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"I'm not here to make excuses. I want to... I need to make things right with Maya."
"Is that so?" Her mom's voice is laced with skepticism. "And what exactly does that mean, Hunter? What are your intentions?" The protective mother. She scans me, studying the sincerity in my eyes.
"I love your daughter if that's what you're wondering." I find myself confessing.
"She's young, Hunter. And you...you're not. She works for you. And what about Kaitlyn? This is complicated."
"I know," I agree, "and I'm sorry. I never wanted to put her in this situation. But now that we are here, I want to be there for her. For the baby." I meet her eyes. "I don't expect you to believe me, not right away. But I am asking for a chance to prove myself."
She studies me for a long while, her expression unreadable. Then she sighs and nods. "Well, it seems we have no choice but to let you try. But, Hunter, remember this: if you hurt my daughter, in any way..."
I interrupt her. I need her to know that I'm serious. "I won't. I love Maya and I will make this work."
Accepting my words, Maya's mom gives a nod then disappears into the kitchen. She returns a minute later with a glass of ice water with lemon for me.
"Here." She hands it to me, grabbing my hand as a peace offering.
"Thank you." I take a sip and let the cold water slide down my throat when I hear the sound of the front door squeaking open and closing with a quiet thud.
Maya walks in, her gaze glued to her phone, not realizing I'm in the room. When she finally looks up and sees me, she freezes, her eyes widen and then cloud over with anger.
"Hunter! What... What are you doing here?" she stutters. “How did you get in here?”
She looks at her mom, confused. “Mom, did you let him in?”
She shrugs her shoulders. “Yes, I did.”
“Why?”
“Hunter has something for you, sweetheart. Just give him a chance.”
“Maya, I...” I start, but she interrupts me, her voice rising in frustration.
"You shouldn't be here. You need to leave."
"Honey, don't be so rude..."
"Mom. Stay out of this." Maya's eyes don't leave mine. She's serious, but I can see the hurt in her eyes.
I realize the depth of the pain she's in and there's no talking her down right now.
I look at Maya's mom. "It's okay. It's best if I leave."
I pick up my coat, leaving the bouquet on the coffee table, and without saying another word, I walk out of the door.
26
MAYA
"Go talk to him, Maya," my mom insists.
“No, Mom. You don’t understand. I can’t just push my feelings aside and pretend everything is okay! He hurt me!”
“Sweetheart, I understand that you’re upset. But you need to hear him out. He seems sincere and he’s trying to make things better.” She puts her hand on my shoulder.
I know she’s right, but I can't bear to admit it.
"He thinks he can come into my life, disrupt everything, and then what? What happens when he gets bored of me? What happens when he realizes that I'm not the one he wants to be with? No. I can't do this." I start shaking my head and tearing up.
