Page 52 of Falling Stars

“It means apologize with action. Show you’re sorry. Prove it to her. Why do you think I built Paige a huge chicken coop? Why do you think I’m bottle-feeding a baby goat in my kitchen at the moment? Because if my wife wants something, I’m gonna move hell and high water to make it happen, especially if I’ve been a dick. For the record, I try not to be a dick around her.”

I nod, feeling more hopeful. “Okay.”Don’t be a dick. Apologize with action. Be honest.I can do that.

“But Maverick, if you go after Baylee, you have to mean it. She’s a single mom with a lot on her shoulders. You can’t mess with her if you’re not a hundred percent sure about this. Nothingabout what I told you in high school is different. Only now you probably can better appreciate that your relationship with her is special.”

I think about all the shit we’ve been through and how she’s always stood by my side. “Yeah, it’s special. No one compares to Bay.”

“That’s what I thought. Now go win back your woman.”

I think about Rhett’s advice as I tidy up the condo, do a load of laundry, and try to ignore the pain radiating down my shoulders. A gnawing sense of urgency builds in my chest. I have to make this right with Baylee.

When the food arrives, I set it out on the dining table. I’m just finishing when the front door opens.

I let out a relieved breath that she returned. She stands in the entryway with Leo, who’s fussy.

Don’t make this weird, asshole. Help her.

As I pour some water, I say, “Let me take him for a while. Give you a break.”

She gives me a wary look. “Have you been dizzy today?”

“Nope.” I don’t mention my headache, but I haven’t wobbled once this afternoon.

Baylee sets down Leo’s basket on the kitchen counter, and I pull him out. “Hey, man. Looking good today. How was work? Did the ladies at the salon give you any trouble? I hear if you ply them with coffee, they’re pretty nice.”

Baylee snorts in amusement, and I take that as a good sign.

I hold my arm out toward the dining room table. “I got us some dinner. Are you hungry?”

“I’m going to weigh a thousand pounds if we keep ordering takeout.”

I let my eyes trail down her curves, and my dick pulses. “I don’t think you need to worry about that, Bay. You’re perfect.”

A blush tints her cheeks, but she doesn’t respond. When sheopens the containers on the table, a smile tilts her lips. “Pad Thai’s my favorite.”

“I know. Grab a seat.”

I strategically placed everything so we’d sit close. She takes one side, and I sit at the head of the table next to her and hold Leo to my chest.

“Here. Give him to me so you can eat.” She holds out her arms.

“You’re the one who worked all day while I watched brain-rotting TV. I can hold him for a bit.”

“Okay. If you don’t mind.” We both tuck into our food.

I debate how to bring it up. After a few minutes, I bite the bullet. “Look, I don’t know how to start this conversation, but I don’t want to dodge it. I’m really sorry that I hurt you. This afternoon I thought a lot about how things went down in high school. I remember that you went out of town for a while right after Chet’s party, and when you returned, you acted like nothing happened. Like our kiss wasn’t a big deal. So, at the time, in my pea-sized high school brain, I thought we were cool.”

Her voice is barely a whisper. “You turning me down like that was soul-crushing, Maverick. I did what I had to preserve my dignity. You were running around with all the cheerleaders, and it pissed me off enough that I guess I shut down.”

“Fuck, I feel like a dick.”

She looks at me straight in the eye. “You were a dick.”

I hate myself right now, but I’m also confused. “Why didn’t you tell me you were angry? I mean, I knew you were that night at the party, but why did you let me think we were good afterward?”

“I don’t know, Maverick. Why did you ask Nicole Ashbury to homecoming instead of me? You obviously didn’t want to date me, so what was I supposed to do? Beg?” She lets out a brittlelaugh. “You must know by now that I’d rather fucking die by a thousand snake bites than ask a man for anything.” Baylee shakes her head. “We didn’t hang out for a long time after I kissed you. Didn’t you think that was weird?”

I shrug. “I figured it was because of football.”

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