Chapter Two
SKYE
M y leg bounced beneath the table as I tried to steady my nerves, cradling my caramel mocha latte like it could shield me from the last few hours.
I probably shouldn’t be having caffeine.
I was nervous enough as it was. Another heavenly sip convinced me I could handle the extra jolt.
It was too damn good, and I needed something comforting.
The bell jingled over the door to Brewed Awakening, the café on campus that fed my coffee addiction. It was one place I knew Liam never went, so it’d been safe to frequent while I had taken classes and actively avoided him for the past few years, minus the one semester I took off.
I shivered as a cool breeze blew in with the hulking guy who’d just entered.
Something settled inside me at the sight of Maverick Davis, my oldest and best friend, with his tall frame and easy smile.
He didn’t bother to order, as I had his boring black coffee waiting for him.
Across from me, the chair scraped against the floor as he pulled it out then lowered himself into it.
“Okay, Skye, I got your SOS.” He leaned in, his toned muscles rippling under the black Henley. He searched my face with his piercing blue eyes, framed in long dark lashes that were seriously wasted on a guy—especially one I was immune to, as Mav was like a brother to me. “What’s going on?”
“I ran into Liam—literally—at my new job.”
Mav angled himself closer by resting a thick forearm on the table, blocking me from a nearby table of guys. “You knew you’d see him when you accepted the internship. I thought you were ready.” His brows furrowed. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have pushed you to take it. Bet he was shocked to see you.”
“Yeah, he was.” I rolled my eyes. “But seriously, I thought I could mostly stay in the background, and he wouldn’t recognize me.
” I twisted a lock of hair around my finger—a horrid nervous habit I couldn’t seem to break.
“Shit, Mav, it was like seeing a ghost.” I didn’t say that one touch from Liam was like a live wire to my body.
He lit me up inside, an impossible addiction that I’d barely quit the first time.
All those old feelings came rushing back.
If not for my daughter and Liam’s unwillingness to alter the trajectory he’d planned for his life, I don’t think I could’ve done it.
“Not liking the dreamy look on your face.” Mav grimaced. “Stop thinking whatever you are. It’s weird.”
That made me laugh. Ever since his sister died when we were little, our relationship had changed.
Though she had been a year older than me and Mav, she was my closest friend.
Her death severely shook us. We’d clung to each other and forged a sibling relationship that got us through losing her.
So, yeah, I got why he didn’t like the direction of my thoughts.
It grossed me out to think of him having sexy thoughts about girls too.
“Go back to how Liam ran into you.” His jaw clenched. “Do I need to mess him up?”
I snorted. “No. It was an accident. When he turned and saw me…” I closed my eyes and relived the emotions that’d shifted through his eyes like quicksilver, from shock to desire to anger. I shivered. “My hope that he wouldn’t remember me imploded—and not in a good way.”
“Does that change things? I know you thought you wouldn’t be seen—which I told you was ridiculous—but what’s the worst that can happen?
You left him. Don’t you think he’ll ignore you after the initial shock wears off?
” Mav took a sip of his coffee. “He’s not a relationship kind of guy. Unless he could be—if you tell him?”
I refused to touch that last question with a ten-foot pole. I’d heard enough about how Liam hit it and quit it from a few athlete-obsessed girls in several of my classes. Their gossip convinced me I’d done the right thing by walking away, even if it’d shattered my heart.
I’d just found out I was pregnant. My defenses were up, and I probably didn’t handle things the best way when I asked Liam what he would do if circumstances changed and he couldn’t go into the NFL. I should’ve known that wasn’t an option.
“Nothing will stand in my way,” he’d said, and my heart had shattered.
I knew then what I had to do. “Not even for me?” I’d tried to keep it light, but so much was at stake, and I was uncomfortably vulnerable.
“I like you a lot, but no. The NFL is my future, and if you’re not on board with that, then we aren’t meant to be together.”
My stomach rolled on a wave of panic from the unwanted memory that clashed with the ache of seeing Liam again.
It drove home the uncontrollably wild way he made me feel.
It didn’t matter anymore. I’d made my choice.
Lily was mine— but what if he found out?
Would he challenge me on parental rights like my dad did with my mom? Would he even care?
“You’re making decisions for him, Skye. Don’t they deserve to know each other?”
“I’m protecting her, Mav.”
“Are you? Or are you protecting yourself? Secrets have a way of coming out, Skye. And if he finds out from someone else…” He let the thought hang, his gaze steady on mine.
“It doesn’t matter. It’s done. Maybe I shouldn’t have taken on the internship. It’s so much, and I don’t want to steal more time from my daughter.” I slowly rolled the almost-empty cup between my palms.
Mav cupped my hands and leveled that look at me that he got when he intended to lay down some deep truth. I stilled, waiting for his advice, needing the solidarity he offered.
“You’ve got this. Just set boundaries and remember that you’re juggling a lot.
You’re a great mom. On top of school, you’re doing your TA job and trying to manage a public relations internship.
It may be too much. I mean, I hear you. It will all look great on a resume, but you’ve gotta cut yourself some slack.
If you’re solid that keeping him out of Lily’s life is the right thing to do, then Liam isn’t a factor in your world, right? ”
The question hung between us. My only answer was a scowl.
Mav shrugged, resolved to drop it if I wanted to be stubborn. “Fine. You’re sticking to your decision. Then don’t give him any headspace.”
I nodded along to his words. He was right. I could do it. I released the cup I’d been cradling, turned my hands into his, and squeezed. “Thanks. I needed this.” I pushed out a breath, the tension leaving my shoulders for the first time since yesterday’s deer-in-the-headlights moment with Liam.
“You good with seeing him daily?”
I bit my lip, pondering his question rather than responding with my typical knee-jerk reaction.
“I don’t know. I mean, it’s been years. I’m over it, or I thought I was.
But after seeing him again? It’s just… hard.
I didn’t expect to feel anything.” I shrugged, not wanting to worry about why I ended things with him in the first place or if I did the right thing.
I did. But a part of me felt like I should have at least told him I was pregnant with his child.
When I’d confided in Mav, he’d made his thoughts crystal clear that I should tell Liam, but he’d stood by me and supported my decision.
I’d decided to have and raise her on my own.
I couldn’t lose Lily. My biggest fear was that Liam would get a big NFL contract and sue me for custody.
“Maybe this is your chance to clear the air with Liam. To tell him.”
“No. Stop. You’ve pushed that already. Let it go.” I didn’t think that would be a good idea. “The whole encounter is probably karma finally catching up with me. Besides, I’ve heard about how much of a player Liam is. Has that changed?”
Mav frowned. “No, but that doesn’t?—”
“Why are you defending him? Didn’t you guys have that fight after I ended things? You didn’t exactly help by throwing a punch back then, you know.”
He sighed, running a hand over his face. “Yeah, well, some guys deserve to be hit, and I’d do it again if he hurt you.” His expression turned weary. “That was long ago, and my cousin was involved.”
“Your cousin is a problem.” But that was a discussion for another day.
I had enough on my plate, and adding to Mav’s wasn’t helpful.
“Look, I’m not risking it. Liam never wanted a family or to get involved in anything serious outside his goal of becoming a professional athlete.
I’m taking our collision and eating turf as a sign that I should keep my distance.
I’ve got enough on my shoulders without adding Liam to the mix. ”
Mav said nothing, which brought a boatload of guilt.
I didn’t like that one bit. As my oldest and closest friend, I knew him far too well.
I needed commiseration, and while he gave me some of that, he also pushed me to be up-front with Liam.
That wasn’t going to happen. And since Mav knew my secret and I wasn’t willing to discuss it, we needed a change in subject—stat.
“Now that we’re done talking about me, tell me what’s new with you. Any more news on the agent or hockey front?” He already had an agent, Trevor Faraday, who was one of the best in the NHL.
Mav shrugged, released my hands, and leaned back in his chair. “Trev’s in talks with two teams. He’s calling tonight, and we’ll probably hash out details then.”
I studied his relaxed demeanor. The NHL was his endgame, but unlike Liam, he wasn’t wound tight about it. “You take it all in stride.” I gestured to his coffee like he held the secret to his zen. “How do you just show up and not worry?”
He shrugged. “Because I’ve already done the work. Now, I just need to let it pay off.”
I rolled my eyes. “Must be nice. Some of us don’t have it that simple.”
“You could do the same, Skye. Stop running.”
I narrowed my eyes, not liking the implication “I’m not running. I’m doing the internship. I saw Liam. I’m moving past it.” Mostly. “Let me know how it goes with the agent and potential placement, okay?” I glanced at the time. “I’ve got to head out. Thanks for letting me vent.”
After another sip from his disgusting black coffee, Mav unfolded his large frame from the chair and drew me in for a hug. I stayed an extra few seconds before pulling back, the clock ticking in my head for when I had to pick up my daughter.
As I stepped out into the cool breeze, Mav’s words echoed in my mind. You could do the same, Skye. Stop running. If only it were that easy.
Fifteen minutes later, I stood in front of the doors to Little Sprouts Daycare for the designated pickup time.
A few more seconds, and Miss Jill opened the door.
Lily raced under her arm, pigtails bouncing, carrying a backpack nearly as big as she was.
I bent, opening my arms, and she launched herself into my embrace.
Laughing, I stood with her and spun around to her delighted peals of laughter.
My heart felt two times lighter as I showered kisses all over her face, inhaling the smell of crayons and fruit snacks. For a moment, all my worries faded.
“I missed you, Lily-bean.”
Two tiny hands clutched my cheeks. “Missed you, Mommy.”
Having my daughter in my arms was all I needed to reaffirm that I’d done the right thing and that Liam needed to stay in the dark, where he belonged—firmly in the past. As I peppered kisses across her cheeks, Lily wrinkled her nose the same way Liam used to when he tried not to laugh at the onslaught.
God, even her grin sometimes felt like a mirror of his. How long before someone else notices?
Her tiny arms wrapped around my neck, anchoring me in the moment. For now, she was mine and mine alone. But the storm I’d been running from was closer than ever, and Liam didn’t look like the kind of man who would let me outrun him again.