Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77730 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 389(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I had to fight to keep the tears at bay. The memory of last night still felt so raw.
“Then what?” she softly asked as she reached for my hand.
“He said ‘they left me.’ I think he was talking about this young couple, Mindy and Justin, whom he had lived with for a bit. They were going to adopt him. They died in a car accident the very day the adoption was supposed to go through.”
She gasped. “That is so sad. Poor Maverick!”
“I know. It’s really sad. But when I asked him if he had nightmares, he told me he didn’t. Do you think it’s possible he doesn’t remember having them?”
Mom looked at me quickly. Her face wore a concerned expression. “I do think it’s possible. Has he ever spoken to anyone about his childhood?”
“You mean like a therapist?”
“Yes.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think so. I’m not sure he would talk to anyone now. And I don’t want to push him. But, because of his past and the abandonment issues I think he has, I don’t know if he’ll ever fully allow himself to commit to me. I mean, he wants to be exclusive, of course, but I think he’s afraid to admit there could be a future for us. I told him I loved him, and he kissed me. That kiss said he loved me, too, but he hasn’t said it out loud.”
Mom smiled at me. “I see by the way he looks at you that he loves you, Lily. And your father has seen it for months now.”
“What?” I asked, completely shocked by her statement.
“Your dad said the moment Maverick first saw you, he was pretty sure he fell in love with you on the spot. And since you’ve moved back home, he’s more sure than ever.”
My hand came up to my mouth, and I choked back a sob. “Mom!”
“I know, sweetheart. But I can see where the fear for Maverick is coming from. Have you told him you want a future with him?”
I chewed nervously on my lower lip. “Yes. His eyes lit up, so I know he wants that too.”
“What if you suggested he go speak with a counselor at Brock’s community center?”
I wrung my hands together. “I’ve thought of that, but I don’t want to push him. Or make him think something’s wrong.”
“Why would he think that?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I only want him to be happy. I mentioned looking into ancestry sites to see if he has any siblings, and he has no desire to do that.”
“If he doesn’t want to look up family, Lily, then he has the right to refuse, and you have to respect that.”
“I know. I know. And I will.”
Mom got quiet and looked at me. “I’m going to ask a random question.”
Drawing my brows in, I replied, “Okay.”
“If Ben showed up on your doorstep and said he changed his mind, that he realized he loved you…what would you do?”
Before I could answer, my phone rang, causing me to let out a small shriek. Mom did as well. We both laughed—until I looked to see who was calling.
I gaped at my mother. “Holy shit. It’s Ben.”
Chapter Seventeen
MAVERICK
It was the heat that made it the worst possible thing to endure. Just when we thought we had the fire contained, the wind would pick up again. The rainstorm had kept it banked some, but with the lack of rain this past spring, everything was bone-dry, and the small amount of rain wasn’t soaking the ground enough.
“Maverick!”
At the sound of my name, I looked up. It was Tanner. He made his way over to me and grabbed my arms, gave me a once-over, and asked, “Have you had any sleep or food?”
“A couple of hours, and I grabbed a sandwich earlier.”
“Water?”
I nodded. I could see the concern in his eyes. It was the same concern he’d shown for Nathan, who worked alongside me. Tanner had asked me to keep an eye on him, which I was happy to do. Nathan meant the world to me, and the last thing I wanted was for something to happen to any member of Lily’s family.
When Tanner smiled at me and squeezed my arms, something in my chest tightened.
He leaned in closer. “I need you to stay safe, Maverick. Do you understand me?”
A lump formed in my throat, and I found I couldn’t say anything, so I simply nodded.
He pulled me in for a quick hug, then went to check on Nathan, who stood with some volunteer firefighters helping us keep the fire away from Stella and Ty Sr.’s house.
Another hour passed, and the next time, it was Hank who called out my name.
“Can you and Nathan head over to the south side of the ranch? A line of fire is making its way toward Brock and Lincoln’s place.”