Chapter 12
Meeting Maverick’s friends went the way I expected it to go.
I was an honest guy and didn’t like to bullshit people.
Plus, I could already tell they liked me when I met them in the hospital.
They didn’t look at me sexually; it was more so in admiration for saving their friend.
I wasn’t surprised I was asked about Turquoise’s mom.
I was surprised that Maverick hadn’t asked.
“I’m kinda nervous,” Maverick said from the passenger seat of my truck.
Maverick told me she would drive to my dad’s, but I insisted on picking her up. I wanted to have a private conversation with her before we went over there because if I knew my dad or stepmom, one of them would say something about it.
“You don’t have to be nervous. They know all about you, and you know the little lady likes you. My stepmom is the most excited, though. Before we go, though, I wanted to talk to you about something.”
She twisted in the seat to face me. I put my free hand on her leg while the other gripped the wheel.
“I’m sure you noticed the quick uncomfortableness I got the night your friend asked about Turquoise’s mom.” Maverick was observant, and since we were constantly touching each other, I was sure she felt me tense up when the question was asked. “Anyway. Bria, Turquoise’s mom, died during childbirth.”
Maverick’s breath hitched, and she reached over the console and rubbed my arm.
“Aw, Onyx. I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about it.” She continued to rub my arm.
“It’s okay. It’s something we would have to talk about at some point.
Bria and I were together for five years, before she got pregnant.
She was good for the first few hours, then later that night, she suffered a stroke and died.
Before she died, she got to see Turquoise, and she was the one that named her.
Since then, it’s just been me and my baby.
My father and stepmom help a lot, but that’s it.
You already saw how her maternal grandmother flaked on me, and that wasn’t the first time.
I haven’t really dated, because I wasn’t trying to bring a random woman around my daughter, and that’s how I ended up with the married chick. ”
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.
“Let’s move into the dining room so we can eat and talk,” Sharon said as she got up from the couch.
I helped Maverick up from the couch, then showed her to the dining room. Seconds later, Turquoise came in carrying a couple of her doll babies.
“Do you need any help with anything?” Maverick asked Sharon as she placed a basket of rolls on the table.
“No, ma’am. Plus, the little lady wants to show you her dolls.” Sharon smiled at Turquoise, then left the dining room.
While my baby had Maverick’s attention, my dad and I talked.
“She seems to like her,” my father said as we watched them play.
“She does. I think she just likes having another girl around. We know she loves Sharon, but Maverick is younger. I do know she misses not having a mother sometimes. I wouldn’t want anyone to try and take Bria’s place, but I would love for my baby to have another mother figure.”
We continued to watch Maverick and Turquoise play, until Sharon told us to wash our hands.
Once we were finished, we all gathered around the table. Turquoise wanted to sit next to Maverick, so we put her in the middle of us, while my dad sat at the head of the table, and Sharon sat next to him.
“Maverick, Onyx tells us you are a doctor. What made you choose gastroenterology?” Sharon asked as she picked up a roll from the basket.
“I didn’t see many black gastroenterologists, especially not women, and I wanted to change that. I work with two other black gastro doctors, but one of them is a man.”
“That’s good, and you are right about that. I’m glad you were able to figure out what was wrong with the little one, because the poor baby had been struggling.”
Sharon and Maverick continued to talk about medical stuff, including where Maverick went to school and did her internship.
At some point, the conversation shifted to fashion and some show they both watched on television. Sharon hung on to every word that came out of Maverick’s mouth. The more she talked, the more enamored with her I became.
My father and I just sat back and listened. I could tell he had the same thought as I did about the two of them. Sharon just wanted another woman around, and if I had it my way, Maverick would be around forever, for her and Turquoise and especially for me.
Once dinner was over, I got Turquoise bathed and ready for bed since she was staying the night at my dad’s house. I had to work the next morning, and since she was already there, it was no sense in taking her home.
After she was tucked in, Maverick and I sat in the den of my father’s house while he and Sharon sat in the living room watching television.
“I told you tonight would go well,” I said as I rubbed my nose over Maverick’s neck. She smelt so good, and I couldn’t get enough of whatever she wore.
Maverick fit in with my family like she’d been around for a long time.
“That you did, and you were right.” She giggled and moved her neck away from me.
I grabbed the back of her head and pulled her close. “Where are you going?” I asked as I snuggled against her neck again.
“You trying to start something, and this isn’t the time or the place,” she said as she giggled again.
Sharon and my pops weren’t thinking about us, but I wasn’t trying to do anything crazy anyway. I just wanted to be as close to her as possible.
“We good, baby. You know I wouldn’t do anything to disrespect you or my peoples. We can leave, though, and go back to my place or yours.” I pulled away from her and wiggled my eyebrows.
“Don’t you have to work tomorrow?”
“I do, but what better way to fall asleep than me in between them thighs.” I put my hand in between her legs and gripped her thigh.
“I like the way you think.”
I stood, then helped her up.
“We are going to get out of here,” I told my dad and Sharon as Maverick and I entered the living room.
They both stood from their seats. Sharon addressed Maverick first. “It was so good meeting you. Please don’t be a stranger.
It was nice talking to an adult.” Sharon laughed.
“I love that little girl upstairs, but sometimes I need to talk to another woman. You know what I mean?” She and Maverick cackled.
“I know what you mean, Ms. Sharon. I’m sure I’ll see you again.”
The two of them hugged while my dad and I stood to the side.
“Maverick, it was nice to meet you. I probably should say welcome to the family.” My dad chuckled. “I like you, and if Sharon and the little princess like you, then you ain’t going anywhere.” My dad hugged her and whispered something in her ear that made her smile.
We finished our goodbyes, then headed to her house. I always kept a bag with a change of clothes in my trunk, so I didn’t have to worry about going home in the morning.
“What did my dad say to you when he whispered in your ear?” I asked as soon as we got in my truck.
“Wouldn’t you like to know,” Maverick teased with a pretty ass smile on her face.
“So you not going to tell me?”
I backed out of the driveway and drove down the street.
“Nope. It’s between me and him.”
“Okay. Keep your secrets then.” I fake pouted.
Maverick reached over and pinched my cheek.
“Not you pouting.” She giggled. “He said that he’s happy that we found each other.”
Reaching over the console, I grabbed Maverick’s hand and kissed the back of it. The light from the streetlights illuminated her face when she smiled.
“I’m happy we did too.” I kissed her hand again, then focused on the road.
When we got to Maverick’s house, we showered, then made love, and I fell asleep between her thighs like I said I would.