Page 46 of Falling Stars

He chuckles. “Your mom was so pissed the next morning.”

“My mom? Rhett thought you’d run away.”

I turn and catch his smile melt away. “I did. I ran away to the one person who’s always made me feel better.”

I consider his words as he goes to the bathroom to brush his teeth and returns a few minutes later. I lean back in bed and put Leo on my shoulder to burp him. “Did you really run away?”

After he clicks off the lights, he gingerly slides into bed on the opposite side. “Yeah.”

“Did something happen that night?”

He stares at the ceiling so long that I don’t think he’s going to say anything. Finally, he takes a deep breath. “My dad hit me.”

“What?” I struggle to sit up. I place Leo in his basket, andfortunately, he doesn’t fuss. Then I turn back to Mav. “Gus hit you?”

He nods. “Yeah. But the asshole said if I told anyone, he’d blame it on Rhett or Isaiah and that no one would believe me and I’d just be getting my brother in trouble. So I kept my mouth shut.”

Oh my God. “Where… where did he hit you?”

“Across my jaw. Remember how I had that bruise?”

“You said you fell off your bike.”

“I said what I had to say so I didn’t get anyone in trouble.”

“You were just a kid.” I cover my mouth because my bottom lip is wobbling, and I don’t want to cry.

“The important thing is I’m okay, right?”

Nodding, I take his rough palm in mine. “I’m so sorry. If I could’ve stopped that from happening, I would’ve.”

“I know, sweetheart.” He laces our fingers together. “You’ve always been my safe space. You don’t know how much that’s meant to me.”

The words rush from me. “I’m sorry I messed up our friendship in high school. I shouldn’t have kissed you. I’ve always regretted it.” I freeze. What did I just do? Why did I confess that? When he doesn’t say anything, I start to panic. “Forget I said anything. No one likes talking about the past.”

“Bay, calm down.”

“Seriously, I don’t know what I was thinking.” I pull back my hand and shove my hair out of my face. I’m hot and sweaty all of a sudden. “Let sleeping dogs lie and all that. Seems like a smart motto, no?”

“Baylee, I don’t regret it.”

“Do you want to watch some TV? I can look for the remote.” I shove my legs off the edge of the bed, but then Maverick grabs my arm, and I still.

“Look at me.”

God, no. I close my eyes. “Seriously, it’s cool. Let’s just move on.”

“Baylee Reyes, either turn around now or I will sit on you until you look at me.”

I laugh. “As long as you don’t fart on me like Jace did when we were kids.”

“Remember how he called it cropdusting?”

We both laugh as he tugs me back, and I let him. I find myself on my side, facing him. We’re so close, I can smell his minty breath. He reaches out and brushes my hair away from my face. “I didn’t handle that kiss well.”

“I’m sensing a theme.”

He chuckles, but then his eyes grow serious. “I wasn’t ready for you when I was seventeen.”

---