“He has a name,” I grit and stand as she slams the door, making Skye stir from her sleep. “And yes, he’s here because he wants to see Skye.”
Nina barks out a sadistic laugh that makes a shiver run down my spine. “Oh, Maya, you’re so naive. You’re falling into his trap.”
Finn frowns. “I’m not setting a trap.”
“I’m not talking to you,” she says as she raises a hand at him without sparing him a look.
My mouth falls open in disbelief. “Why are you being so rude?”
“Did you forget what he did to you, Maya? If he did it once, he can do it again.”
I flare my nostrils at her. “It’s my choice to make, not yours. You don’t know him.”
Nina scoffs. “I know that he turned his back on his family to get drunk instead.”
“Stop it,” I spit through my teeth. “You want to pretend that you know the full story, but you don’t. It’s not your place to butt in.”
“No?” She curls a brow at me. “What about all the days you cried to me and told me you hated him?”
I grind my teeth together. “You’re not being fair.”
Nina shakes her head coldly. “You are going to end up in a worse position than you were before, Maya, by letting him into your life again. Don’t you see that?”
“Shut up, Nina!” My voice comes out too harshly, and I despise myself for shouting.
Skye immediately starts to cry, and Finn attempts to soothe her. I glance over at them as he rocks her from side to side. My heart feels like it’s about to stop altogether because this is too much for me. Everything I do is wrong.
I can’t stay with my sister. I physically can’t do it anymore. My fingers itch to sink into my hair and rip at the roots.
Nina walks across the living room before stepping into her bedroom and slamming the door shut behind her. I don’t even have to blink before tears are streaming down my face because I’m losing at everything.
Finn stands up and walks towards me. “You okay?”
It’s obvious I’m not okay, but I should be the one asking him that after what Nina said. I silently take Skye from his arms and attempt to calm her down by cooing and rocking her.
“Hey.” Finn steps forward and wraps his hand over mine. “Let’s go get some fresh air.”
“Did you not hear everything Nina said?”
Finn’s jaw flexes before relaxing. “Yes, and I deserve it. Now let’s go outside and take a breather, okay?”
I don’t fight him on it because being in this house for a single second more is about to destroy me mentally and physically.
But I’m already broken.
CHAPTER 18
FINN THOMPSON
Once we get Skye into something a little warmer and place her in her pram, we head outside. I rest my palms on the handle of the pram and push her as she sleeps soundly. All that crying earlier must have taken it out of her, and she looks adorable with her little hat and gloves.
Maya sniffles as she walks beside me, her arms over her chest.
“You okay?” I ask.
She keeps her eyes on the pavement, and I frown at the sight. “I’m sorry about what she said, that was uncalled for.”
I shrug. “It doesn’t bother me. She doesn’t know me, she doesn’t know my intentions, and I understand her being worried about her sister. I would be for Ivy if the same happened to JJ. But I don’t like seeing her upset you most of all, that’s what I care about.”
