He gives me a look. “Baby, I go where you go. You want to stay with your daughter? I will be right there with you.”
His response makes me so happy. I can’t even deny that. “I want to be with you, you make me feel happy,” I say softly, so I don’t wake Ronny.
Maverick pulls the truck to a stop in front of the house, turning to face me fully in the truck.
“You make me so fucking happy. You have since the second I saw you.” He shakes his head in disbelief. “You were a magnet, a piece that I never knew was missing, but I can’t live without you. I don’t care if I have known you only a short time. In my fucking soul I’ve known you forever.”
Wind could push me over at this point. His words hit something deep inside of me to my core.
I never knew someone could feel like this about me, or I could feel like this about someone.
I never had a chance at a real life, to be fully happy and feel safe with someone.
I do with him.
I feel so safe, safe enough that I don’t have to worry about what will happen if I freak out. I am myself, he likes every part of me and I have not had to hurt to get this from him.
I shake my head, leaning over and kissing him with so much feeling. I don't have the words to describe the way I feel.
He buries his hand deep into my hair, taking over the kiss instantly. I run my hand over his stomach, his abs flexing beneath my fingers.
He pulls back, kissing my cheek, then my forehead, pulling me over to him. My stomach does a little dip as he holds me close. I close my eyes and let him hold me for a bit.
“Wait, how can we make this legal? I didn’t think of that.” I slightly panic at the thought of having to send Ronny back.
“We have so many people in our pockets it won’t be a problem at all. Lane will bring the papers over as early as the morning if we want.”
That makes me feel ten times better. I would rather die than allow that boy to go back to that worthless mother of his.
“Tomorrow, I want to see her.” I can hear the anger in my voice. I am so angry that if I think about it right now, I’d probably kill her if she were in front of me.
And I never want to hurt a living soul, but her? I don’t care. I can see the pain she has caused him.
“Where am I?” I hear Ronny ask in his sleepy voice.
I turn around. “Hi, we are at Maverick’s house.” I smile.
His eyes widen when he takes in the house. “Wow, you live here?”
“You live here now,” Maverick informs him, causing my heart to dance in my chest.
Ronny sits back in the seat like it’s hitting him hard. “I’m going to text a prospect to bring Ronny some clothes to wear until we can get shit for him tomorrow.”
I open the truck door. Maverick glares at me the whole time, but I grin and do it anyway, sliding out of the truck.
I hear Maverick’s door slamming shut. I open the back door for Ronny and Maverick slides his way in, taking over to help him out.
Maverick bends down and whispers in my ear, “You’re in trouble for that shit.”
I stop my giggling and look at him from the corner of my eye. My face grows hot at his double meaning.
“Want to pick out your room?” Maverick asks Ronny.
Ronny looks up at Maverick like he’s not real. I don’t know everything that Ronny has been through, but when I transitioned from my old life, everything was just shocking.
Ronny is like a bobblehead looking from left and right at everything in the house. Maverick shows him the kitchen, and I start making a mental list of things we need like snacks and drinks. Wait, will he be going to school? Has he ever gone to school before?
I don’t know how to be a mother or a caregiver. I never had that chance when I had to give up my girls.
I’d kill to be a mom, to have the chance to be that for someone. I’m in my late thirties, I can still do it.
“The last door on the right is mine and Bell’s bedroom,” Maverick says in a smug voice.
Ronny lets go of Maverick’s hand and walks to a bedroom a few doors down from ours.
Maverick takes my hand, pulling me to him. Both of us watch Ronny as he explores the room.
He walks to the bed, putting his hand down, rubbing the comforter. “I think I really like this room. Is this one okay?” Ronny looks at us. I can see he is hesitant.
“It’s yours,” Maverick confirms, and Ronny’s face brightens. He jumps up on the bed and lies down.
“I never had one before.”
We walk into the room with him. Maverick grabs a TV remote off of the chest and brings it over to Ronny. “Here’s the remote to the TV.”
“Never had what, honey?” I smile and sit next to him. He scoots closer to me and I resist the urge to pull him into a hug.
I just want to wrap him up and protect him from the world. I just can’t fathom how scared he was or what he thought when his mother did that.
It still blows my mind that she could sell her baby.
“Never had a bed before.”
Tears fill my eyes. I turn away so he doesn’t see. Maverick looks just as hurt as me.
“You know what would make this room better?” Maverick asks Ronny, who sits up higher.
“What?” Ronny asks, excited.
“Well, for one, we need a bookshelf with all of your favorite books. I think a bookstore run tomorrow is needed.” Maverick winks and Ronny looks like he could fall over.
“Oh, thank you, Maverick!” Ronny jumps off of the bed and slams into him, hugging his waist.
Maverick looks down at him, then at me in a way I have never seen before. I know in this moment Ronny just took his whole heart, claiming it as his.
There’s a knock at the door. “That’s probably Myra and Ryan.”
We all walk downstairs and I peer out the window. “Who are they?” Ronny asks, gripping my hand, I can see the slight fear on his face.
Maverick bends down. “The lady is a doctor. She is going to check you over to make sure you are healthy. The guy standing next to her is her husband. The other is someone bringing you some clothes. You’re safe.” He runs his hand down the back of his head. “I will always protect you, nothing will hurt you.”
I am so gone for him.
Ronny relaxes and takes Maverick’s hand as he opens the front door. “Hi Ronny, I’m Myra. I’m a doctor.” She smiles, holding her hand out for him to shake.
He does it. “Nice to meet you.” He smiles and scoots closer to Maverick when the guys walk into the house.
Maverick takes notice. “Why don’t you guys go to the kitchen and relax? There’s beer in the refrigerator.”
“Alright, sweetheart, let’s go sit on the couch.” Ronny lets go of Maverick’s hand and follows Myra to the couch.
“Hang on one second. I need to ask Maverick and Bell something.” Myra sets her bag down, walking over to us.
“I need to know, do you think there is a chance something could have happened to him, sexually?” she whispers, soft enough that only we can hear.
A deep fear strikes my heart at the prospect of that happening. It crossed my mind, but I am terrified to find out.
Maverick walks away, rubbing the back of his head. I can feel the anger rolling off of him in waves.
“Maverick, it’s probably a good idea,” I whisper.