I sniffle again, but don’t say anything.
“What are you going to do for Christmas then?”
“Uh…” I clear my throat. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll figure something out.”
“Okay.” He sounds uncertain, but it’s not like I have the money to book myself a flight to join them with Skye. “Well, I love you. I’ll speak to you soon. Okay?”
I hum and clamp my eyes shut. “Sure.”
“Bye.”
My thumb presses against the red button quicker than lightning. I drop my phone onto the table, and my head falls into my hands in defeat. Skye releases a soft sound, and I lean over to her, gently stroking my finger along her cheek.
“Might just be me and you this year,” I whisper with wobbly lips.
After downing my cold coffee, I head out of the café and drive home. When I park up outside the house and get Skye’s pram out of the back, the front door opens, and Finn emerges. I glance up at him as he jogs down the steps to meet me.
“Hey,” he says before taking the pram and my bags from my hands.
“Hey.” I fake a smile. “Thank you.”
I take Skye out of her seat and lock the car before heading inside to the warmth.
“Girly day out?” Finn says as he folds the pram and places it in the corner of the room.
I place Skye down before shrugging out of my coat. “Something like that.”
“What’s the matter?”
My shoulders feel incredibly heavy as he approaches. “Uh, nothing.”
“Maya—” he stops me before he can walk around me. “What’s wrong?”
I meet his green eyes that are full of concern, and it makes me want to burst into tears because the one person who actually cares about me, I’m pushing away.
“Guess who will be spending Christmas alone,” I attempt to joke, but my voice comes out wobbly. “Skye’s first Christmas, and no one cares.”
Finn’s forehead creases. “What? I care. You know I care.”
“I saw my mum in town, and she didn’t have a single nice thing to say,” I whisper before swiping a hand down the curve of my face. “And then I rang my dad, and he told me he’s spending Christmas in Mexico. So we’re going to be all alone.”
“No.” He shakes his head. “No, you’re not.”
I frown as I stare up at him.
“You’ll spend Christmas with me and my family.”
For a moment, I pause and then blink. “Finn, I?—”
“I want to spend Christmas with you and Skye. For my parents and Ivy to meet you both. You will always be welcome at our house. No matter what.”
The lump in my throat returns, and I want to burst into messy, emotional tears. I didn’t want to suggest it in case I was pushing his boundaries again. He made the decision to take a step back, and I’d never want him to feel pressured into taking us home just because we’ll be alone.
“Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.”
I release a shuddering breath. “We’re a handful.”
