Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78542 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 393(@200wpm)___ 314(@250wpm)___ 262(@300wpm)
Back in the living room, I grab my phone and see a text from Maverick. Which is exactly who I was expecting it to be.
Maverick: How is she?
Me: Just got her down for a nap.
I snap a picture of the baby monitor showing her sleeping in her crib and send it to him.
Maverick: She broke my heart, Stel. I was ready to come home.
Me: You can’t do that. She’s just missing you.
Maverick: I miss you both so much. You should have come with me.
Me: What part of family-only weekend are you not grasping? That’s breaking the rules, and you know it.
Maverick: You’re family, Stella. You work for Jordyn, you’re friends with all of my brothers' wives, and you’re my best friend.
Me: My last name isn’t Kincaid.
Maverick: Neither is Deacon nor Ramsey’s.
Me: Come on now, that’s a stretch, and you know it. That’s your cousin and her husband.
I send him a string of eye roll emoji. He’s being ridiculous.
Maverick: But she’s sad.
Me: There are a lot of things in life that are going to make her sad. I can’t coddle her, and neither can you.
Maverick: Did you see the tears? You must have missed them.
I can’t help but smile. He really does love my little girl.
Me: I saw the tears. I was the one who dried them. You’re there, and we’re here. That’s the end of it.
Maverick: Fine. We’re heading out in the morning. I should be home around noon. I’m coming straight there.
Me: Go home, unpack, and get ready for the week.
Maverick: I’ll be there. I’ll text you when I’m close. We’re going to grab some food and get Ada some ice cream.
I don’t want to argue with him because I want to see him. I miss him, and he’s only been gone since yesterday morning. He’s not mine to miss, but I miss him all the same.
Me: Fine. I know there’s no point in arguing with you.
Maverick: Nope. Not when it comes to the two of you.
Me: Go on your hike. Be safe and have fun.
Maverick: What are you doing tonight?
Me: Thinking about Sunflower Park. Not certain.
Maverick: Be safe. Text me when you get home.
Me: No. You don’t need to be worrying about me. You’re with your family this weekend. Enjoy this time.
Maverick: I can still be here and enjoy my family and worry about my girls.
Maverick: Text me when you get home.
Maverick: Please.
I smile. Sweet, affectionate, loves kids, and is not afraid to say please. He’s going to make some woman very happy one day. Some woman that’s not me. I’ll be pushed to the side when he finally meets someone, and that thought alone has me easily agreeing. Not that I was going to outright refuse.
Me: Okay.
Maverick: Thank you.
Me: You’re welcome. Now. Go. Hike.
Maverick: So bossy.
I don’t reply because I know if I do, he’ll keep going. He’d sit there all day on his phone with me, and that’s defeating the purpose of taking a family trip. Picking up my book, I dive back into the story while Ada sleeps.
I end up falling asleep too. The house was quiet, and I was having a hard time getting lost in the story when my thoughts kept straying to Maverick. By the time Ada and I both wake up, it’s pretty close to sunset. We both must have been exhausted. It’s too late to go to the park, so I make us some dinner. I make some chicken salad with canned chicken for me, and some mac and cheese for Ada.
We eat together, and I work with Ada on her words. She’s talking more and more each day. And by talking, I mean words we can actually understand. “Noodle,” I say, pointing to a cheesy noodle on the tray of her high chair. She ignores me and grabs it, shoving it into her mouth.
“That’s good stuff, huh?” I ask her.
“Yum.”
“That’s right. Yum.”
When she finishes, I leave the mess for later and take her to the bathroom for her bath. I let her play for close to an hour. She’s pruned, and my hands are as well from playing with her. I cherish these moments. Derrick has no idea what he’s missing out on.
Once she’s changed into her jammies, I carry her back to the living room for a movie to wind down for the night. Realizing I haven’t checked my phone, I leave her on the living room floor and go in search of it. I find it in the kitchen. Glancing at the screen, I see seven missed calls from Maverick. My heart falls. Something must have happened. My hands shake as I return his call.
“Stel?” he answers, his voice laced with panic.
“Yeah, it’s me. What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? You were supposed to text me when you got home. The sun set an hour ago. I texted you, and no reply. I called, no reply. Are you okay? Ada?”