch in.

I stand Leo on my legs and turn him so he can see Ella, who’s sitting on Paige’s lap. On her other side, Rhett, Jace, and Beau are debating how long it’ll take for Mav to win state.

Although my dream about Maverick in a huge stadium after a win hasn’t come true yet, I’m starting to realize that it probably will—with his high school team. I lean over Paige and tell Rhett, “He’ll do it in two years. Three tops.”

Needless to say, my sweet boyfriend is kicking ass on that field today. I know I’m supposed to be watching the game, but it’s hard to peel my eyes off him as he stalks up and down the sidelines and coaches his team.

I nudge Paige. “He’s so good with those kids.” I sigh happily because holy hot damn, he’s handsome.

“He really is. They all look up to him like he’s a football god.” Paige chuckles. “But we won’t tell him that. Don’t want it to go to his head.”

I high-five her, and we laugh. Then I realize what I’m about to do and freak out. “I’m getting nervous.”

“You’re going to do great. ”

“What if I screw up? I mean, why did they pick me to do this?”

“Because you’re awesome. You practiced, right?”

“All week. But I had a nightmare last night that I missed the football and everyone laughed.”

“Aww.” She hands Ella to her dad and hugs me. “Remember what Mav told you. Just have fun.”

Fun. Okay. If I don’t hyperventilate and pass out, it’s possible.

“Did I tell you?” I whisper to Paige. “Guess who Sean wants to ask out?”

Her eyes widen. “Who?”

“Vera. He even asked for my permission.”

“That’s adorable. What did you say?”

“I said he has my blessing. I’m obviously getting ahead of myself here, but she’d be an awesome stepmother to Leo if they get to that point.”

“Totally. Yay! I’m so happy. Because it would suck if he dated someone terrible.” She takes a sip of her soda. “Do you think Vera’s into him?”

“I hope so. I’ve seen them talking when he comes to the salon to drop off Leo, but he didn’t ask her out because he wanted to make sure I was cool with it first.”

“That’s great.”

Sean’s grown a lot since we broke up. Having a kid will do that to you, I suppose.

One of the assistant coaches pops up next to me and grins. “It’s time.”

Holy crap. This is crazy. I hand Leo to my mom and stand.

“You got this!” Paige squeals and grabs my mom’s hand. They’re grinning like fools.

They’re awfully excited about this.

I glance at the stands as we head down the stairs.

Noticeably absent from the festivities are the Ashburys.

After Lorraine was charged for kidnapping Leo, one of Judd’s tech guys was also arrested for helping her, though he claims he only did it because she blackmailed him.

He’s the one who hacked my security system and messed with the footage.

Although I still wrestle with guilt for cancelling that security company, Mav insists I helped save Leo by installing that third camera.

And because I accidentally saved those files in the default folder on my computer instead of where footage from the other two cameras was saved, the hacker didn’t see it.

Lorraine’s facing third degree felony charges for kidnapping and stalking, respectively, and could face up to ten years in prison for each charge. Her attorney claims she had a mental breakdown that caused her to fixate on Leo and stalk me.

Whatever the case, she’s a sick woman, and I’m glad she can’t terrorize anyone else.

I’m now working with the other shop owners to have additional cameras installed along the front and back of our block for extra security.

And while the sheriff could never prove that Nicole was involved, she was recently arrested for misappropriation of funds after she stole money that was allocated for that student trip to Paris. The school fired her the next day.

Too bad, so sad.

Paige is interviewing to take over as cheer coach, which she’ll be awesome at. And I’d much rather have Paige here at the high school than Nicole, that little twatwaffle.

After Kira got accused of snatching my baby, she realized she must really seem off her rocker and started seeing a therapist. I hope they talk about her stalker tendencies. I see her sometimes when she visits her family, but we keep a healthy distance from each other.

When I reach the field, I beeline it to the huddle where Mav is talking to his players. When they break, all the boys are grinning.

“Hey.” I wave.

They elbow each other and push Mav, and he mutters something to them, and they stop. When he spots me, his eyes light up. “Hey, babe. You ready?”

“I think so.”

“Did you visualize?” he asks as he wraps his arm around my shoulders and walks me onto the field.

“Yes.”

“Then you’ll do great.”

I hug him and rest my head on his chest. I’m pretty sure he can feel my heart hammering. Strangely, his is too. Maybe he’s worried I’m going to wipe out Charlie Brown-style and land on my ass. That would definitely make the Gazette . “Mav, will you still love me if I screw up?”

He kisses the top of my head. “You can’t mess this up. I promise.”

I glance up at him, and I’m taken aback by the love shining back at me in his eyes. “Okay. I’m ready.”

He winks. “I know you are. I am too.”

The announcer blares on the PA system. “To celebrate homecoming, we have our very own Coach Walker and his lovely girlfriend Baylee Reyes, who’ll be kicking the traditional field goal.

Every year, we get one outstanding member of the community to do this, and today we’re honoring Baylee and her business, the Bumblebee Beauty Salon.

For the last several years, she’s volunteered to cut the hair for the elderly at Maplewood Manor Nursing Home.

Thank you for all your hard work, Baylee! ”

Everyone cheers, and I smile.

Mav positions the ball, and I take several strides away to position myself the way he taught me. Three steps back and two to the side.

Mav nods.

Here goes nothing. I point my left toe to the ball. Shift my right shoulder. Then step, step, kick.

I watch the ball sail through the air and through the uprights. I did it!

I jump up and down, and the fans cheer with me.

Smiling, I look around and skid to a stop.

Maverick.

He’s down on one knee.

Grinning at me.

With a box in his hand.

Oh my God. He’s proposing.

“What are you doing?” I ask, a little dumbfounded that he’s doing this during halftime.

His grin widens. “Something I’ve been dying to do for months.

” He opens the box, and sparkling back at me is a gorgeous diamond ring.

“Baylee, you’re the love of my life. My best friend.

My ride-or-die. And living with you and Leo these past few months has been amazing, but there’s been one thing missing.

Would you make my life complete by doing me the honor of becoming my wife? ”

I squeal and jump up and down. “Hell, yes, Maverick Walker! I’d love to marry you!” I grab his handsome face and kiss him. The stadium goes crazy.

He places the ring on my finger, stands, and twirls me around. “Thank you, peach. You’ve just made me the happiest man in Wild Heart.”

The band starts playing “Happy,” and I smile.

After we’ve won the game, all the kids trail into the gym for the dance. There are streamers everywhere, a balloon archway for photos, and bored-looking chaperones .

Mav holds out his arm. “Should we take some homecoming photos?”

I loop my arm through his. “Let’s do it.”

We take some goofy shots and some serious ones, and he taps the photographer to tell him he wants them all.

Then he laces his fingers through mine and walks me onto the dance floor during the first slow song. “Since you’re my homecoming date, we have to dance.”

I rest my hands on his shoulders as his arms come around my waist. “This is nice.”

His eyes grow serious. “You should’ve been my date, Bay. To all the homecomings and proms in high school and the bonfire pep rallies in college.”

My eyes sting, but I smile as I glance around the gym. “It looks like you have a lifetime of those ahead of you, Coach. So I think maybe the best is still ahead of us.”

He dips me, and as I cling to him, he kisses me. “I know it is.”

The next evening, I’m in for another surprise as Maverick leads me to the backyard. He has Leo in one arm and a picnic basket in the other.

As I watch him, I marvel at how far he’s come since last spring. He doesn’t get dizzy anymore or complain about his arm. He still ices it at night sometimes after a hard workout, but he says it’s more preventive than anything.

We head off to one side of our property, past the great oaks and my mom’s casita. Past our barn and my vegetable garden. To a quiet patch of meadow.

“Can you hold Leo for a sec?” he asks.

“Sure.” I smile as I watch him spread out a blanket and set out containers. “What’s all this? ”

“To make up for the nachos last night.”

“They weren’t so bad.”

He makes a face. “It wasn’t exactly engagement food. I thought this might be nicer.” He opens up containers full of Italian. “From the new restaurant that just opened up. The one you said you wanted to try.”

As I look at my fiancé, my heart feels full. “Thank you. This is lovely.”

Once everything is organized, he sits and pats the ground next to him.

We sit and enjoy our dinner. In between talking about last night’s game, discussing our wedding that we’re planning to have at the ranch, and playing peekaboo with Leo, we try all of the dishes.

Mav holds up a spoon full of mashed noodles and sauce and makes “choo choo” sounds so Leo will eat. “Do you want more, bud?”

“Moooorrrrre.” Leo claps and makes happy sounds.

The sky gets dark, and Mav wraps a light blanket around me and the baby. “There’s one other reason I wanted to come out here tonight.” He points up to the sky. “We’re supposed to have a meteor shower. And I know how much you love watching the stars.”

Excited for the show, I help him tuck away the leftovers, and then we lie side by side with Leo perched between us.

“This reminds me of…” I’m almost afraid to say it. I’m trying to focus on the present and our future instead of dwelling on the past.

He shifts closer. “Me too. Only this time, I’m going to get the ending right.

” The heated look he gives me speaks of things to come later tonight.

Reaching across the blanket, he threads his fingers through mine.

With his other hand, he points to a bright light streaking across the sky. “Babe, make a wish.”

Smiling, I squeeze his hand. “It already came true.”

Thanks for reading Falling Stars!