Chapter 11
CHAPTER ELEVEN
MAIA
The day Baird stormed out on me I’d gone back and forth on whether I was in the right or wrong.
My friend was usually so easygoing that I’d started to question if I’d been too harsh with him.
I was on the cusp of calling him to apologize when I walked up the stairs to my flat and found Baird sitting outside my door, waiting for me.
The first words out of his mouth were, “I’m sorry, Maia. It won’t happen again. You are safe with me. I promise.”
At that moment, I experienced a falling sensation. Like I was literally dizzy at his pronouncement. When my reply was to ask him to come in, he’d stood up, grinned at me in relief, and drew me into a bear hug.
For some weird reason, I almost burst into tears.
Later that night as I got into bed, I realized part of the reason Baird’s apology made me so emotional was because that was twice now we’d argued, and he’d been the first one to show up in person to apologize. To fix it.
All of Will’s texts and then his email about wanting to talk … not once did he walk his arse to my front door.
I was realizing more and more as the weeks went on that what I’d had with Will had been superficial.
That messed with my head just as much as he’d messed with my heart.
Because what did that say about me? That I’d been ready to marry a man I was hiding my true self from?
A man who had made all the decisions about our lives and rarely ever compromised to give me what I wanted from it—and I’d allowed him to do that.
Why hadn’t I pushed back? Why did I always have to people-please?
Though … I didn’t feel the need to do that with Baird. He was the first person in years I’d had any kind of conflict with.
Huh.
Thankfully, I didn’t have much free time to dwell on all that. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of preparation for the beginning of the social media campaign. The production team had already filmed us doing a short introduction that they’d post after the campaign and engagement announcement.
On Saturday, I’d traveled with my pseudo-cousin Beth to Glasgow for the Cup final.
Her parents, Braden and Joss (who were like my aunt and uncle), were there too to support Callan, along with Beth’s siblings, sixteen-year-old Elle and twenty-two-year-old Luke.
Our other “cousin” Lily joined us with her boyfriend Sebastian, who was a huge Caley United fan.
“I know we’ve to keep your engagement on the down low for now,” Lily had said as soon as she saw me, “but congrats.” As she hugged me, she warned, “You should also know January is plotting your very slow and painful death.”
I laughed as we drew apart. “Why?”
Lily’s adorable dimples creased her cheeks. “Because she’s had a massive crush on Baird since they met.”
My smile had fallen. “Are you serious?”
“Aye, but she’ll get over it.”
“I don’t know.” Sebastian draped his arm around his girlfriend, drawling in a posh Etonian accent. “I’m not quite over it.”
“Hey, I thought your man-crush was on my fiancé, not Maia’s?” Beth teased. She’d already congratulated me in the car on the drive over. She’d also proceeded to pepper me with a million questions I did not want to answer in front of her family.
My aunt Joss had finally said dryly, “Perhaps Maia wants to keep her private relationship with her fiancé private?”
“Right.” Beth had nodded like she understood, then mouthed at me, “We’ll talk later.”
I couldn’t say I was looking forward to having to lie to her.
Once Sebastian had assured Beth that Callan was his number one and Lily had assured me January wasn’t seriously plotting my untimely death, we’d settled in to watch the match.
Unfortunately, our boys didn’t win.
They played valiantly, and it was some game. I’d always been more of a rugby fan than football, mostly because Grace’s best friend was a rugby player and she’d gotten me into the sport.
But having people I cared about on the pitch really made me invested. My voice was hoarse from screaming and shouting right alongside Beth and Sebastian.
After the game, Baird, Callan, and John were gutted.
So close and yet so far.
I hadn’t known how to be with Baird in front of everyone. Therefore, I decided to shove aside the lie between us and embrace the truth. He was my friend. And I hurt for him. I’d hugged him hard, and Baird had held on to me like I was a lifeline.
Afterward, he didn’t want to join us for dinner.
I left with him because it would look weird if I didn’t.
However, when we reached the city center, he’d given me a sad smile and said he needed to be alone for a bit, and I found myself dropped off on Hart Street.
Watching him drive off, knowing he was hurting, plagued me all night.
I’d texted him to check in over the weekend, but he wasn’t very chatty. That only made me worry more.
I didn’t know what to expect when he showed up for the video shoot this morning.
It was day one of our schedule. Today we were shooting our parts in the campaign and engagement announcement film Pennington’s wanted to release at the end of the week.
Christina gave me the day off work, which meant I had to make up the hours over the next few days.
I felt awful that Baird had to muster up enthusiasm to do this just days after his Professional League championship dream was crushed.
My jittery nerves were already at peak level. Of course, the production team didn’t know we were acting the part of newly engaged lovers, which added to my nervousness.
The production had been in South Lanarkshire since the wee hours of the morning.
They had spent the past few weeks gaining permits and permissions so they could arrange our announcement using their homeware products on a huge field where Baird and I were to fly over in a hot air balloon.
Since I didn’t have a car, Baird was going to drive us to the site, but he’d texted me late last night to tell me he wasn’t in the city, so he’d just meet me there.
I knew he was suffering from the loss, but I was anxious about where he was and what he was doing. My chest burned every time I considered who he might be doing it with. Never mind the fact that he knew I was in a bit of a state about our plan and I’d wanted his support.
I told myself I was being selfish, that I hadn’t just lost a national championship and been subjected to the relentless abuse of so-called fans and the tabloid media.
Yet there was a part of me that feared Baird was ultimately one of those guys who was really good at apologizing but who never really changed.
A trailer had been set up for us, filled with the outfits I’d helped select from our line-up.
Becky had wanted me in something showy and expensive from the store, but I’d convinced Hilary and Christina that because the announcement was a big, over-the-top production, we should find ways to advertise items that were more affordable.
We already had access to data that told us there were people who didn’t even step inside Pennington’s because they thought the products were out of their budget.
Yet we had a vast range in our stores, and I wanted to appeal to the market we were currently missing out on.
I won that argument. And the evil eye from Becky.
Once my hair and makeup were done, I dressed in a fairly inexpensive pale green, calf-length cami dress that didn’t flash a lot of skin but molded to my body.
It was sexy without being too sexy for a retailer ad campaign.
As I slipped on the brown leather flat sandals we’d chosen, Gail, the production assistant assigned to me, popped her head in to let me know Baird had arrived ten minutes ago.
They were rushing him through hair and makeup.
Relief and irritation flooded me, and I felt a little dizzy.
After downing my third glass of water, I excused myself to use the portable restroom.
We were supposed to have warm, clear skies all day and I was already feeling it.
It was a surprisingly balmy morning for the first week in June.
When I came out of the restroom, assistants were fussing over Baird.
Fixing his hair, brushing lint off his shirt.
I’d also chosen items for him to select from and was weirdly happy to see he’d picked my favorite shirt among the lot.
It was an army-green cotton short-sleeve button-down, with turn-back cuffs and a Cuban collar.
On Baird, the sleeves were a little tight around his biceps, but he looked exactly how I imagined he would.
Cool as hell but classy. He’d paired it with dark denim jeans with turnups and kept his biker boots on.
The look worked for him.
He was hotter than hot.
As if he felt my attention, he turned his head ever so slightly to meet it. His eyes roamed down my body and back up again. My breath caught at the heat in his gaze.
I reminded myself not to take his perusal too seriously. Especially as I didn’t know where the hell he’d been last night.
Knowing we had a bunch of cameras to face while we pretended to be in love, I didn’t approach Baird with the intention of arguing. However, every step I took toward him, I grew more and more irritated.
“Hey, babe. You look amazing.” He drew away from the assistants to place a hand on my waist. He bent his head to brush his lips over mine.
It startled me for two point five seconds before I realized we were supposed to be an engaged couple. My lips tingled and I tried not to tense.
“You ready for this?” Baird asked.
I glanced around to make sure there wasn’t anyone in immediate earshot and then I turned to him and asked quietly, “Where were you?”
His hand fell away from my waist at my tone. “I know I’m a bit late. Traffic was busier than I thought it would be.”
“I know traffic was busier. I know this because the taxi cost me over a hundred quid to get here.”
Baird winced. “Shit. Sorry.”
“I don’t need to rely on you to take me anywhere, but next time, give me more notice so I can arrange better transport.”
“Maia—”
“Were you out carousing last night?” I studied him, looking for signs of a hangover.
Baird’s eyebrows pinched together. “No. I wasn’t.”
I waited for him to tell me where he was.
At his silence, I shook my head. “This is a disaster. This is going to fall apart. I’m going to lose my job.”
Suddenly, he took hold of my right biceps and tugged me toward the trailers.
“What are you doing?” I hissed. “People are watching.”
“Fuck them.” He threw open the trailer door, and I hurried in after him, my cheeks blazing with embarrassment.
Baird released me to stride through the trailer, checking to make sure it was empty, and then he turned to me.
“I had the worst fucking weekend of my career. We thought we had it. And we lost. You have no idea what that feels like. And it would be nice if you could think beyond yourself for just one bloody second.”
I swallowed hard at his uncharacteristic reprimand.
“I … I am really sorry about the championship, Baird. You know I am. And you know I feel that for you. But this”—I gestured around us—“is terrifying. And the first day we start it, you’re nowhere to be seen and you’re off getting fucked somewhere on who knows what with who knows who.
You promised. You promised you wouldn’t and that you could do this for three months.
Just three months, Baird, and then you can go back to your empty parties and as many women as you want. ”
Suddenly, the air in the trailer grew thick as I watched Baird’s eyes darken with the kind of anger I’d never seen from him. At least not directed toward me.
“Well?” I jutted my chin in defiance of his outrage.
He kept his distance and sucked in a breath before releasing it.
“Do you want to know where I was last night? I was with Callan, collecting John from Newcastle. Because before the game, the owner told John he’s not renewing his contract.
One of my best mates is off the team. The gaffer was pissed as hell because he knew that would mess with our heads going into the game, and it did.
So not only are we losing John to Canada, but we also lost the championship, and we’re going forward with an incompetent fucking owner who didn’t have the common sense to wait until he delivered that soul-destroying news.
“John fucked off to Newcastle to get absolutely smashed, got into a bit of bother, and Callan and I hauled our arses down there to get him. I didn’t get home until four o’clock this morning, and I was late getting here because I was trying to get a bit of sleep before launching into this circus with you. ”
I closed my eyes as regret and shame filled me, followed by sadness for Baird and John. “Bear …”
I opened my eyes as Baird finally closed the distance between us. He bent his head toward me and I flinched at the reproach in his expression. “I wish you’d stop deciding who I am for me. I wish you’d start trusting me. I’m not your mum, Maia.”
My body physically jerked at his words.
His reproach softened to regret. Then he shook his head and muttered a harsh fuck under his breath before he marched out of the trailer.