I wasn’t hiding anything from Maverick, but telling her about Bria felt like a relief. Bria was the only thing or person I hadn’t talked about with Maverick, and now that it was out there, I felt like we were one step closer to making things official. At least that was the thought in my mind.
“I can understand. Thank you for sharing that. I’ve been wanting to ask but didn’t know how. You never mentioned her,so I figured there was something behind that. I didn’t want to trigger you or anything, but I did wonder.”
I took my eyes off the road for a second to look at her. “This thing between us is progressing, and I don’t want any secrets between us. For the record, I would have answered had you asked. But I also appreciate you allowing me to tell you when I was ready.”
“I’m sure it has been hard, but I commend you for being a good daddy. I could tell you are, just from the little bit of time I spent with her.”
We arrived at my father’s house, so I parked in the driveway and shut my truck off.
“Thank you. I try my best. Are you ready?” I glanced at the front of the house and spotted my stepmom peeking out the window. I tilted her chin up with my finger, then leaned over and pecked her lips. “You have no choice but to be because my stepmom already spotted us.” I smiled, then kissed her again.
“Oh, boy.” She giggled. “I’m ready.”
I got out and went around to help her out. Before we even reached the first step, the front door swung up.
“It’s about time,” Sharon said as she stood in the doorway with a smile.
“Sharon, let them get in the house first,” my dad said as he came up behind her.
Maverick and I made it up the steps, so they stepped back to let us in.
“You are so gorgeous,” Sharon gushed. “I’m Sharon.”
“Hi, Ms. Sharon. I’m Maverick.”
Sharon pulled Maverick into a tight hug.
“Sharon, are you going to let the girl go so she could take her jacket off?”
“Daddy!” Turquoise came running from upstairs.
I bent down to greet her, while Maverick took her coat off. Sharon grabbed it from her, then put it in the hall closet.
“Hey, Maverick. I’m Jasper. This knucklehead’s father. We’ve heard a lot about you.”
Maverick glanced at me. “I hope all good things.”
“Dr. Foster, what are you doing here?” Turquoise asked when I put her on her feet.
I told her we would have company, but I never told her who it was.
“Of course. Come in here so we can sit down,” my father said as he stepped back.
Sharon grabbed Maverick’s hand and led her into the living room. My dad looked at me with a big smile and gave me a thumbs up.
“You did good,” he whispered.
Turquoise sat next to Maverick and asked her question again.
“I’m here because your daddy invited me,” Maverick told her.
“But why?”
Maverick looked at me for assistance, so I responded. “Because Miss Maverick and I are friends, and I wanted her to meet Grandpa and Mee-Maw.”
Maverick and I hadn’t put a label on our relationship, so I didn’t want to tell her she was my girlfriend. I felt like that would come soon.
I guess my answer was good enough for my inquisitive child, because she ran off to get something. More than likely, she was going to show Maverick some of her toys.
