“Why?”
“I’d rather be here with you two.”
“Do you miss it?”
“Yeah,” he says after a few beats. “I do miss it; it gave me an escape last year. But with exams and classes, and looking after you guys, there is no time. I’m kind of happy about it because it means I have other priorities.”
My mouth opens to respond, but I hear, “Thompson,” instead.
We both glance over our shoulders, and I freeze to find Reese strolling towards us with one of his football friends Finn used to play with on the team. Good god. Get me the hell away from here.
Finn visibly stiffens and holds Skye tighter. “What do you want, Reese?”
Reese pokes his tongue into his cheek as he studies our daughter. I want to claw his eyes out for even looking at her. But then he glances at me, and his gaze glows with amusement.
“Shit.” He laughs. “The baby really is his. Why were you getting so uptight when I saw your phone?”
Finn glances at me, confusion written all over his face. I didn’t tell him for a reason. He didn’t need to know. I didn’t want him getting into trouble or doing something he’d regret. Reese is an asshole, we all know it. No point trying to give in to his kind of energy.
“It’s none of your business,” I state. “Leave us alone.”
He snickers before looking directly at Finn. “Try not to be a deadbeat dad, Finn. I hear some alcoholics beat their children.”
I step between them, tightening my fists. I’d never actually punch him, not with our daughter right here, but it might cross my mind if we were alone.
“Fuck off, Reese,” I say heavily. “You keep harassing us, and I’ll make your life hell.”
Reese snickers and steps back, holding his hands up in defence. “I’m not doing anything.”
“Leave. Us. Alone.”
After a few moments, they finally back away, but I’m shaking all over. I glance back at Finn, but he’s already staring at me. “What was he talking about, Maya?”
My lungs constrict. “The first day I came back to uni, we were in the café between classes, and he came over to us. He grabbed my phone and saw the picture of Skye and started asking questions.”
Finn’s face turns to a look of frustration. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It wasn’t important.”
“It’s important to me.” His voice is filled with severity. “I don’t want that asshole messing with you or thinking he can talk to you like that. If he comes up to you again, I need you to tell me the second it happens.”
Fear flashes through my eyes. “I don’t want you getting in trouble. You need to stay stable, Finn.”
“I’ll be stable when I know he’s not harassing you. I can’t live with the idea of that.”
I glance at Skye, who is oblivious to everything. “I will, but I can hold my own.”
The corner of his lip tilts. “I know, sunshine.”
“Are you okay?”
“Am I okay? Yeah.”
“Don’t listen to what he said.” I shake my head. “He’s nothing but a narcissist.”
“Trust me, I’ve heard worse.”
And that makes my heart sink.
