Gavin
Chapter Eighteen
Atlas
I walk the path I expect her to run, clearing any broken glass or fallen logs.
I stash my newly purchased items in a place that would allow me to easily retrieve them when I need them later.
Maizyn had a rough day yesterday and I think this is what she needs for a good mental reset.
It’s always done the trick for her in the past. Once everything is set up for later today, I make my way out of the woods.
I climb into the Supra, preparing to head back home to Maizyn when my phone chimes with a text notification.
Gavin: I wanted to let you know that Maizyn talked to me after you left. She was asking about the past. I told her what I knew. Her mood seems to be a bit off after the conversation but overall she seems okay. She might have more questions for you, so I wanted to give you a heads up.
My first instinct is to worry about her reaction.
Is she really okay or only acting like she is?
It hurts a bit that she didn’t feel like she could come to me about it.
My gratitude for Gavin being a safe place for her outweighs it, though.
It only further proves that they are good for each other.
Gavin will always be in my life; he naturally fits in hers as well.
I don’t know what I will be walking into when I get home, so I make an additional stop for reinforcements.
No one is in the kitchen when I get back to the house. I look for Gavin first. I walk past his room but his door is shut and he doesn’t answer when I call his name. If it wasn’t for his car in the driveway, I would assume he wasn’t home. Maybe he is finally getting some rest.
I walk the few steps to my room next easing the door open quietly. Maizyn is curled up in her favorite spot in the entire house. I lean against the doorway for a few moments just watching her before finally announcing my presence.
“Enjoying your book?” A deep laugh rumbles in my chest as Maizyn jumps in surprise.
“You scared me. I didn't even hear you come in!” Her words come out an octave higher than normal. She almost drops her book as she jumps up from her orange beanbag, tripping over her own feet. I brace her with the hand that isn’t currently holding a box behind my back, stopping her from falling.
“I see that. Ha. Ha. I've been watching you read for the last ten minutes.”
She averts her eyes, “Sorry.”
Letting go of her arm, I lift her chin until her gaze is on mine again. “Hey, there is nothing to be sorry about. I'm glad you're enjoying your book. What's it about?”
Her cheeks pinken into a deep blush. Her eyes begin to sparkle with excitement. “It’s actually a dark mafia romance. It’s a little different because the main female character is the mafia boss.”
“It sounds interesting. How far into the book are you?”
“Um, about halfway i think.”
A smile stretches across my face.
Her eyebrows scrunch in confusion. “What’s funny?”
Nothing. I just love how happy you look when you talk about books.”
She turns away from me bashfully. “Oh.”
“I got you something by the way.”
“Really? What is it?” Her voices an octave higher than normal.
She is bouncing with excitement when I pull the box of assorted pastries from behind my back. “I stopped by the bakery we used to always go to and ordered one of everything.”
She lets out a scoff, “You're lying.”
I shake my head as I flip the lid open to show it to her. She stares in disbelief. “Oh my god, you're amazing.” She rises to her toes, planting a swift kiss to my cheek. “Thank you.”
“Of course, I figured these would cheer you up. I know how much you love them.”
“They are perfect.” She opens her mouth again like she is going to say something but shakes her head, dismissing whatever was on her mind. I don’t want to give her the time to lock herself away inside of her own head.
“How about you eat a few while you get dressed? We can stay home if you would prefer that but I have a few things planned I would love to do with you.”
She pauses mid-bite, thinking it over. “Sounds fun, let's do it.” Her words sound funny and jumbled around the food but she is adorable. She quickly finishes two desserts before scrambling to the closet to get ready.
“You don’t have to move so quickly, Chaos. We aren't in any rush.”
“I’m just excited!”
Ten minutes later, she emerges from the closet, out of breath, in a completely different outfit.
She is wearing a red-and-black skater skirt with a red tank top.
Either she can read my mind or she just so happened to pick the perfect outfit for what I have planned for tonight. Either way, I'm not complaining.
“Ready?”
“Yep. Are you gonna tell me where we are going?”
“Nope. It’s a surprise. You will have to wait to see. Now, let’s go.”
With a suck of her teeth and an eye roll, she stomps down the hall towards the door. I snake her butt playfully. “Will you ever learn you lesson about rolling your eyes?”
She looks at me over her shoulder with a wicked smile. “ Not when i usually enjoy the punishment.”
I can’t help but laugh at her antics. Patience has never been something she was good at; surprises fall into that category.
We have three hours to kill and I have a few ideas up my sleeve.
Instead of asking her what car she wants to take today, I grab both keys and wait to see which car she walks to first. I trail behind her, not at all surprised that she heads toward the Supra.
Unlocking it, I open the passenger door for her to help her inside.
The first stop on my plans is only a five-minute drive away.
I want to start the day with getting real food in her; she is going to need it.
“A taco truck!” She squeals the words as I put the car into park. She flings the door, scrambling out of her seat before I even have time to turn the car off. Delicious food has always been her weakness; she won't get hungry if it's not something that piques her interest.
A smile breaks out across my face as I get out and walk to where she is enthusiastically rambling her order to the lady in the truck, her hands animatedly moving with her words.
I love seeing her so carefree. She is a sight to behold; her energy is contagious; it makes me so damn happy just being around her.
I add my food to the order, then pay for everything.
The food comes out quickly. Maizyn has three to-go boxes compared to my one, but I wouldn’t expect anything less.
We talk about everything and nothing while we eat.
Every so often, she pauses, furrows her brows, then continues like it didn’t happen.
Every time she gets lost in thought, I expect her to ask me whatever is on her mind.
It’s killing me not to know what is running through her head.
I wish she would just ask me something, hell, anything really.
There is so much going unsaid between us.
It’s not a conversation I want to force her to have, at least not yet.
The same process repeats itself. Before I know it, an hour has passed, and all the food we ordered is finally finished.
I collect all of our trash, throwing it into the dumpster before helping her from the bench and grabbing her hand. “Come on, let’s get out of here. I have another place I want to take you to.”
“Are we on some date you didn’t tell me about?”
“Does it have to be a date for me to spend the day doing fun things with you?”
“Well, no. I guess not.”
“Relax, Chaos. Don’t overthink it. I just wanted to have a fun day with you.”
“I’m just not used to dates.” He voice comes out tight, like the idea of a date makes her nervous.
“I know. Hopefully I can change that. With everything going on, I didn’t know if you were up for it.”
“It’s nice. Thank you.” The words come out almost as a stutter a mix of excitement and nervousness. Her nerves don’t last long though. Her next sentence full of her sass that i love so much. “So where are we going next? Let me guess, it's a surprise.”
“You would guess right.” I chuckle.
She rolls her eyes before sticking her tongue out at me as she climbs back into the car. Always a brat, any chance she can get but I will remember her antics for later. The next place I take her is only twenty minutes away from the taco truck.
She is pestering me the entire drive to the lake.
Poking at my ribs or booping me on the nose, trying to get answers from me about where we are going.
I am glad she is distracted from whatever has been bothering her lately, even though a part of me wishes she would finally open up to me.
Her poking and prodding stops the moment I pull over next to the lake.
“I didn’t bring swim clothes?”
“No one said anything about swimming.”
“Then why are we at a lake?”
I laugh at her antics. “Come on and you will see.”
She huffs out a sigh but climbs out of the car with me.
I take her hand in mine, leading her to a hidden path to the left.
Her facial expression when we round the corner to the daisy garden is everything I hoped it would be.
The excitement takes over her entire body.
It starts with a sparkle in her eyes, travels to the ear-to-ear grin, all the way down to the tips of her toes, and she bounces up and down.
My chest feels lighter seeing her like this.
She releases my hand, skipping towards the opening to the garden.
The best part is that this is home to a ton of butterflies, which she happens to be obsessed with.
I can’t help but be in awe of her. I could spend the rest of my life trying to make her this happy.
Time flies quickly as I sit and watch her run through the garden chasing butterflies and picking flowers.
I glance at the time on my phone. It’s already 6:37 pm.
If I want to make it to the woods on time, we need to head that way now. “Ready to head to the last spot?”
“Do we have to go?” She whines.