Maya closes the door behind me, and I turn towards her. I dig my hand into my pocket and pull out my phone to show her the confirmation of my AA meetings in my emails and how many I’ve been to.
“Here is my AA meeting email tracker,” I say as I turn it around towards her. “It doesn’t go back to the day I officially stopped, but that month I was in rehab.”
Her eyes flick from mine to my phone, and she hesitates. “Oh—” She latches onto the necklace around her neck, and I freeze when I realise it’s the necklace I gave her on the first birthday I celebrated with her.She’s still wearing it.“I didn’t actually think you were going to bring this to me.”
“It’s important.” I inch the phone closer. “And I want you to see how serious I am about this.”
Maya’s tongue drags over her dusty pink lips before she takes the phone from my hands. Our fingers brush for a second, and when our eyes meet, we both freeze. It’s the most contact I’ve had with her since that night, and I’d be a liar if I said her touch doesn’t affect me.
I retreat my hand and wait as patiently as I can as she reads over the emails, scrolling through each one. I hold my breath and watch the way her brows dip and release.
She draws her gaze to mine and hands back the phone. “Good to see you’re trying to get back on track.”
“Yeah, I was tired of relying on alcohol.” I slide my phone back into my pocket. “And constantly feeling like I was ruining other people’s lives.”
Maya glances away, her hand moving back to her necklace as she plays with the little locket between her index finger and thumb. “When was the last time you had a drink?”
The night I ended up in the hospital getting my stomach pumped after my sister and my best friend found me having a seizure.
“In the summer,” I say. “Two months ago.”
“You look better.” She drops her hands to her sides. “You’re glowing.”
I run a palm down the back of my head. “I doubt it. I didn’t really sleep,” I confess.
Maya releases a low laugh. “Join the club.”
My throat tightens at her words. “How are you?”
“I’m okay,” she whispers.
“Are you?”
She stares at me for a long moment, and I can see in her eyes that she might be okay, but she’s struggling. I should be here helping out, and that’s where I want to be. If she’ll let me.
“Yes, I have to be for her.”
My gut clenches. “Can I see her?”
Maya pauses, then eventually nods. “Yeah, she’s awake.”
I follow her as she walks through the house to a room at the end of the hall, and we step inside. She heads towards the cot beside the bed, and I pause by the door as she leans down to take Skye into her arms.
She wriggles and makes a sound as she holds her close to her chest. My eyes immediately start to burn, and I tell myself to keep it together, although I have no idea how long I’ll last.
Maya cradles her gently before stepping towards me, and my gaze settles on her pretty face. Chubby cheeks, blonde hair, andlittle hands. I can’t breathe as Maya turns Skye to face me and her brown eyes land on mine.
My chest pounds at the tiny being in her arms.She’s ours.
“Oh my god.” I take in every inch of her face.
“Do you want to hold her?” Maya asks, and I blink back the tears that start to form.
“Please,” I croak. “I-I don’t really know how to do it.”
Skye makes a soft sound as her lips curl. “I didn’t either,” Maya whispers. “But you learn fast.”
“I don’t want to do it wrong.” Panic stretches through my sternum. I don’t want to hurt her because I have no idea what I’m doing.
