Page 9 of Falling Stars (Wild at Heart #2)

BAYLEE

LATE FEbrUARY

With his arms raised, chest out, Leo yawns, and I smile at my precious boy as he settles. “Go to sleep, my love.”

I run my finger up the bridge of his perfect nose and over his forehead, grateful he’s healthy. I repeat the motion as he falls asleep, marveling at his light blond hair.

Leo is the one bright spot in my life right now. Whenever I look at him, I can pretend I’m not knee-deep in debt and practically homeless.

With an angry huff, Amara tosses shit into a cardboard box. “Why didn’t you tell me things were so desperate?”

I glare at my sister as I rock Leo in my arms. Does she not see the sleeping baby?

“Gee, I seem to recall asking for your help at least a dozen times,” I grit out quietly.

“You always have an excuse.” Her three boys race down the hallway, excited to get on the road.

They’re in for a rude awakening. Amarillo’s a seven-hour trip.

Fortunately, Leo is out for the count and doesn’t wake from the commotion.

My sister hangs her hands on her hips. “Don’t act like I didn’t give you any money. I paid for groceries and sometimes gave you money for utilities.”

“Well, there are four of you. I told you they raised the rent at the salon. What was I supposed to do? Not pay it? Then I’d have a place to live, and no job. Plus, we employ people. I can’t let down Vera and the girls.”

“So let’s find something cheaper for the salon. Can’t we try?”

When she says we , she means me . She just doesn’t want to move in with Mom and Abuelo on the other side of the state.

“There’s nothing cheaper. I checked. Plus, it would cost a small fortune to outfit something with sinks, a washer, and a dryer.

Do you have that money? Because I don’t.

” And now I have a hospital bill that gives me heart palpitations.

I kiss my son’s downy head. Leo’s worth the expense. I just don’t know how I’m going to afford more than PB&J sandwiches for the next ten years.

“It’s such a pain in the ass to relocate. You know how much Abuelo hates a ruckus, and the boys are loud.”

My sister has been a giant drain on my finances, but I don’t want her to go either. I wrap one arm around her shoulders and press my face into her neck. “I’m sorry. I hate this too.” A sob breaks from my chest, and she hugs me back.

“Shit. Don’t cry. You’ll upset Leo.”

I can’t help it. I’m at the end of my rope. I can’t do everything anymore. I’m exhausted. Leo was up all night, and now that he’s asleep, I have to finish packing. “Promise you’ll call me when you get there?”

She nods and pats my hair. “I’m sorry I didn’t get a job,” she whispers. “I know I need to be an adult, but I didn’t sign up to be a single mom. Diego was supposed to be my partner, not a deadbeat dad. This isn’t the way life was supposed to turn out.”

“I feel you.” I lean away and wipe my face.

“Mom feels really bad she can’t be here to help you. ”

I shrug and try to play off how much I need her.

“She can’t be in two places at once. She’d be here if she could.

” She came down for a visit after I had Leo, but then my grandfather had an episode, and she had to return to Amarillo.

But it gave me time to explain how much I screwed everything up.

And I was right—she didn’t have money to help us keep the house rental.

My sister tugs on my wrist. “Are you going to be okay at the ranch?”

“Paige said I could stay in Beau’s old camper.”

Concern etches her tired face. “And you’re sure you’re not going to have to see Maverick?”

My sister isn’t his biggest fan. She’s the only person I told what happened with that dumb kissing challenge in high school. “He’s rehabbing in New York.”

Irritation skates down my spine. No one will tell me what’s going on with him. ESPN says he’s rehabbing from a concussion, a rotator cuff injury, and a spinal fracture—which, holy shit, that’s crazy—but I don’t know his prognosis because that asshole won’t pick up the phone.

At first, Paige gave me little updates. He’s awake. He’s talking. He’s feeling better. Then she apologized and said she couldn’t say more.

When I told her I had Leo, Maverick finally texted back. Asked me how the baby and I were doing. Asked if we were okay. Asked if we needed anything. I sent him a wall of text about my sweet boy and a million baby photos.

But when I returned the questions and asked about his injuries, he went radio silent.

Whatever. He’s alive. I suppose that’s all that matters. Kira is probably taking care of him.

After I kiss my nephews and Amara buckles them into her back seat, I give her another hug and watch my family drive away .

I kiss my son’s head again. “It’s just you and me, Leo.” I gave him that name because it means ‘lion’ in Latin, and it symbolizes strength and courage. I hope those characteristics serve him well because everything in life is always harder than it seems.

I head into the house and sigh as I take in all the baby stuff in the corner of my bedroom. I don’t know how I’m going to fit our belongings in Beau’s camper. I have until the end of the week before my landlord officially kicks me out, so maybe I don’t have to do everything today.

I’m about to head to the Walker Ranch when I get a text from Paige.

Change of plans. Meet me downtown.

She notes an address.

As much as I’d love to catch up with my best friend, I hope her plans include somewhere I can take a nap before I pass out.

After I throw as much as I can in my car and tuck Leo into his car seat, we head to the location in Paige’s text. It’s a new construction by the river. I meet her out front.

“Don’t be mad, but we can’t do the camper,” she rushes to say. “Which, honestly, is a blessing because it smells like old cheese.” She points at the beige brick building. “I swear this is going to be much better.”

“I have twenty-three dollars in my bank account right now. There’s no way I can afford rent for something like this.” I don’t even have to see the inside to know it’s far outside of my tax bracket. The whole town has been talking about this building and its great amenities for months.

She coos at Leo, who’s scowling up at her like he needs to poop. “There’s no rent. What kind of friend do you think I am? But before we go in, I need to see this precious boy! He’s getting so big. I can’t wait for us to get him and Ella together again. ”

I have to admit having a baby a few months after my best friend is really cool. Our children will grow up together. “I’d better change his diaper before you hold him.”

She tickles his belly. “Did you let out a stinker, Leo? Let’s get you inside. Come on.”

Our footsteps echo on the marble floor in the lobby. “Are we breaking and entering?” I whisper. “Because I can’t afford bail.”

She laughs. “No, silly. Honestly, when have I ever let you down?”

Paige has a point. She’s always been an awesome friend. If I’m a little butthurt she missed Leo’s birth, I swallow that back. It’s not her fault my kid popped out of my vagina ahead of schedule.

We take the elevator to the eighth and top floor. “I think this constitutes a high rise in Wild Heart.”

She chuckles. “Hold on to your knickers because you’re going to love this place. It’s only for a few weeks. Just until I can clean Beau’s camper and get rid of that nasty smell. I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to do that yet.”

“It’s okay. I know you were really sick.” Everyone caught the flu while they were visiting Mav in the hospital, which is why Paige and I haven’t spent much time together since I had Leo.

When she unlocks the condo, my eyes widen at the gorgeous, airy living room.

There’s a flatscreen TV and a huge comfy couch next to massive floor-to-ceiling windows.

Behind the couch is a gorgeous dining room table.

The kitchen isn’t huge, but it’s beautiful with dark cabinets and white marble countertops.

It has wall-to-wall hardwood floor and a huge area rug in the living room.

“I hope you don’t mind sleeping on the couch. It rolls out into a bed. The bedroom furniture is delayed for some reason. But there’s a washer and dryer off the kitchen, a Jacuzzi-style tub in the master bath, and one of those rainfall showerheads you’re going to love.”

She gives me the grand tour. We start in the hallway where there’s a powder room. “This smaller bedroom is probably going to be an office or maybe something with a pullout couch. I’m not sure yet. And the master has a view of the river.”

“This place is amazing. Who do I have to blow to stay here?” I joke.

“Funny you should phrase it that way.” She snorts. “The condo belongs to Maverick.”

I choke. “What the hell, Paige? I can’t stay in his condo.”

She gives me a questioning look. “I kinda thought you might know about this place, since he bought it last fall.”

“You mentioned he bought a property. I just didn’t know where.” I shrug. “We’re not the friends we used to be. For example, I have no damn idea how he’s doing. A good friend might return my panicked phone calls and tell me.”

She closes the door behind us. “I would tell you in a heartbeat if I could, but Maverick swore us to secrecy. His NFL contract hangs in the balance, and if word gets out that he’s as bad as…” She trails off.

“So it’s bad?” My heart sinks because I know how much he loves football. I knew it was worse than they announced on ESPN.

“He should be okay, but yeah, he has a long road ahead of him. And he’s pretty upset, so please don’t be mad at him for not calling. He spent almost two months in a rehab facility. He’s paranoid someone will overhear him, and it’ll get out.”

I shouldn’t be surprised I’m not in his circle of trust anymore. That’s likely my fault. I’m the one who put that distance in our friendship once I saw him with Kira.

Leo lets out a squawk, and I bounce him in my arms. What does this thing with Maverick matter anyway? So we’re not close anymore. I have more important things to worry about. Namely, how I’m going to afford diapers. “And he doesn’t care that I’m staying here?”

Paige glances away as she shrugs. “Frankly, he doesn’t know, but I’m guessing he won’t care.

I’m supposed to rent it out once it gets fully furnished.

But the furniture store just told me the bed is backordered and won’t be here for a month and a half.

So if I have to do some girl math, I figure that gives you six weeks to enjoy some luxury living before you have to cram into Beau’s stinky old camper. ”

Great. Now I’m squatting.

I rub my throbbing temple. “Thank you. As long as this doesn’t get me arrested.”

She wiggles her brows. “I kinda always thought you’d be into handcuffs.”

We both laugh.

I guess this won’t be so bad.