We stand there, eyes locked in with each other, and I turn my mouth into a grin at the sight of him. Maverick looks like he never left, black buttoned up shirt, dark blue Levi jeans over a black pair of Cowboy boots; he looks likehome.
I watch his shoulders move up and down, taking in a long steady breath. I walk towards him; eyes still locked with his.
“Mama, look, Mr Maverick brought us flowers,” Ellie starts, pulling my attention away from Maverick. “No one’s ever brought me flowers before,” she finishes, and I smile down at her.
“That’s a lie, Ellie-belly, I get them all the time,” I scoff with a laugh at my very own open-willed child.
“Yeah, but it’s not like the film’s you watch, Mama.” She eye rolls towards me, making me blush as she does.
Maverick steps towards me, taking my hand in his as he hands over the bouquet. “Thank you, they’re beautiful,” I say taking them from him.
“Not as beautiful as you,” he replies, leaning down and placing a kiss on my cheek, causing the heat to return into my cheeks.
“Right, little lady,” Maverick starts before turning away from me and looking down at my daughter, before leaning down to her eye level on one knee. “Are we ready to rock this fair?” He asks.
“Hell yes!” Ellie squeals in delight and I throw my head back in laughter.
God help whatever man asks her out on a real date someday.
****
Nursing a whiskey, I look towards my daughter, who needs no encouragement when it comes to Maverick winning her any stuffed animals, he sees from the fair games. Ellie using words of hope as Maverick tries once again to win her the biggest one the stool has to offer.
One thing I’m learning about Maverick today is that if the game included a gun, or an aimed throw, he’s winning.Not just a small win either, he’s winning big.
Looking down from my plastic glass of whiskey down to the four enormous teddy bears he’s won so far, I shake my head at the toys.
After the second one I begged him to stop, mainly because I still have no idea where I’m planning on putting the creatures.
“Yes!” I hear from Maverick, and I throw my head back and laugh.
“Mama, look, another one!” Ellie squeals as she jumps up and down in excitement and I shake my head once again at the pair; make that five ridiculously large stuffed animals I’m going to need to find a home for.
“Okay, okay, I think that’s enough offensively large stuffed toys for now,” I say, calling it quits on Mavericks winning streak. “Anyone hungry?” I ask, knowing that the group is waiting for us over at the food marquee.
“Race ya!” Maverick shouts over to Ellie, before starting in a run, slow enough that she can easily overtake him and win.
I look back down at the five stuffed animals and sigh. “I’ll get them then,” shouting to them both before knocking back the remainder of my whiskey.
Opening my eyes, Maverick stands in front of me, throwing four of the animals on his back.
“Don’t worry, baby, I got them,” he winks back at me before breaking into a jog to chase after my daughter who I see is about fifteen feet in front of us.
I shake my head again, as I pick up the large pink teddy bear that’s sporting a ‘I love you’ heart and start to walk in their direction.
Watching Maverick and Ellie today warmed something even further in me, my frozen soul finally coming back to life after all these years. He treats her like she’s his own, I always knew he was made to be a father. Watching him try to be one to my girl makes me fall even harder in-love with him. The way he lights up around her and looks at her.
Watching Ellie fall in step with him so naturally makes my womb ache for more.
More children, more life, more everything with him.
Walking into the tent, I see Maverick and Ellie sitting over to the left on benches with my brother and our friends, who are already deep into a feast that could have fed the hundred or so people in here.
Still holding onto the large stuffed bear, I watch Maverick eye me from the side, smile at me andthen make his way in a light jog towards me.
“I got you.” He smiles down at me, taking hold of the bear, before giving me a small peck on my cheekand I once again melt inside at his touch.
Thirty-four
