“I got you something.” He walks to the other side of the bike, pulling out a helmet and a leather jacket.
Wait, did he really buy me something?
He walks over and puts the helmet on my head, tightening the straps and snapping it closed. “This is a leather jacket. If somethings happens, I don’t want anything happening to you. Road burn is a bitch.”
I take it from him gently, shocked that he even thought to do this for me. “Thank you, Maverick.” He cared enough to make sure I was as safe as possible; he wanted me safe.
My heart aches. It’s a good ache and a shock to my system. He lifts it out of my hands and holds it up for me to slip it on, then zips me up.
“You look fucking hot.” He whistles. I duck my head, trying to hide my smile and not blush for the tenth time today since I saw him.
He pulls me to him. “Come on, darlin’. I’m excited to meet your boy.” I beam at him calling Ronny “my boy.”
I know that he’s not mine. I love him and I want him to have the best in life. I just want him taken care of; he needs that. Maybe I can speak to his mother today, maybe try to have a breakthrough? Share a part of my story.
He turns on the bike, holding out his hand for me to hold onto so I can get on.
I wrap my arms and scoot as close to Maverick as I can, loving the feel of his hard muscles pressed against me.
I’m attracted to Maverick and I would be naïve to not admit that to myself. The sad part of me is thinking that once he knows my past, he won’t want me anymore.
I close my eyes and let the warm air beam down on me, stopping my toxic thinking. I have not faced what I have in life to be my own enemy.
Michael is still out there. I hope and pray that he has gone back to Michigan. I hope that I never see him again. It’s been months, so that’s very unlikely. We were poor, we didn’t have any kind of money for him to be living here and not working.
He worked for the church—all of the men did. They did whatever the pastor in the church wanted and then they were paid a short wage.
My husband was lazy, so half of the time he didn’t complete the jobs. He ate well and I did not. Everything comfortable we had in life, it went to him.
He counted every single grocery we had in the house. He knew everything. Not one second in my day did I have peace.
Right now that part of my life seems like a dream, a nightmare.
I lean forward and rest my chin on Maverick’s shoulder, loving the open road until we get into the city. “You know, we should take a long road trip one day,” I suggest.
Maverick looks back at me for a second before turning back to the road. “Let’s fucking go, darlin’.”
I grin at the happiness I can hear in his voice. Riding is his life and I can see how much he enjoys it. I want to experience that with him.
He pulls up in front of the center. The prospect gets super defensive when he first sees Maverick until he leans over and reads his cut.
We’re waved through, and I almost jump off the bike, ready to see Ronny. Maverick takes my hand, nodding at all of the prospects hanging around.
I sign in at the front desk and get Maverick a visitor pass. “He’s usually is in the main room.”
Walking in, I stop and look around for Ronny. I spot him in the corner. He looks absolutely devastated. “There he is.”
I squeeze Maverick’s hand hard. I walk over to him, stopping a few feet away. “Hi honey, you okay?” I ask.
He looks over at me, his eyes filling with tears and clenching his little jaw. I look at Maverick, my heart breaking.
Maverick gives me a concerned look. I let go of his hand and split the distance between me and Ronny, sitting down beside him.
“Can I hold your hand, Ronny?” I ask.
He nods. I reach forward, slowly making sure he has direct contact with my hand, wiping away his tears.
Maverick stands at my back, putting his hand on my shoulder. “Want to tell me why you’re upset?”
His bottom lip trembles. “Mom sold my books. She got mad at me because I told her that you bought them for me.”
My heart breaks. He loved those books. “It’s okay, honey. It’s not your fault.” I rub my hand over his.
He sniffs, smiling a little. “I was scared you would be upset with me.”
A huge chunk of my heart once again goes to this precious boy. “I would never get mad at you for something out of your control.”
His eyes search mine. So many deep thoughts are going through his mind right now, I can see it.
I look over to see if his mother is on the couch and she is. “Do you want me to speak to your mom?”
He looks unsure. “I don't want her to be mean to you, Bell.”
Anger hits me hard. I bite it down and mask how I’m really feeling. “Don’t worry about me, honey. I’ll be right back. I was telling Maverick about your books—maybe you can tell him about them?”
Ronny gets excited and starts spouting off random facts about the books. Maverick leans closer, giving him his full attention.
Why is that so attractive?
I calm my nerves so I don’t say something I regret to her. I walk over and sit next to her.
She gives me a side glare. “Ronny is a great little boy. You must feel so blessed to have him.” I smile at her, hoping to break the ice.
“That little shit is why I am here.”
I flinch when she calls him that. Breathe deep, Bell. She sits forward. I can feel the anger rolling off of her. “The fucking social workers got called. They were going to cut off my check if they took him from me. So here I fucking am.”
One…two…three…four… I start counting, I want to tell her so many things and I want to be angry. I want to tear into her and let her know how shitty of a human being she is.
“I really hope that you are hurting right now and that you don’t mean that about him,” I whisper to her softly.
She laughs loudly. “Of course I mean it. I never wanted to be a mother. I just kept him because I got shit for him from the government.”
That is enough. I have never been so disgusted by someone ever in my life.
Maverick
I can see why Bell has fallen head over heels for this little boy. I would be fucking lying if I didn’t feel the exact same way.
“Are you dating Bell?” he asks all seriously, way beyond his years.
“I just met her, buddy, but I like her a lot,” I tell him honestly.
He studies me for a minute with his big blue eyes. “Bell is special, she is nice to me and buys me books. Please don't be mean to her,” he pleads with me.
My fucking whole heart shatters that he fucking thinks in this way, that that’s even a possibility.
I bend down closer to his level, looking him in the eye. “I would rather die than hurt her in any way. A real man takes care of his lady. You care about her and you’re trying to take care of her. I respect that, buddy.”
He beams at my praise. “Just doing my job,” he says, so nonchalantly I try not to laugh.
“You’re doing great at it. I appreciate you looking out for my lady.” I wink and he laughs.
I look over at Bell, who looks pissed the fuck off. I almost fall right out of my seat, not expecting that shit from her.