Page 33 of Widow Mayker

“Not even for love?” I quizzed.

Her light chuckle was followed by a shrug of her shoulders. “Would you go against your oath to the badge in the name of love?”

Rocking the boat a little, I leaned forward and wrapped my arm around Maja’s shoulders. I liked that she allowed me to hold her this way. Leaning her back, I kissed her temple.

“You’d be surprised what a nigga would do for love,” I whispered in her ear. Letting her go, I sat back just as everyone prepared to line up their boats.

As the horn blared for us to start rowing, water kicked up and tickled us in our faces. Maja squealed and laughed, creating music to my ears. Her competitiveness matched mine, and we were both pushing each other to make it to the finish line first. As we crossed into winning territory, Maja threw her hands up in celebration.

Although my mama and Amaré were good and salty, they joined everyone else in clapping for us.

As we headed back to the pier, I said, “I’m behind you, moving us in the same direction as you. I’m not working against you. Nor am I hindering you. Even though you can’t see what I’m doing back here, you’re trusting that I’m working in tandem with you. What I’m sayin’ is, I understand being afraid. All I’m asking is that you get to know me despite being afraid. That fear will soon dissipate. You’d see just how many wins we could have together, Maja.”

This time when she glanced back at me, her eyes searched mine. I was back in. There was no way I’d allow her to push me out again.

MAJA

“Basketball or football?” I asked Von.

He held my hand as we walked down a pathway that circled the entirety of Gunner Cove. Out there in the woods, I was sure to have no cell service. My phone hadn’t shrilled once, and I wasn’t even upset about it. I was in the moment, admiring the tall trees, lush vegetation, and calls of different bugs, birds, and other wood creatures.

“Football,” he replied. “The physicality is on another level.”

“Oh,” I jeered. “Should I be concerned that you like to be rough?”

His devilish grin caused my face to heat. I glanced away to break the hold his grill had on me.

“I’d never be rough with you,” he finally said. “Consider me No One Gentle Giant Gunner.”

I couldn’t contain the laughter that spilled from my chest. “You’re just gon’ hold on to that No One, huh?”

“Yep,” he stated, bringing me a little closer to his side. “You dubbed me that, and we ain’t changing it either.”

“Whatever, Von,” I mumbled.

He chuckled. “Aight, my turn. Apple pie or peach cobbler?”

Without hesitation, I answered, “Peach cobbler. My mama makes the best peach cobbler.”

Referring to Maddie as my mama so freely gripped my chest. Von noticed the change in my demeanor and slowed our step. In a split second, he had me in his arms.

“What’s wrong, baby?”

Brushing off the strange feeling, I forced a chuckle. “Nothing. Something just crossed my mind.”

“You sure?” he asked.

“Yes,” I assured him, “let’s keep walking.”

Reluctantly, he started us off again. “Okay, ya mama’s peach cobbler is top tier. That means you gotta put me on.”

This time when I chuckled, it was natural. “Good try. You don’t taste the peach cobbler unless I really like you.”

He scoffed. “I almost said something freaky as hell, but I’ma do right.”

My laughter filled the afternoon air and seemed to ruffle the trees’ leaves.

“That wasn’t meant to sound the way it sounded,” I defended.