Maverick by Ashers, LeAnn (read dune TXT) 📕

Ronny lets Maverick go, takes his Happy Meal and starts munching down, his eyes glued to the TV.

“Do you want some, Bell?” He tries to hand me his burger.

“No thanks, honey, we ate before we came here. Would you like me to bring you something tomorrow?”

He pauses with his fry close to his mouth, “It would be nice if me and the kids could have a pizza party. One slice of pizza would be great, Bell.”

They get to eat well here, without a doubt. I love doing things for him, to see the happiness in his eyes over the smallest things.

“I need to grab a paper in the front.” Maverick walks to the front of the center.

Maverick

I texted the guy who owns the rink and asked him if he had any openings to teach a beginner.

He just faxed over the papers for Ronny’s mother to sign. I wink at Bell, walking past them to where Ronny’s mom is sitting on her phone.

She looks up when she sees me and tries to hide her phone. How the fuck did she miss us being here?

She looks unsure. “Ronny is wanting to do hockey. I’ll take him to the practices and bring him back here,” I tell her and hand her the paper, along with a pen to sign.

She looks at the paper and at Ronny in disgust. “You’re turning him into a prissy boy. I’m not rich to do this.”

She throws the paper onto the ground,. I reach between the cushions where she stashed her phone, snatching it before she can grab it.

“Sign it or I’ll bust this fucking phone into a million pieces.” Little does she know that Kyle’s gonna take it later.

She screeches loudly and tries to take it from me. “Touch me and you will regret it. I won’t hurt you, but I know someone who will.” My mind goes to Shaylin. I helped turn that girl into a fucking demon.

“I hope you and that bitch fucking die. Why the fuck are you wanting to do shit for him for? He isn’t worth this trouble,” she bitches, but signs the paper. My disgust for her only grows.

I can’t fucking fathom how someone can mistreat their child in such a way. I take the paper and she follows me over.

I try to breathe. I’ve never decked a woman in my life, but this woman is fucking with my last nerve.

Bell looks up at the both of us, her eyes going to Ronny’s mother, who fixes Ronny with a death glare.

“Look at the fucking trouble you have caused, Ronny.” She takes the paper from my hand and throws it at him.

Bell stands up and snatches the paper mid-air. “If you can’t be nice, then you need to get out of here.” Ronny puts his hand around her calf from where he is sitting on the ground.

I grab her by her arm, pulling her away from them, holding her phone out. She pushes me, trying to get it back, but I fucking laugh.

I search through her texts and I notice that she’s been texting her ex-boyfriend. I walk into the bathroom with her trying to hit me, scratch me, anything she can do to take the phone.

I am so over this bitch and her entitled attitude like the world owes her shit.

I drop her phone in the toilet and flush it down the drain. I watch in sick satisfaction as it disappears. If it fucks with the plumbing, I’ll fix it.

She screams at the top of her lungs and I laugh, walking out of the bathroom while she has a whole meltdown.

Bell

I try to distract Ronny from his crazy mother. Maverick just tossed her phone down the toilet and I’m way too happy about that. I don’t want her to leave here and take Ronny.

That terrifies me

His mother is already horrible. I can tell she doesn’t care about him and that breaks my heart.

If he leaves, I don’t want to think about how she will treat him. That terrifies me.

Maverick walks over with a smug look on his face and I try not to giggle. Behind him Ronny’s mom is trying to stick her hand in the toilet to see if she can find her phone.

“You ready to go get your hockey stuff? You start tomorrow.”

Ronny drops his toy. “I get to go?” he asks, and Maverick nods, holding the paper with his mom’s signature.

“Yes, you do, honey.” I’m so excited for Ronny.

He picks up his trash and throws it in the garbage,

“Ready!” He beams at Maverick and me.

I am so gone for this little boy.

We walk to the front desk. Maverick signs some paperwork and I do too, signing him out.

Thank goodness we drove the truck today. Maverick helps him into the truck and buckles him in the middle.

I peek back into the backseat at Ronny to make sure he’s okay. “You excited?” I can’t resist asking.

“I think my heart may burst, Bell.” His eyes are lit with such happiness.

Mine too, kid, mine too.

* * *

Ronny has had the time of his life getting sized for all of his hockey gear and a few extra clothes for him to wear at the center. I couldn’t help but notice the clothes he has are hanging on by a thread, along with being too small.

We pull up in front of the center, and police cars are sitting in front of the building.

That’s weird.

Maverick opens my door and then Ronny’s. I take Ronny’s hand, unsure what is going on.

Maverick holds the door open for us, and all of the officers turn to look at us, then at Maverick’s cut.

Maverick moves to stand in front of the both of us. “Can I help you?” he asks.

Then I hear a loud scream from behind them, “There they are! They stole my baby.” Ronny’s mom falls to the ground, practically convulsing.

My mind is blown. I look at Ronny, who is staring at this mother, completely horrified that she is acting this way.

“Come here,