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)
“Stella, angel, they already love you. You and our girl. Today is just them getting validation that they’ve been right this entire time. My brothers tried to tell me. My sisters-in-law kept giving me knowing looks. They expect this. They just expected it sooner. It took me a while to pull my head out of my a–behind,” he corrects himself, glancing in the rearview mirror at Ada.
“I’m glad they were right.”
He pulls into the lot and turns off the engine before he turns to me. “Me too, baby. Me too.” He leans over, kissing me quickly. “I’ll grab our girl. Bug, are you ready to party?” he asks as he pushes open his door.
“I’ll get the gift and the diaper bag.” I smile as I speak. Life with Maverick will always be fun. There will be tough moments, but there is no doubt in my mind that this man will fight through each one of them with me.
Maverick pulls the door open and motions for me to walk in before him. I do, standing off to the side, waiting for him and Ada to join me.
“Hey, family!” he calls out.
Everyone stops and turns to face him. He links his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. I move my arm behind him so Orion’s gift doesn’t get smashed.
“What’s going on, Mav?” Merrick asks.
“I wasn’t sure if y’all had met my future wife and my daughter?”
“It’s about da—darn time!” Merrick rushes us. I step away so he can hug his brother, but to my surprise, I’m the one he wraps his arms around. “I knew he was in love with you,” he whispers, just for me.
“Give me my granddaughter.” Raymond takes Ada from Maverick and tosses a wink at me over his shoulder.
“Just like that?” I ask Maverick.
“Yeah, angel. Just like that.” He takes my hand in his and pulls me into the crowd. We get hugs and slaps on the back with congratulations from his family.
“You’ve been holding out on me. All week!” Jordyn says, wrapping me in a hug.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t sure how we were handling this, and so much has happened.”
“I need to hear it all.” She gives me a pointed look.
“I promise. I won’t leave out a single detail.”
She points her index finger at me. “I’m watching you.”
I laugh and nod, letting her know I intend to keep my promise.
“Hey,” Alyssa says, taking a seat next to me at the table.
“Hi. How are you feeling?”
She rubs at her pregnant belly. “Excited.” Her grin is infectious. “I’ve wanted this for so long, but I don’t have to tell you what it’s like to be in love with your best friend.”
“You have a lifetime of friendship with Sterling,” I remind her.
“Yeah, but he was still my best friend, and I fell in love with him.” She shrugs as if the timeline of friendship makes no difference. Maybe it doesn’t. What do I know?
She glances across the room where Sterling is holding Ada. He keeps offering her to Maverick and pulling her away. She laughs every time he does it.
“He’s good with her.”
“Yeah, they’re all great dads.”
“They are,” I agree.
“So, I wanted to run something past you.”
“Okay.”
“Why don’t you let Ada stay with us tonight? We could use the practice.”
I chuckle. “Look around, Alyssa. I think you and Sterling are going to be just fine.”
“Okay, then let us keep her so that you and Maverick can have some time together.”
“Oh.” I can feel my face heat. I’m a grown woman. This conversation shouldn’t affect me.
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I know we don’t. In fact, Sterling doesn’t even know that I’m offering. Not that he’ll mind. Look, I know what it’s like to be in your shoes. To have the man you love finally love you back. Let us take her. Give you and Mav a night to… connect.” She wags her eyebrows.
“Really, that’s not necessary.”
“Maybe not, but we’d like to do it, anyway.”
“I’ve never been away from her overnight.”
“We’re family, Stella. I promise you she’s in good hands. I can’t promise you she won’t be spoiled by the time my husband gives her back to you, though.”
“That’s a daily thing with Mav.”
“Talk to Maverick, see what he thinks. The offer is open. Not just tonight, but anytime. You need a sitter, need a mom break, some kid-free sexy time, or for whatever reason, you know that you can call any of us, and we’ll be happy to help.”
“Thank you.” I’m getting choked up, and I swallow back the emotion.
“Anytime. Go talk to your man and let me know. We’d love to have her.” She stands and walks away.
I’m so lost in thought that I don’t notice Maverick taking the seat she just left.
“What’s going on?”
“What makes you think something is going on?”
“I know my wife.”
I smile. “Not your wife.” I hold up my bare ring finger.