harley
MAV: She’s fine.
MAV: She likes power tools—not sure if that’s going to be a problem.
MAV: See the attached picture to know the condition of your daughter.
MAV: I hear you’re going to be a “cute cat” for Halloween—she’s got plans for that costume.
MAV: Honestly, she’s a cool kid.
MAV: Does she ever stop talking? Is there an off button?
MAV: Please see the attached picture for the final fixed door of your barn, courtesy of one spooky queen.
Maverick kept me updated all afternoon. The simple action was reassuring. The only person I’d ever left Aria with was Holly. This whole thing was foreign and a little terrifying. She had such a big personality, and I knew that some people weren’t as okay with that. While I knew Maverick would never hurt Aria, I still didn’t quite trust that he wouldn’t tire of her intensity.
However, with every text update, my worries melted away. He sent a bunch of pictures, and in every one, her smile was huge. She was having a blast being his little assistant—though, handing her a drill and the hammer wouldn’t have been my first choice.Which was probably why it was better that Maverick was out there with her.
And a part of me got caught up on the video update he sent me of her using the drill all by herself, of her excited shriek when she used it right, and his deep laughter in the background. I watched it more than once.
Aria held the drill like it was the most important job in the world, her tongue poking out in concentration, while Maverick talked her through it off camera. When the screw finally sank into the wood, she jumped up and down like she’d done a magictrick, throwing her arms in the air and accidentally tossing the drill in the process.
Maverick’s laughter rumbled behind the phone, warm and genuine in a way that made something in my chest loosen.
“Good job, kid,” he told her, the pride in his voice unmistakable.
It was such a small moment, but I felt it deep inside me. Because he wasn’t tolerating her energy the way some people did—not just charmed by her cuteness. He wasn’t overwhelmed by it or even tapering it. If anything, he seemed to meet it head-on, matching her excitement with an easy patience that made her shine even brighter.
And that look on her face in the next picture?The way she grinned up at him as if he’d just become the most interesting person in the world? That did something dangerously soft to my resolve about how close I’d let myself get to Maverick. I couldn’t deny the warmth spreading through my chest.
And for the first time since she was born, the idea of bringing someone else into our messy equation didn’t feel so frightening—only a little bit because it was him.
“Daddy!” Around dinnertime, the back door opened, and Aria came running into the house. Dirt smeared her rosy cheeks and dusted her dress, and her shoes were muddy.
“Daddy—”
“Whoa!” Maverick exclaimed as he caught her around the waist. He hauled her right back to the door and dropped her on the mat. “Shoes off, spooky queen. Rule number one of repair work: leave the dirt outside.”
“Daddy! Daddy!” she continued to shout with her excitement as she stumbled through getting out of her sneakers. More than once, Maverick’s hands lashed out to make sure she didn’t fall over. He did it so naturally that it made me smile. “I got to use the drill! Did you see? I got to use the drill!”
“I did!” I said, matching her enthusiasm but not her volume. “Did you have fun?”
“I did!” she squealed. “And! And! And! And! Mav said he’d get me my own tool belt!”
“Did he now?” My gaze drifted to Maverick, and he just shrugged.
“Yeah!” Aria skipped into the kitchen, and she danced around as she talked, her whole body unable to sit still. Leaning against the counter, I crossed my arms as I listened to her prattle on happily. “And! He said I could help him next time he comes out!”
“That’s nice of him. Did you say thank you to him for letting you help today?” I asked.
“Yes! Wait! No!” She bounced her way back over to Maverick and threw her arms around his waist, thanking him on repeat. He tousled her curls and gave her a small squeeze right back. The exchange was short and sweet, but it wrapped around my heart. I smiled—I couldn’t help it. There was just something incredible about watching him with her.
“Will you go upstairs and get cleaned up for dinner, please?” I asked Aria when she pulled away from him.
“Okay!” She waved at Maverick. “Bye!”
“Later, spooky queen.” He returned the gesture, but I wasn’t sure she saw him as she disappeared upstairs. Maverick didn’t move from his spot by the door, his hands slipping into his pockets while he stood there a little awkwardly.
