Turquoise and I got comfortable on the couch, once she was cleaned and the kitchen was back in its original state. I didn’t worry about Spencer because I texted Kayla to go by and check on him on her way home from work.
The day didn’t turn out as bad as I thought it would.
It wasdark and later than I planned by the time I pulled into my driveway. A slow smile spread across my face as I parked next to Maverick’s car. The last time I shared a home with anyone was Bria, so coming home to Maverick was a new experience for me. Granted, she didn’t live there, but she was the first woman I let have access to my house or spend time alone with my daughter.
I entered through the back door so I could discard my work boots and clothes. I could have taken a shower at the firehouse, but I was anxious to get home to my girls.My girls.It felt good saying that. Turquoise liked Maverick just as much as I did. Sometimes I felt like she liked her even more than me because of the things they did together. Maverick would spend hours playing with Turquoise while I worked or did things around thehouse. Maverick would even help her get ready for bed and read her bedtime stories when she could.
Once Turquoise went to bed, Maverick and I would spend time talking like we never talked before. Nothing was off limits whenever Maverick and I talked. I really enjoyed her company.
The faint smell of food made my stomach growl.
As I discarded my clothes, I noticed I didn’t hear their voices, but the television was on. After putting my clothes in the washing machine, I walked into the living room and found the two of them under the weighted blanket Turquoise liked to use sometimes. I didn’t want to wake either of them, but Turquoise needed to be in her own bed, and I wasn’t sure if Maverick had planned on staying the night. I hoped she did because after such a long day and seeing how she stepped in for my baby today, I needed to be inside of her.
I stared at her face for a minute with her mouth slightly open. Turquoise was on her chest with her thumb in her mouth. It wasn’t often that she sucked her thumb, but I prayed it didn’t last much longer. Since neither of them stirred, I took the opportunity to shower.
Quietly, I walked up the stairs and headed straight to the bathroom. I didn’t miss the fact that the clothes I threw on the floor were now in the hamper, and it looked like the countertop and mirror were cleaner than they were when I left that morning.
“This woman.” I shook my head at Maverick cleaning up for me when I didn’t ask her to. She truly was a godsend.
I turned the water on and tied my locs up while I waited for the water to warm up. Once the water was to my liking, I stepped inside the shower. I tried not to take too long because I didn’t want to take too much of Maverick’s time. While I washed, I tried to think of ways to show her how much I appreciated her.She didn’t have to do what she did for me, and she deserved to be rewarded.
Once I was finished in the shower, I stood in front of the sink, brushed my teeth, and rinsed my mouth with mouthwash. I made sure I put my clothes in the hamper because I didn’t want Maverick’s effort to go to waste. I wrapped the towel around my waist, then walked into my bedroom. I pulled out pajama pants and a shirt and put them on after I moisturized myself from head to toe. Some days I took three showers a day, and I wanted to make sure my body was always moisturized.
After returning the towel to the bathroom, I went to Turquoise’s room to pull her covers back so it would be easy to put her in bed. I also turned her nightlight on because she would fuss if I didn’t, and I wasn’t trying to fuss with a six-year-old. I shook my head and chuckled at how sassy my little girl had become. It wasn’t anything crazy, but I noticed how her personality had changed over the last couple of years.
They were still asleep when I made it downstairs, so I slowly walked over to the couch and gently pulled the blanket back. As soon as I removed Turquoise from Maverick’s chest, the latter woke up.
“Hey,” she whispered. She stretched her arms and sat up.
“Hey. You don’t have to get up,” I said as I adjusted Turquoise in my arms. I fixed the bonnet on my baby’s head and smiled. Sharon told me a while ago to always cover up her hair, but Maverick made sure she had different colors to match her pajamas. This one was pink, and it matched perfectly with her princess pants and shirt.
Maverick probably didn’t even realize how much of an impression she left on my baby, and me, for that matter.
“No, it’s okay.” Maverick stretched again.
My tongue ran over my bottom lip as I drank in her sleepy appearance.
“I left your plate in the microwave, so I’ll warm it up while you put her to bed.” She stood and tried to walk away, but I gently grabbed her wrist. Trying not to move too much, I pulled her to me and pecked her lips. She blushed and walked toward the kitchen as I went toward the stairs.
Turquoise barely moved when I put her in bed and kissed her forehead. Whatever they did since she got out of school must have tired her out. I made sure the light in the hallway was on because Turquoise liked for her door to be slightly ajar, but she didn’t like looking out the door into the darkness.
The microwave beeped just as I rounded the corner into the kitchen. Maverick beamed at me as she took it out of the microwave. I sat at the table and watched her as she grabbed a water from the fridge, then brought that and the plate over to me.
When she tried to walk away, I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my lap, causing Maverick to yelp. I inhaled her scent of cherries and oranges. I glanced at the counter and noticed the orange stash I kept for her had dwindled.
“Onyx, you need to eat.”
“I will.”
I held her gaze as I ran my finger over her cheek. “Thank you for today.” My hand traveled to her thigh and squeezed it.
“It was no problem, but you’re welcome.”
I slid my hand back up, then cuffed her neck. I brought her face to mine and hovered her lips.
“I’m falling hard as fuck for you, Miss Maverick.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
