“It’s so hard because I can literally see how much he cares,” I whimper as I pull my hands away from Alice’s and press them to my face. “Even if he didn’t at the time.”
“As much as I hate him for how he treated you,” Jade sighs, “he could help you, Maya. Obviously, tread lightly, and if he hurts you again, I’ll kill him, but what if he’s telling the truth?”
I clench my eyes shut as I place my hands in my lap. “That’s what’s killing me. If I don’t give him a chance, how can he prove himself?”
Alice nods. “Yeah, I suppose. But god, he is not my favourite person. It’s not our choice, but whatever you choose, we’ll be here regardless.”
“Thanks, girls.” I force a wobbly smile. “My head’s all over the place.”
“It’ll work itself out,” Jade says sincerely. “You’ll always have us.”
I flick my eyes between my best friends, and I’m filled with their devotion because I know they’ll never leave my side, no matter what decisions I make.
CHAPTER 12
FINN THOMPSON
PRESENT - 23RD OCTOBER 2025
Maya:
You can come over to see Skye tomorrow at 2PM.
Ididn’t sleep last night.
It’s been five days since I last saw her, and I didn’t want to bombard her with messages to see them both after she said she needed more time.
I can’t even count the number of times I had to go to the bathroom and dry heave with a mixture of emotions. Never in my life have I felt this anxious—and I’ve been in some serious hungover states.
Now I sit outside Maya’s house with clammy hands and a trembling body, and I pluck up the courage to go inside. It’s not that I don’t want to be here. I want to see her, I want to see Skye, but I fear what she’ll say about wanting to be a part of Skye’s life.
I’m a father.I am her father.
“Fuck.” I drag my hand down my face before ripping my keys from the ignition and stepping out of my car.
I slam the door behind me and stare at the small house before creeping towards the front door. Bile rises in my throat knowing there is a baby in there that’s half of me, half of Maya, and it messes with my head.
My knuckles rise after waiting for a few minutes, and I knock. I wait patiently, regardless of the fact my heart is rattling inside my chest like someone pounding a drum.
I have to show them that I’m ready to work for this. That I’m choosing to be sober and I’m choosing them, something I should have done at the time.
After a minute, the door unlocks, and my eyes rest on Maya’s face. I inhale a silent breath at the sight of her with her dark hair thrown up into a messy bun with pieces falling around her ears. I’m mesmerised by her, and I let her slip through my fingers.
She blinks at me in surprise as if completely forgetting that I’m meant to be here. “Finn,” she exhales and swipes a hand across her forehead. “I lost track of time.”
“Hey.” As soon as my eyes rest on her face, I cannot take them off her.
The first thing I notice is how tired she looks, still undeniably beautiful, but exhausted. Heavy eyes, and her skin looks paler than usual, as if she’s not had many good nights’ sleep. Raising a baby by yourself must be the hardest thing in the world, and that’s my fault.
“Sorry, I just,” she mutters before flexing her fingers. “I didn’t realise it was already two o’clock.”
My head shakes once as her dark eyes roam my face. “Do you want me to come back later?”
“No.” She swallows. “Just excuse the mess and the state of me.”
I frown because she’s the most stunning girl I’ve ever met, even if she has food stains on her T-shirt and she’s still wearing her pyjamas. I recognise them from the nights I stayed over at her place on campus.
When she holds the door open for me, I step inside. Given it’s a little messy, but it’s not ridiculous. My house with the boys is worse, and we don’t have an excuse for the constant mess. We’re just lazy.
