He drags a hand through his brown hair. “Well, I’ve heard rumours. About Finn dumping you when he found out you were pregnant and stuff. Also that he wasn’t nice to you during your relationship. I mean, that’s a real shitty thing to do, and I’m sorry you’re going through that.”
I stare back at him in disbelief. “Yeah, you’re right. It is none of your business.”
“Maya—”
“No. You don’t get to talk to me about this.”
“I just want to make sure that you’re okay,” he says as he lowers his voice. “Reese told me about Finn’s drinking last year and how bad he got, and everything that happened with Coach. That he can get really aggressive. I just want to make sure that you’re okay.”
My jaw crunches at his audacity. “You know nothing, Alfie.”
He swallows and leans back in his chair. “I’m concerned for you,” he carries on as my blood starts to burn in my veins. “For him to turn his back on you at a time you needed him. I just don’t want anything to happen to you. I care about you, Maya. You’re getting defensive, and that makes me think?—”
I stand up so abruptly that my chair scrapes against the floor, and the entire class turns towards me. I don’t respond because I fear I might smack him in the face. Instead, I collect my belongings, shove them into my bag, and leave the class without another word.
Fire feels like it’s shooting out of the top of my head, and I could scream at the top of my lungs. Why do people feel like they need to give me their unsolicited opinions when they don’t even know the full story?
All Alfie is going on are rumours that make Finn out to be a nasty human being who has no remorse whatsoever. But I know the real Finn. I was with the real Finn for two years and, I know he’s not a bad person, he just made a mistake influenced by his insecurities.
We’re not ourselves when we’re struggling, especially in silence and alone.
“Maya—” I hear from behind me, but I don’t stop.
I keep walking.
“Maya, wait,” Alfie calls out for me again.
A hand wraps around my wrist, and he gently tugs me backwards. My fists clench as I turn towards him with narrowed eyes and a clenched jaw.
“Remove your hand from me right fucking now,” I seethe.
Alfie releases my wrist and then raises his hands in defense. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”
“You’re right,” I spit. “Uncalled for and again, none of your business.”
“It’s just, every time I see you, you always look so defeated, and I wanted to make sure that it’s not him that’s making you feel this way.”
My eyes stretch again at the audacity. “Are you hearing yourself right now?”
Alfie releases a long sigh. “I know I’m overstepping, but I’m concerned about you. I was brought up with an alcoholic father, and I know what it’s like to be in that sort of environment. It’s scary, and you never know what you’re going to get each day. If he’s hurting you, Maya?—”
“Finn has been sober for four months,” I say through gritted teeth. “He went to rehab, and he’s getting better, okay? I’m tired because I am juggling university and looking after a baby. You don’t get to dig around in my life and try to bring up things that aren’t even true. It’s damaging, and if Finn heard this is what’s going around about him? He’d be fucking destroyed.”
He takes a step back before shoving his hands into his pockets. “I’m just checking, Maya. Okay? I’m not doing it to be an asshole.”
“Yeah, well, if your sources come from Reese, then you need to get yourself in check,” I mumble. “I told you before, he’s not a nice guy and will do anything to shit on other people. So, if you want to follow in his footsteps, then be my guest.”
“Maya—”
“I am so fucking angry at you right now,” I murmur with a cold laugh. “You know nothing about us, about my family. If I wanted to talk about it, I would have said something. All your so-called facts are based on rumours, Alfie.”
“I’m sorry.” He steps forward again when I turn to leave. “I’m sorry for overstepping, but I care for you, and I don’t want anything to happen.”
I shake my head with frustration. “Nothing will happen.”
“Please understand that this is coming from a place of concern and care, nothing more. And you’re right, if they’re based on rumours, then I should check my facts. So, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought it up at all.”
“The football team loves to chat shit,” I state. “I don’t know what their obsession with Finn is, but tell Reese to go fuck himself and to leave Finn and our baby’s name out of his goddamn mouth.”
