Hail Mary (The Mavericks Series)

by Julianna Marley

  Tossing the ball up again Shay smirked. “You know, I came up here to get away from the heckling.” He caught the ball before staring back up at the glow in the dark stars on the ceiling. “Now you too.”

  Snickering, he didn’t need to look over at Nicky to know that the grin was identical to his own. He loved all his nieces and nephews and would do anything for any one of them at any given time, but Nicky. Nicky was different.

  “What? Does she like another dude?” Nicky asked, not taking his eyes off the screen. “Because you could totally take him down, Uncle Shay.”

  Chuckling, he tossed the ball up in the air again. She better not be with another dude. The thought had him gripping the ball harder. “Thanks buddy.”

  “Does she not like you anymore?” Nicky asked, inching closer to the television, not taking his eyes off the screen.

  “Something like that.” Flipping the ball up in the air he could hear his pops bitching again from downstairs. He thought for sure the pain meds would have knocked him out by now. The man was harder to put down than a damn stallion.

  “Listen,” Nicky sighed, tossing the controller down on the floor in front of him. “Did you kiss her?”

  Catching the ball between his hands he rolled his head slowly looking at Nicky. “What did you just say?” Although very well-versed on this topic, he wasn’t ready to have this talk with Nicky. Uncle Tommy had given him his first talk and he had been lucky enough to come out the other end of that train wreck of a discussion nearly scaring him half to death.

  “Did you kiss her?” he repeated, looking down at him waiting for the answer. “Because the rule is that if you kiss someone than you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do.”

  Shay bit back a smile. Damn he loved this kid. “Oh, yeah.” He sat up swinging his legs to sit next to Nicky. “That’s the rule?”

  Shrugging his bony shoulders Nicky looked up at him. “It’s the rule.”

  “That simple?”

  “Yup.” Nicky shook his head again. “That simple.”

  How was it that a second grader knew more about love than he did?

  “Do you like Whitney?” Shay asked.

  “I mean, I don’t need another aunt or anything, but she’s really cool.”

  Chuckling, he rested his elbows on his knees palming the ball. “Yeah she is.”

  “I like her more than Siobhan,” Nicky mumbled under his breath leaning into him.

  Laughing, they both shook their heads.

  “Do I have to call her Aunt yet?”

  “No,” Shay smirked rubbing Nicky’s head. “Not yet.”

  “But maybe,” Nicky muttered before stopping himself. Kicking the controller and video game box with his foot, he looked like he was wrestling with a thought in that advanced mind of his.

  “But maybe what?”

  Shrugging like it wasn’t a big deal, his face was giving him away. “Maybe if you and Whitney and Quinn live together than I could come visit you.”

  It felt like a punch to the gut.

  The truth was that no matter how close he and Nicky were, Shay hadn’t been home for a real long time. He hadn’t been around for Nicky, much less for his other nieces and nephews. And even though he made a vow to change that going forward, it still didn’t erase the past year. “You know you can do that now,” he nudged Nicky’s arm and he looked up at him.

  “I know. It’s just I’ve seen you most when you’ve been with them.”

  Slinging his arm around Nicky, he brought him into his side. He had a lot of making up to do to a lot of people. Whitney being on top of that list, but damn if he knew where to begin. Looking up at him, Nicky’s eyebrows rose again. “But you should marry her, Uncle Shay. It’s the rule”.

  “Yeah,” Shay chuckled bringing him into a headlock. “It’s the rule.”

  Inching towards the edge of the cliff looking out over the land he had grown up on most of his life, Shay picked up a large stick. Curiosity had gotten the best of him when he talked Whitney into planning his birthday party. He’d felt sorry for her when he invited her home for Thanksgiving and she had been a great distraction while seeing his family again. That was until she had become more. Much, much more. She and Quinn had crawled into his life and his heart. And he had allowed it to happen. In fact, he had welcomed it. In the course of a few short weeks those two girls had become a part of him. Held huge pieces of him and he couldn’t focus. He couldn’t think about anything else. For as relieved as he was knowing that he would be saying in Charleston, it didn’t resonate. Didn’t mean so much anymore. Not without Whitney. Not without Quinn. She had changed everything and something had shifted. And for the first time in a real long time, he didn’t want to hide. Didn’t want to tell himself that he didn’t deserve to be happy. He didn’t want to be the guy that made things better for everyone else only to walk around miserable. He would always repent for Rory and that was the consequence of what happened that night, but not at the risk of losing the one person who saw right through him. The person who stomped her foot down and convinced him that he wasn’t selfish. The one who made it her mission to force him to repair his relationship with his brother. One who begged him not to blame himself for his past. The one person that made the long days of practice better because he knew he would see her smile afterwards. Who made the long, nighttime flights home bearable because she would open her arms for him to escape in comfort. And the little girl who had changed his life that sweltering, hot summer day.

  Bouncing the stick in his hand a second, he launched it over the cliff. Why the hell was he still here? He needed to find her. Needed to make her understand all of this. Needed her to grasp what she meant to him. That he was ready to make those decisions about their future. A future together. He was the best man for them. And even if he wasn’t, well then he was going to work his ass off every single day until he became that man; even if he died trying. He wanted to hold Quinn. Fall to his knees promising that he would be there for her for every milestone from her first steps to graduation to giving her away at her wedding. To watch his little girl grow up. Because, yes, Quinn was his. Her mother was his too, he just needed to get back to them and prove that. Get back to his family.

  Hearing the snap of a twig behind him, he turned quickly eyeing the thick bushes. “Hello?” Seeing a bright dress move through the gaps of the leaves, his heart nearly jumped over the rocks. Blinking back, he stood there sure that he was really doing it. He was officially losing his damn mind. “Whitney?”

  “Your feet,” she breathed quickly before swallowing back for air. Staring back into her round eyes, her chest rose and fell. She looked surprised, but determined and a little lost. “Your feet will bring you where your heart is.”

  She was here. She was really here and looking like an angel. A sweet angel with big lips, wild hair and pearls. Shaking his head he couldn’t decipher the familiar words she was reciting.

  “Your tattoo,” she said, her Louisiana roots coming out every time she opened her mouth. Moving forward an inch, she hesitated and he closed his eyes.

  His tattoo.

  “You’re my heart Shay,” she sighed looking painfully vulnerable. “I am so sorry.” Her head moved frantically and she ran towards him. Pushing his foot off the rock he went for her, wrapping his arms around her she flung herself into him and he buried his face into her neck.

  She smelled like home.

  His home.

  “I love you, Shay,” she whispered against his cheek and he nearly fell apart. “I love you so much and I’ll go anywhere you go.”

  And there it was.

  Well that was good. Real good because he wasn’t going anywhere without her. Not to another state and certainly not another minute of his life.

  “Whit-”

  “-I didn’t mean it.” She pulled away looking up at him, her eyes filling with tears. “I didn’t mean what I said. I need you Shay. We need you. I need your arms around me because it’s the onl
y place I feel safe. I need you to scold me whenever I apologize for just being myself and doing what makes me happy. Quinn needs you in her life because that girl is just crazy about you. I can already see it, Shay.”

  Pushing his forehead against hers, a part of him wanted her to keep going, but he had already wasted enough time. Holding either side of her face, he looked into the same eyes that had reached out and grabbed him months ago in the basement of a football stadium. Eyes that looked past the game, beyond the facade and right through the self-inflicting punishment. Looking at her now he knew why he had lived the night of the accident. Why he had survived. “I love you, Sunshine,” he promised. His heart thumping against his chest, he swore she could hear it. “And I love Quinn,” his voice shook, but he didn’t care. “And I’m not going anywhere. And certainly not without my girls.”

  Pulling her closer against a large gust of wind, he ran his thumb across her lips before gently kissing the mouth that he had spent the last two weeks painfully praying for again. Raising onto her toes she matched his kiss as he made promises with his mouth. Promises to his girl. The one who had proven that country boots were way hotter than any pair of stilettos. Cutoffs trumped any tight dress and a strong southern twang drove him absolutely insane.

  “You brought me back to life, Shay,” she whispered between their lips, tears softly dripping between them.

  Holding his girl, the one who had come into his life kicking and screaming and the one who had changed it all. Who had changed him, he smiled. “And you gave me one.”

  Seven days later….

  Pulling the sliding door shut, Whitney wrapped her sweater tighter. The temperature was in the low sixties but with the breeze blowing off the ocean as strongly as it was, she was beginning to learn that it was chillier around the beach than inside the city. Pouring herself a glass of white wine, she grabbed the baby monitor off the kitchen counter, the Christmas tree illuminated and candles flickering around Shay’s living room. Curling up onto the couch, she draped a blanket over herself pushing play on the giant television as James Stewart and Donna Reed graced the screen. White wine and It’s A Wonderful Life were her two Christmas Eve traditions and she couldn’t wait until Quinn was old enough to watch it with her. That little lady had went down for the count two hours ago after a large bottle of milk and visiting Santa down in Old Village. Looking at the cookies they had left out, she smiled gently.

  She missed Shay. She wished he was here with her. She loved Christmas Eve, it was one of her favorite days of the entire year but the Mavericks were playing tomorrow. It really stunk not having him home and he’d insisted that her and Quinn did not to follow him to Detroit for the game. But sitting all alone inside his home where she and Quinn hadn’t left for a week now, she knew that next year she would not let him leave without them. Clothes and shoes had slowly began making their way over to his home and she noticed a new key on her key ring just yesterday. The past week had been amazing, but had flown by between helping Fiona with Patrick, pulling off two holiday parties with Ross, Shay at practice before leaving this afternoon, along with a bunch of last minute gift items for Liv and Chelsea’s kiddos. Cuddling into the couch she grinned. Somehow in the course of less than two months her entire life had changed and she was spending her days with her prince. Shay was simply incredible and watching him let Quinn fall asleep on his chest every night before putting her to bed, she couldn’t imagine anybody but him being the man in her daughter’s life. Or hers. Clicking on her Facebook during the commercial, a picture of Chelsea and Trevor with Liv and Jax all dressed up appeared, wishing everyone a happy holiday.

  What in the world?

  The sliding door opening behind her, Shay walked through the door. “Ho! Ho! Ho!”

  Untangling herself, she tripped over the blanket, hurrying over the back of the couch.

  He’s home.

  He’s here.

  Nearly sliding across the floor, she jumped into his arms without warning, squealing in excitement. Her legs wrapping around his waist, he caught her effortlessly. “What are you doing home?”

  Searching his face, that grin she couldn’t get enough of pulled at the corners of his mouth. Lifting a brow as if bracing to get smacked, his blue eyes were warm with humor. “We don’t really have a game tomorrow.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I’m sorry,” he apologized squeezing her bottom.

  “You don’t look very sorry,” she returned flatly, holding the side of his chilled face.

  He’s home for Christmas.

  “This week has been crazy, stupid busy and I needed some time to get you girls some gifts,” he nodded behind him. Looking past him, a pile of packages sat by the door and she pointed to a large object.

  “Is that a Power Wheel?”

  “Damn straight,” he countered seriously and resisted the urge to laugh. “Cadillac. Fully loaded.”

  Biting her lip at the intensity on his face, she shook her head. “A little much for a six-month old, Casanova. Don’t you think?”

  “Nope. Not for my girl,” he said and she didn’t think she would ever get tired of hearing him say that about Quinn.

  My girl.

  “Shay, we don’t care about any of that stuff,” she shook her head. “All we wanted for Christmas was you. Here. Home. With us.” Pressing her lips to his, she inhaled the smell that brought her so much comfort and so much joy. Made her feel safe and at home. His arms squeezing around her tighter, small moans passed between them as he toyed with her bottom lip. Smiling simply because she just couldn’t help it, she closed her eyes. The thing about Shay was that he had a way of turning around her entire day, entire week, month, even her entire life. In an instant.

  “You know,” he said against her lips and she felt like every Christmas she had ever celebrated was wrapped into this one single moment. “In my family we exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yeah,” he looked back at her, his eyes serious. “We do.”

  The lights from the tree lit up inside his eyes and she ran her hands through the sides of his hair. “Good because I can’t wait to give you your gift,” she giggled thinking of the large, stone leather adventure duffle under the tree. She had seen it inside the store and had thought about him using it to travel to games and to his parents’. And after reading the sign beside it that read with every bag purchased, a part of the proceeds goes to providing a safe birth for a mother and baby in need, she knew it was perfect.

  “Let me give you your gift now,” he insisted, his eyes intense and her heart worked a bit faster inside her chest. “Let tomorrow be all about Quinn.”

  Agreeing, she smiled as he walked them over to the couch. Placing her down on her feet, she ran off towards the tree before he grabbed her wrist gently. “Let me go first.”

  Looking up at him a moment, she sat down quietly and he grabbed a small bag before pulling out another. Sitting beside her, their knees touched, and his face was unreadable. Peeling back the red packaging gently, she smiled in excitement as she pulled out a large mason jar filled to the top with dollar bills. Looking up at him, she giggled.

  “It’s an advance for the cussin’ jar,” he grinned and she couldn’t help but laugh. Yes. She was going to fix that mouth on Shay Cunningham. She would see to that. Kissing him, she laughed again against his smooth lips. Slipping a stack of folded papers into her hands, she pulled her lips from his looking down at them. Looking back and forth between him and the papers, he nodded for her to open them. Unfolding the thick stack, she read the title and her heart slammed against her chest.

  “I want to adopt Quinn.”

  Taking her hands inside his, he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. “I fell in love with that little girl the moment I watched her take her first breath,” he said, sincerity all over his handsome face. “I also fell in love with you that day too. It just took me a really long time to get my head out of my ass and realize that.” Sliding on the floor in
front of her, he leaned on one knee. “Somebody once told me that if I kiss a girl then I have to marry her,” he moved reaching inside his brown leather coat, “that it’s the rule.”

  Her hands flying to cover her mouth, he continued. “I promise to be the man that you and Quinn deserve every single day, Whitney. I promise to take you on picnics and dates. To always give you the last chocolate chip cookie,” he chuckled and her heart exploded. “And to always write you love letters.”

  Whispering his name, her hands shook.

  Opening the box, a gorgeous round diamond sat in the center. “Nothing would make me happier than if we all shared the same last name.” Cupping his cheek with her hand, her fingers shook fiercely above his firm face. “Will you let me cuss around you for the rest of my life, Sunshine?”

  Looking into his face she saw her entire life. She saw every family party, every lazy morning, every football season and every letter he wrote her. Every trip to the beach and every milestone of Quinn’s. “Yes,” the words breathed past her mouth. It sounded fast and without thought, but unlike so many other decisions in her past, it wasn’t impulsive or rash.

  This was Shay.

  And she had never been more sure of anything in her entire life.

  Watching his face light up, the glow from tree lights splashed across him. Touching his forehead to hers, he gripped the sides of her head. He was quiet and still before kissing her gently and she could feel him trembling before he took control of the kiss. Leaning back again, he cleared his throat and she knew he was forcing back emotions and she fell in love with him a little bit more. Slipping the ring on her uncontrollably shaking hands, they both stared at it a moment. The perfect fit.

  “I have one more gift.”

  “I don’t want anything else, Shay,” she whispered and she closed her eyes. “Ever.” It was the truth. She didn’t need anything more. She had her baby girl. Her prince. An amazing career and loyal friends. And Shay’s family. She was the luckiest girl in the whole world.