Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
MAYA
A s soon as I walked through the doors at the depot, I knew I’d made my choice. My throat closed over, my hands shook, and my heart beat frantically in my chest. Not only that, but tears formed as I took a step back.
Thank Christ for Easton. He curled me into him and eased me out of the depot.
I couldn’t work here.
I didn’t want to.
It was the last place I wanted to be.
Standing off to the side outside of the building, Easton helped me calm down, but every time the doors opened and the alarm sounded, I panicked.
Maybe one day I could go back to being a paramedic, but it wasn’t now.
“Maya?”
Wiping at my face, I sucked in a shuddering breath and faced the voice I knew. My boss, Cassandra. “Hi, Cass.”
Her bright smile faded. “Are you all right?”
I gave her a half shrug. “I am, but it’s just….” Easton stood behind me with his hands on my shoulders. His support helped. “I’m not sure if I’ll ever return, but for now, I know this job isn’t for me.”
She nodded, smiling gently. “I understand, Maya. But will you keep us as an option in a couple of years? You’re a gifted paramedic, so don’t rule us out forever.”
“I won’t, and please pass on my farewell to everyone. I’ll try and come back another day.”
“You got it.” She reached out and gave my upper arm a squeeze. “Take care.”
“I will, and you too.”
When she was inside the building, I turned to Easton. “I’m sorry. I-I know what I went through doesn’t justify this kind of anxiety—”
“Maya, no. Don’t play off what happened to you. It was big, and even if it wasn’t, it doesn’t matter to anyone else how you deal with it. If you never want to be a paramedic again, who cares? It’s what you want. What you can deal with. Don’t worry about anyone else.”
My smile was a little crooked, and even I knew it wasn’t all there—my emotions were too raw. I hadn’t expected to react this way. I thought I’d at least get in there to see people, to say thank you for their support, but I couldn’t even do that.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here,” Easton said gently and curled his arm around my shoulders to lead me towards the car.
“You can go in. Please don’t let me stop you.”
“Honey, I’ll be honest. I had a feeling you would make up your mind if you came here. I’m not sure if I’ve done the right thing by pushing you, but I didn’t want you to deal with the anxiety of not making a choice.”
I stopped. Easton did too.
“Maya?”
I had been putting off making a choice, but finally knowing I didn’t want to work here was like a weight had been swept free from my shoulders. Clarity set in. Being a paramedic wasn’t for me at this time, but it wasn’t off the cards altogether. I was only twenty-one and had a lot more living to do yet. Who knew where my future would lead me?
“Did I do the wrong thing?” Easton asked before he bit down on his bottom lip.
I threw my arms around his waist. “Thank you.”
“What?” he uttered, confusion in his tone.
Pulling back, I gave him an affectionate smile. “I’ve been in limbo. Sitting on the fence about this for so long. With you bringing me here, I can move on. Move forward.”
He exhaled loudly. “Oh, thank God. I thought I messed up big time and Texas was going to kick my butt.”
A snort sounded from behind him. “Not that I’d let it happen.”
Easton turned to Parker. “What are you doing out of the car?”
“Babe, I ain’t a dog. I can get out of the car on my own. I worried Maya was stranglin’ you.”
Laughing, I linked my arm through Easton’s, and together we walked to Parker and then the car.
Easton opened the door to the back seat for me. But before I got in, he took my wrist. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Nodding, I hugged him tightly. “I’m the best I have been in a long time.” Not only did I have an answer, but I had Texas in my life… just the way I wanted him.
Once I’d reassured Texas I was good after going to the depot, I took Easton and Parker to his place for a coffee, which I was sure also helped reassure Texas I was okay.
As we drank and chatted, I realised it was good to catch up with them. Even though they came to family barbeques at the compound, sometimes they couldn’t make it, while other times there wasn’t enough hours at the family event to see everyone there. To say our family was big was a huge understatement.
“How’s the tribe of dogs?”
Easton had the biggest heart and rescued dogs; he had about six of them the last time I heard.
Parker’s hand went from Easton’s thigh to wrap his arm around his lover’s shoulders.
Shit.
Easton’s lips thinned. He tried to tip them up but failed. “We lost two recently. Old age. It happens.”
“But it still hurts all the same.”
He nodded. “It does.” He took a breath and changed the subject, which I understood. “So, have you and Texas moved in together?”
My cheeks heated as I laughed awkwardly. “No. It’s way too soon for that. We only started officially dating two days ago, or was it yesterday?” I shrugged. “One of those.”
Their brows shot high.
I shifted nervously on the seat. “Is it bad that I’m here at his house without him when we’ve only just started dating?”
Easton waved a hand in front of him. “No, no. It’s not that. We just thought it had been longer.”
“Oh yeah?”
They nodded.
“Well, it hasn’t. We might act closer than other couples starting out, but it’s because we’ve been in each other’s lives for ages. I had the biggest crush on him when I was younger and got annoyed when he would bring women around in front of me. Which made me avoid him for a long time because it broke my heart. But then we grew closer after what happened, and since then, we’ve been inseparable.”
Easton grabbed Parker’s hand in both of his. “That’s so sweet.”
“He’s got a good woman,” Parker added.
I shrugged and threw out a hand, not knowing what to say, which both of them got a laugh out of.
Parker’s phone chimed, and he pulled it out. “Lan’s ready. We better head off.” They stood up, and I followed them to the door, thanking Easton once again. With a hug from both, they asked me to say goodbye to Texas and mentioned we should go to Melton for lunch one day, which I agreed to. Then they were gone, and I suddenly didn’t know what to do with myself.
Did I go back to Texas’s shop? But he was probably busy with a client.
Would it be imposing if I tidied a little? He was at work, and I had nothing to do. I wouldn’t want to come home to a messy house. Not that it wasn’t clean. But I did spot some dirty laundry. Maybe washing his clothes went too far and too soon.
Was I supposed to go home? But then I remembered that Texas said he wanted to see me tonight.
Groaning, I went into the kitchen where my bag sat on the counter and pulled out my phone. I unlocked it and pressed on Mum’s number.
“Sweetie, where are you?”
“At Texas’s.”
Silence.
“Mum?”
“Tell me everything,” she demanded in a quiet whisper.
She was my mum. We’d always been close. Of course I told her everything, except for the details of what happened in the bedroom.
“Oh my God. Oh my God . Oh, sweetie, that sounds like a dream. He really said all of that?”
“Yes.”
“Are you happy?” she asked softly.
“Yes. It’s a rush, but… everything to me.”
“You deserve this. Both of you do. And, Maya, don’t you worry about it being so soon. It’s not really. You’ve known each other a long time. You’ve been half in love with him since you were sixteen, and I knew that when that boy caught feelings, they would stick.”
“So, it’s not weird I’m here in his house without him?”
“What? No, don’t be silly.”
“It’s just… all of it will take me a little to get used to, but then again, it won’t. Do you know what I mean?”
“I definitely do.”
“Oh, uh, I also went to work with Easton and came to a decision. I-I….” I blew out a breath, suddenly a little apprehensive because my parents had helped me with my course expenses.
“Maya, no matter what your decision is, we’ll stand by you. You have nothing to worry about either way.”
It really was silly of me to get worried about telling Mum. “For now, I’m not going back.”
“Okay, sweetie. I’m so happy you know what you want. Your dad and I are always here, you know this. For anything.”
“I know, Mum.”
“Good—wait one second, Maya. Someone’s at the door.” I heard her open it. “Texas? What are you doing here?”
I stilled, even my breath.
“Came to grab an overnight bag for Maya, if that’s all right?”
Oh. My. God. I sucked in a breath and pressed a hand to my belly. And here I was worried about doing some housework. I wouldn’t anymore.
My body warmed and my heart expanded with all the mushy feelings.
“Of course,” Mum said, and I could hear the smile in her voice. “I’ll go and get some things together.”
“Mum, tell him I’ll see him soon, and to you, I’ll be home tomorrow. We’ll catch up more then.”
“I will, sweetie. Bye.”
With a silly laugh, I spun, clutching my phone to my chest. Texas made me feel like I was a lovesick actress from a movie. I would do anything to hold on to the way he made me feel.
By the time he got back, it was nearly dinnertime, and I already had a stir-fry ready from the ingredients in his refrigerator. When I heard the back door sliding open, I jolted a little, and a jumble of nerves hit my stomach.
I turned and smiled shyly.
“Babe,” he said as he dropped a bag inside the door and came at me. He swept me up in his arms, causing me to gasp and then laugh. “Fuck, it’s good to see you here when I walk in.”
“Hey.” I smiled warmly.
He grinned. “Hey. You gonna kiss your man or do I have to—”
I curled my arms around his neck and kissed him with a brush of lips once, twice, and on the third, I slanted my mouth over his and opened up to him.
When we parted, both of us were out of breath.
“That’s how I want you to kiss me every time we’ve been apart and come together again.”
“Okay, Texas,” I said softly.
He rearranged me to curl my front into his side. “What did you make?”
“Just a simple stir-fry.”
“Smells fuckin’ amazin’. Can you turn it down or off? We’ll shower and then eat.”
Grinning with mirth, I patted his chest. “Is showering together all you’ve thought about all day?”
“Most of the day, yeah.”
Shaking my head, I lightly laughed, even when my belly fluttered over the thought of being naked in the shower with Texas. “Then let’s go shower.” I reached out to turn off the stovetop.