Page 25 of Wild Side
This entire situation feels surreal. I can’t believe this has happened. I’m not mad. I’m not really questioning it. I know I fucked her bare, the timing is right, and now that I realize who her father is, it makes sense that she would come here to tell me. And also why she seems almost terrified of the outcome.
“And then what?” she asks.
Taking a step forward, I reach out to cup her cheek. “And then we figure out what the fuck we’re gonna do.”
We don’t speak immediately, choosing the moment to gaze into one another’s eyes. Hers moves around, searching mine for something. Maybe reassurance, I’m not positive, but I don’t ask or offer anything, either.
Whatever she’s looking for, she must find. I watch as she dips her chin in a slight nod, then clears her throat and turns backtoward the bedroom. A few moments later, she’s back in front of me, her purse in hand, along with a bakery box.
Arching a brow, I flick my gaze to the box, then slowly lift it to meet hers. “It’s a lemon poppyseed muffin. I bought it yesterday for breakfast.”
Food.
She’d need that.
“We can stop by the store on the way to the clubhouse. Not sure if there’s any real food in the kitchen there.”
Zadie gives me a small smile as I reach out for the box in her hand. She slips it into mine, and together, we walk toward the Jeep. The sun is just starting to rise, the sky full of pinks and oranges as I turn toward her.
“Maverick?” she asks.
“Whatever the fuck happens, I got you.”
I’m not sure if I’m trying to reassure her or me right now. But I need her to feel safe, and I need to be the reason she feels that way. I’m not sure why, but it feels imperative. She lifts her hand, wraps her fingers around my bicep, and gently squeezes.
We don’t say anything else. I’m not sure what needs to be said. I got her. I got them. Them. Both of them. Her and my baby, something I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined would become a reality.
But it is.
I walk her to the driver’s side of the Jeep and look over at her. She’s standing beside me, keys in her hand, eyes wide as she waits for whatever is coming next. I’m sure she has no idea what I’m about to ask for.
“Keys,” I call out.
“What about your bike?”
“I’ll drive you.”
She continues to stare at me, watching me for a moment, then clears her throat. “What about your bike?” she asks again.
“One of the guys will pick it up for me. You’re not going to the store, then the clubhouse without me.”
She wrinkles her nose but doesn’t argue. Instead, she climbs into the passenger seat of the Jeep and buckles up. Jumping into the driver’s seat, I start the engine but don’t make a move to back out right away.
I turn my head and look at her. She slowly shifts her attention from the windshield to me, her eyes finding mine. “Zadie,” I begin, “I fucking got you, babe.”
And with that, I focus my attention on backing out of the parking lot and heading toward the grocery store, then the club. I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. I don’t know what the right thing is here, but whatever it is, I’m going to keep moving forward. I’ll figure it the fuck out eventually.
ZADIE
The grocery store was oddly… normal. Maverick didn’t say much but made sure I had what I needed, which was whatever I wanted. I stuck with some basics—fresh fruit, veggies, some cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, and milk. I did buy a bag of pancake mix, though.
“Don’t you want more?” he asks, his gaze flicking down to my shopping cart before it meets my own again.
“I’m not sure how long I’ll be here, but I don’t want to waste money or food.”
Maverick’s eyebrows shoot up as if he can’t believe what I’ve just said. I take a step backward, wishing I could swallow back those words. He’s been nice, all things considered, but maybe I shouldn’t have ever come.
Maybe I should have told my dad I didn’t know who the father was and just suffered the punishment and anger. He would have gotten over it eventually, and if he didn’t, would it have mattered? Would anything have mattered? I have a job back home, a decent one. I could have figured my shit out.
