Page 43 of Falling Stars

Maverick almost died on that football field.

Worse?

He’s thinking about returning to the game that almost paralyzed him.

15

MAVERICK

Wincing when we hit a pothole,I rub my neck and try to think of what to say to Baylee, whose white knuckles grip the steering wheel as we head back to my condo, but I’m at a loss for words.

After we park, I grit my teeth as I watch her struggle to get Leo out of his car seat. I feel fucking helpless. I should be doing that. Once she’s unstrapped him, I tug the diaper bag down her arm. “Let me carry something.”

She glares at me but eventually concedes.

When we’re in the elevator, I break the silence. “I’m sorry for not telling you.”

“Yup. You said that.”

She’s not going to make this easy. I rub my hands down my jeans. I’m not even sure how to explain this. “Look, it was easy to keep this in the family because everyone was there in the hospital room. I didn’t have to explain anything to my brothers because the doctors did that. If I had to describe what happened on the field and say I couldn’t fucking feel my legs for three days, then shit would get real, you know? I was terrified I’d never walk again.”

Her eyes water, and she nods as she nestles Leo to her chest. “Okay.”

I wait for her to say more. When she doesn’t, I look at her sideways. “That’s it?”

“What am I supposed to say? I feel like an asshole for being upset that you didn’t let me know what was going on with you. That it was so serious. And I’m freaked out that you broke your damn neck.” Tears crest her lids and stream down her face. Jesus, I hate making Baylee cry. She’s the toughest woman I know. And yet here she stands, upset because of me.

Desperate to make amends, I pull her into my arms and kiss the top of her head. “You’re not an asshole. I was a dick for not calling you. I own that, and I’m sorry. Once I regained feeling in my legs, I still had to recover from surgery on my rotator cuff and the fracture in my spine. Two months in a rehab center sucked. I would’ve loved to have flown you up there to hang out with me, but you’d just had Leo, so I knew you couldn’t travel.”

We stand like that, together, and I breathe in her sweet scent. It’s still fruity. Like peaches, I realize.

“Did you… did you not call me because I didn’t tell you I was pregnant?”

I frown. “No. I wouldn’t quid pro quo shit like that. You told me when you were ready, and I respect that. I didn’t call because I was depressed and freaked out.” I squeeze her tighter. “You can’t be mad at me, Bay. I was concussed. Shouldn’t that get me a pass?”

She lets out a sigh. “I’m just glad you’re okay.”

We reach our floor, the elevator doors open, and I reluctantly let her go. When we get inside, she motions to the bathroom. “Could you watch Leo for ten minutes? I didn’t get a chance to take a shower this morning.”

“Of course.”

She puts him in his basket and places that on the couch where I rub his belly as he settles back to sleep.

She gathers a few things and heads to the bathroom. Leaning back on the couch, I close my eyes and try not to think about Baylee in the shower or all those curves getting wet.

Jesus, not another fucking boner.

Someone knocks on the door, and I jerk upright, which makes everything hurt. “Son of a bitch.” I scramble to get up and answer the door before Leo wakes up.

I hobble as quickly as I can across the condo and fling open the door. All I see on the other side is a pile of blankets and pillows and a mess of hair.

“Bro, it’s me,” Jace calls out.

I take the pillows out of his arms and let him in. “What are you doing here?”

“Paige said you’d need this. She said, and I quote, ‘Tell him to open the couch and sleep on the damn bed before he hurts himself.’” He holds up his hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger. I just do what I’m told.”

I rub my neck, which aches after I sat up so quickly. “Sorry you had to come all this way.”

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