Maverick

just read.
“Want to eat lunch with me again, Bell?” he asks.
“Of course, you’re my favorite person. I can’t miss lunch with my favorite little man.”
He stands up out of his seat like he’s going to leave, and I start to worry that I said something wrong, but he does the unthinkable.
He hugs me.
He wraps his arms around my neck and hugs me so tight it hurts, but I wouldn’t dare complain.
I hug him back, rubbing his back. He just hugs me and I let him for however long he wants.
He finally sits back down but pulls his seat a little closer. I think that I’ve finally gotten his trust.
He babbles on about his day, how he’s playing with his friends later and that he’s excited for the evening meal.
It comes too quick when I have to leave. Chase’s mother is having a dinner tonight to celebrate Jessica being pregnant.
“I have to go, Ronny, but I’ll be back tomorrow like usual. But I have a surprise for you.”
I reach inside of my bag and pull out the next book. He looks at it in shock and then runs to me, burying his face in my stomach.
“Thank you so much, Bell.” He sniffs and steps back, little tears in his eyes. I reach down and wipe them away. “You’re so welcome, honey. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He hugs both of the books and walks back to his chair.
I watch him for a few minutes before I leave. It’s getting harder and harder to do so. If only his mother knew what an amazing child she has.

3 Bell
We pull up outside of Katherine’s gorgeous house and walk around back to where the party is.
Katherine’s romantic relationship is one that took me a minute to wrap my head around—she’s married to two guys.
I’m surrounded by amazingly beautiful relationships. It gives me such joy to see everyone so happy and to be surrounded by that.
The party is in full swing. I spot Katherine at the food table moving things around. I take off in her direction.
“Hi Katherine, need some help?” I ask her once I reach the table.
She smiles at me and lets out a deep breath. “Yes, I can always use the help.” I get to work helping her prepare the buffet.
“I am so excited for another grandbaby. Now we have three.” She gets a dreamy look on her face. “Life just couldn’t be better.”
I smile back. “You’re exactly right.” The last couple of months have been the best of my life, I just can’t imagine how life could be better.
“What is on your finger?” River asks someone, and I turn around at the same time as Katherine. “WHAT!” we yell at the same time.
I hurry over to Jessica, looking at her hand to confirm.
I am so happy for her, I can’t help but scream a little in excitement and Katherine does the same. I try not to laugh because we’re so similar.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Katherine asks.
“Me being pregnant kind of took over mine and Chase’s brains. We were going to announce it today,” Jessica explains
Chase walks over and takes my daughter’s hand, kissing the back of it. I sigh and look at Katherine, thankful she raised such an amazing son for my daughter.
I take Hunter back from Jessica, smooching him on his chubby cheeks, and he giggles sweetly. Katherine gets that doe-eyed look when she sees him.
Katherine can’t resist another second and takes him from me. I look around to see if I need to do anything when I notice a man staring at me, leaning against the wall.
I turn away immediately, feeling way too hot all of a sudden. First, he is extremely attractive and he looks around my age. He has dark brown hair, beautiful brown eyes that I can still feel on me, and don't forget the beautiful, colorful tattoos.
“Time to eat!” Katherine yells to everyone and hands me Hunter, then I hand him off to Jessica so she can place him in his high chair.
I wait until everyone gets their food before I get mine, sitting next to Jessica in case she needs me with Hunter, but then he sits down next to me.
I’m over-aware of every single movement of his and mine. He takes a long drink of his beer and gently sets it back onto the table, my eyes getting their fill of his tattoos on his arms and hands.
“Maverick,” he says in a deep voice that just glides over me like butter. Goosebumps break out across my skin at the mere sound of him.
I gather my nerve and look at him fully. “Isabella, Bell for short.”
Before I can even say anything else, Lani gasps dramatically behind us and I turn around to check on her, she’s holding her stomach. “I just had a contraction.”
That sets everyone in motion, they take off running towards their vehicles. We offer to clean up and lock up the house for them as the guys put up the tables and chairs.
River and Jessica stand next to me, looking at each other. “Mom, Maverick is nice.”
I blush at them, acknowledging that I was nervous around Maverick. “He is nice.”
“Would you ever consider going out on a date with someone?” River asks.
“I think I would. I’m just not sure how you do all of that,” I answer honestly. I’ve never been on a date in my life. I was just married—my only everything was with my ex-husband.
I don’t want to think of him, but that’s all I have to compare. Honestly, I don't think I’ve been properly kissed in my life. All I know is his lips smashing against mine as he did horrific things to me.
I know it’s not meant to be like that, relationships, but that’s all I know and that’s sad to me.
I walk outside and spot Chase talking with Maverick. Jessica puts her hand on my back, like she’s trying to give me strength.
When we reach the guys, Jessica gasps dramatically. “Oh no, Mom, how will