Page 25 of Falling Stars

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 tubin 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. Agood friendmight 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.”

---