Page 29 of Don't Hurt Us
“Nah, baby.I’ll pick them up at school.There’s no reason to have five people handling them when I’m free.Just let me know if I have to do anything specific.”
“I just have to let Skylar know you’ll be getting them… Thank you, Mav.You’re amazing.”
“You keep saying that.”I grin.
“Because I can't believe it.”
“Why?”
“I guess I’ve never had anyone amazing in my life before.”
“Well, your life is about to change.”
Chapter 14
Sydney
WhenMondayrollsaround,Melissa doesn’t call out, but she will be late for work.She was able to get a doctor’s appointment and needs to pick up her medicine.I’ll only have to cover two hours of her shift, but it still makes it impossible for me to get the kids from school.
Sydney: I should be done at five.Do you want me to come get the kids at your house or do you want to go straight to my house after school?Danny has a key.
I turn back to the dough I'm scooping out onto large cookie sheets.This is the last thing I need to bake for the day and I'm more than ready to be done.I’ve mixed up more cookie dough than I care to admit today.I’ll freeze most of it to use later, but some of it will be used today and tomorrow to make cookies.
My phone pings and I jump to see what Maverick has to say.I'm hoping he’ll take them to my house and stay for a little bit.I’d like to see him for longer than just picking up the kids.
Maverick: Come to my house.
I sigh as I read the text.I don’t want to go there.I'm exhausted and just want to go home, but he’s doing me a huge favor by getting the kids in general.
Sydney: I’ll see you around five.Thanks again.
Maverick: Of course, gorgeous.
When Melissa walks through the door a little after five-thirty, she hurries into the back room to drop off her jacket and bag.She returns as she’s tying her apron around her waist.
“I’m so sorry!It took forever to get my prescription filled.The doctor prescribed something that would interact with another medication I'm on, so I had to wait while they called to get the doctor to approve a different medication.”
“It’s fine, Melissa.Don’t worry about it.I appreciate you coming in when you could’ve just called off.”
“I still feel bad.I don’t like making you come in when you should be home with the kids.”She frowns.“Is there anything I need to know before you go?”
“There are five batches of cookies in the oven.They’ll be done in… three minutes.I can stay and help you with them.”
“Nonsense.Get out of here and have a good night.”She nudges me towards the back of the bakery and I happily tug my apron from around my waist and hang it up on the hook by my office.
After I have my bag and jacket, I slip out the back door.As I start my engine, I realize I don’t know where Maverick’s house is.I grab my phone to text him, but I find a message already waiting for me.
Maverick: 368 Berry Drive.
I smile to myself as I stare at his text.I love how much he pays attention.I didn’t need to ask him for his address because he remembers I wouldn’t have it.
I debate on texting him to let him know I'm on my way, but I kind of want to see how everything is if I just show up.If I give him a heads up, he’ll have time to clean up or stop doing whatever they’re doing.If I don’t, I get to see how he deals with the chaos.
Though it feels a little wrong to be testing him like this, I need to know the man he shows me is the real Maverick.I need to be sure he’s good enough to spend time with my children.
As I drive towards his house, I realize I’ve never been in this part of Maple Springs before.The properties are spread further apart and the houses are set back from the road even more.Trees line the road and wooden three rail fences sit right behind them on every property.It’s so picturesque.So perfect.I’d love to live on a property like this.
I slow as Maverick’s home comes into view.He has a large rancher with a long driveway.The landscaping is hard to see with all the snow, but everything looks neat and tidy.The driveway was plowed with care and there’s a small Christmas tree on the porch with lights sparkling from the branches.Wreaths hang on every window, making his house look warm and inviting.
