Chapter 23
Maverick
I don’t know how we did it, but we got the entire house packed up and moved into mine. We’re not unpacking tonight, but at least everything is here.
Tomorrow, I want to take Sydney back to her house to check one last time and make sure we got everything. I’d hate for her to have left something important to her behind because we were rushing.
I know we still have a lot of work ahead of us with unpacking and finding places for everything, but I'm so happy to have them here.
While I'm waiting for the delivery person to drop off our pizza, I head out to the hot tub and drop the temperature from one hundred four, down to ninety degrees. I know kids can't be in that hot of a temperature for more than a few minutes and I want to make sure they can enjoy the hot tub too.
“Mav, your house is awesome. Thank you for taking care of Sydney and the kids,” Peck rubs the back of his neck, clearly uncomfortable with having this conversation.
“I love her, Peck. I want to marry her.” I don’t bother beating around the bush. I’d love to get his approval before he moves away. I know how much Pecker means to Sydney and I want to make sure he’s ok with this.
“Not that you need it, but you have my approval. She’s happier than I’ve ever seen her before. I know it has everything to do with you. Plus, you’re amazing with the kids. They love you more than they ever loved Rob.”
“Yeah, that guy was a piece of work. I don’t understand how he ever got Sydney’s attention.”
“He showered her with compliments in high school,” Peck says softly.
“I remember her being so excited that the popular football player was showing her attention. A few months after they started dating, he got her pregnant. She was so scared. His parents pushed them to get married and she went along with it. She was never happy with him.”
“Why did she stay with him then?”
“She thought it was better for the kids if they stayed together. It wasn’t.
I think they knew she wasn’t happy and Rob treated them like an obligation he didn’t want to participate in.
They’re all happier without him in the picture.
Honestly, they’re infinitely happier with you in the picture.
You’ve made a huge difference in their lives, Maverick.
I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate you.”
“I'm just treating them the way they deserve to be treated.”
“Which none of them have ever experienced before. I didn’t know how I was going to move to Philadelphia and leave the three of them behind.
I didn’t want to make their lives harder again, but I don’t think it will impact them as much anymore.
I think you’ve filled the large gap they’ve had in their lives and they don’t need me anymore. ”
“They’ll always need you.”
“Yeah, they will… But not like they need you.”
Peck excuses himself when Sophia calls his name. I'm left on the deck staring out at the field behind my house.
I'm thrilled to have Sydney, Danny, and Bree here with me, but I can't stop thinking about how Rob treated them. I’ll make it my life’s mission to make them realize they deserve better.
I’ll make sure I'm present in every aspect of their lives. I’ll show up for everything, even if they don’t expect me there. I’ll put my all into them.
“Hey,” Sydney’s soft voice floats on the breeze as she wraps her arms around my waist from behind. “What are you doing out here?”
“I was lowering the temperature of the hot tub so the kids can enjoy it for longer than a few minutes.”
“You’ve been out here for a while. Is everything ok?” I don’t miss the worry in her voice.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she thinks I regret asking her to move in.
Or if this is too overwhelming for me. I know everything I do is compared to how Rob would respond and it’s frustrating.
I need to give her time to adjust and keep reminding myself she’s not used to this.
She’s used to being an annoyance and a bother to her husband.
I need to show her she’s the center of my life and I want her around.
She isn't an obligation. She’s a gift I won't take for granted.
I grab one of her hands and tug her around until she’s standing in front of me. She blinks up at me with her big green eyes and I wrap my arms around her.
“Everything is perfect, sweetheart. This might be the happiest day of my life.”
“You know, if you ever don’t want this, all you have to do-”
“I'm not him, Sydney,” I cut her off. I'm tired of her giving me outs when I don’t want them. “I'm doing this because I want you here. You’re not a responsibility I don’t want. You need to stop comparing me to him, baby. I’ll never be Rob.”
“I'm sorry,” she whispers. “I keep doing it and I don’t know how to stop. I'm not trying to compare you, it’s just… I’ve never had someone care so much about me. It’s hard to accept.”
“I told you; I won't stop until you understand how much I love you and how much I want you. You’re living in our home. This isn't temporary. You’re not staying here until you find another place to live, you’re here for good. What else do I have to do?”
“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “You’ve done more than enough. You don’t have to do anything else.”
“Then accept that this is permanent. I don’t plan on leaving your side until the day I die.”
Her eyes fill with tears and she nods her head. I hate how she hasn’t experienced true love. How she’s never felt like enough and always feels like people are going to walk out on her.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
I hug her tightly against me as I squeeze my eyes shut. This is the first time she’s said those three little words and I'm so happy to hear them. To know we’re on the same page.
I give us a moment together before I pull back and meet her gaze. She seems like a weight has been lifted from her shoulders and I'm thrilled.
“Let’s go get some dinner, then we can relax the rest of the night.”
I press a soft kiss to her lips, lingering for a few moments. When I pull back, I slip my hand into hers and lead her back into the house. I know one day she’ll understand how much I love her. I just can't wait to get to that point.