MAYA BROOKE
“Oh, god. Oh, god,” I repeat as I step onto campus for the first time since last academic year.
Jade gently squeezes my hand. “You’ve got this, Maya.”
“It feels really weird to be back,” I admit as I glance around at people walking to and from their classes. “Do you think it’s too early?”
“No.” Alice shakes her head. “I think it’s good that you’re giving yourself time to do something that’s important to you. And I know finishing your degree was a priority before Skye. Now you’ve sorted things out with Finn, you deserve this.”
I suck in a gulp of air. She’s right.
But I can’t help but miss Skye after being with her every day for almost three months. Finn is looking after her for the first time today alone, and he asked me to write everything down because he doesn’t want to get anything wrong.
“And we’ll help you with your assignments and notes,” Jade says supportively. “Well, the classes we have together, anyway.”
“Even if you couldn’t go to the lecture.” Alice shrugs. “You can always catch up online at home. Let’s be honest, most people’s attendance is below fifty percent, and they still manage to get decent grades.”
Jade hums in agreement. “Yeah, remember in second year when one of my lectures and classes clashed? I never went to the lecture, I just caught up online, and I still got a first.”
I nudge her gently. “Because you’re smart, Jade. And creative.”
“So are you. You’ve got this, and we’re not going to let you do this alone.”
My arms wrap around both of their shoulders. “Thanks, guys. I couldn’t do this without you.”
“Come on.” Alice motions to the far building. “We’re gonna be late to the lecture.”
As soon as we walk to the auditorium and take our seats, I stare down at my phone and let my thumbs rest over the screen.
Maya:
How’s everything going?
Finn’s response is immediate, and it gives me relief.
Finn:
Everything’s good
Skye’s having a little nap and I’m watching Desperate Housewives while finishing part of my essay
A laugh bursts out of me, and Alice and Jade flick their eyes in my direction. I purse my lips to try and hide my smile, but it’s impossible.
Oh, the best TV show ever
I hate to admit I’m hooked
You’re screwed now
Damnit
Have a good first day, sunshine. I know I said it earlier, but I mean it
I’m holding down the fort just fine
I know, thank you
Don’t thank me for looking after our baby
It’s the bare minimum
Warmth blossoms in my chest. He’s not a babysitter. He’s her father.
My lecture is about to start, I’ll talk to you later
Enjoy, smartypants
I smile and lock my phone before sliding it into my pocket and paying attention to the lecture because I’ve missed so much, and I desperately need to play catch-up and pass my final year. The amount of notes I take is slightly terrifying.
After the lecture, we head to the campus café to grab some lunch, although I brought my own because I cannot afford campus food right now. We sit on a bench, and I peel the lid from my homemade chicken salad and dig in.
“What’s your next lecture?” Alice asks.
I cover my mouth as I chew. “I’ve got multimedia storytelling in an hour.”
“Fun.” Jade places her elbows on the table as she drinks her coffee. “I wish I could do that module, but I wanted to do media law instead.”
“I’ll let you know how it is.” I point at her with my fork.
“Are you missing Skye yet?”
“A little,” I confess. “It’s the first time I’ve been away from her for this long, and it feels weird. I trust that if something happens, Finn will call me straight away, but to earn my trust, I have to give him the opportunity. I can’t do that if I don’t let him anywhere near her.”
“I know it’s probably hard, but it’ll get easier. Right?” Jade reaches for my hand.
“Totally,” Alice says.
A group of obnoxious football players step into the café. I know it because I recognise most of them from when Finn used to play and I went to watch his games, but he gave it up when his alcohol dependency became really bad.
Jade flicks her head over her shoulder and scowls. “Why are they so loud?”
I shrug. “Need attention, probably.”
Alice snorts. “Not probably, definitely.”
“Oh god,” I say as my stomach churns. “They’re coming over here.”
Jade and Alice both immediately scowl, moving into defense mode.
I lower my fork into my Tupperware pot and stare up at Reese as he approaches our table. “Maya Brooke.” He grins with a glint in his eyes. “Haven’t seen you around for a while.”
“I’ve been busy,” I respond.
His brows rise. “That about your breakup with Thompson?”
“That’s none of your business.”
My fingers itch to throw my salad at him.
I never liked him. He always had to belittle Finn at any chance he got, but I think it was down to jealousy.
Finn was a good player when he was on the team, but when he started drinking more and going to practice drunk, it didn’t end well, and Coach told him to get it sorted or leave.
So, he left.
Reese laughs. “So, that’s a yes, then?”
My phone lights up on the table, and he glances down at it before snatching it.
“Hey!” I call out.
“Why is your lock screen a picture of a baby?” he asks with a scowl.
“Give it back,” I hiss through my teeth.
Jade stands up. “Stop being an asshole, Reese.”
“Wait—” He pauses and holds my phone out of reach. “Is this your baby?”
My nostrils flare. “Give me back my phone.”
“And it’s Finn’s?”
“I said, give it back!”
Reese extends his neck and laughs like a hyena. “Okay, wow. This makes so much sense. First rehab, then a baby. No wonder he was spiralling out of control.”
A guy I don’t recognise pushes forward and snatches my phone out of his hands and gives Reese a glare. “Why are you doing this?” he murmurs deeply. “She doesn’t owe you anything. Leave her alone.”
The look on Reese’s face is near deadly, and without another word, he leaves, the rest of his friends following after.
My heart pounds in my throat as the guy who snatched my phone from Reese’s grip hands it back to me. “I’m sorry,” he says sincerely as I stare back into his brown eyes. “He can be insufferable sometimes.”
I take my phone and place it in my bag. “Trust me, I know.”
His mouth lifts into a small smile as his dark curly hair flops over his forehead. “I’m Alfie, by the way.”
“Thanks for getting my phone back.” I calm my breathing.
“Someone needs to put him in his place.”
I scoff at his words despite the fire roaring in my soul. “Agreed.”
“I’ll uh—” He drags a hand over his head. “I’ll see you around?”
My lips press together as I nod. Once they’re gone I sit back down.
“God, I hate that guy,” Alice grumbles. “He’s the worst type of person.”
I exhale a long sigh. “Reese has always been like that.”
“Alfie was cute, though.” Jade wiggles her brows.
A snort leaves me. “Don’t even go there.”
She raises her hands in defense. “I’m just saying. Nothing wrong with a little eye candy.”
“Drop it,” I say before picking up my fork and digging into my salad again, even though my appetite has disappeared.
They both watch me but say nothing more.
When my lecture is finished, I rush to head home. I’m buzzing with excitement despite how exhausted I currently feel. I definitely still have baby brain, but that’s not going to stop me from getting this degree.
The second I step through the front door, I pause to find Finn holding Skye as she lies flat on his arm. She releases a soft yawn as he sings her a power ballad like he’s performing to a stadium full of people.
He’s rocking her and singing so passionately that my heart is immediately filled with contentment. She’s safe, of course she is. I’m about to burst. She looks so tiny in that position, yet so comfortable.
Finn glances up seconds before he’s about to start belting the lyrics again. A bright smile graces his face, and I didn’t know this is exactly what I needed to see after a day at university.
“Hey,” he says as he walks towards us. “How was your day?”
I shrug off my coat, letting my bag fall to the floor. “It was good.” I lean forward to press a kiss to Skye’s head. “Hello, my angel girl. Oh, I missed you. How was she?”
“Perfect,” he sighs dreamily.
“You’re a natural with her,” I comment.
Finn blinks, and his green eyes meet mine. “Only because you wrote down a step-by-step guide. I’d be useless without you.”
My cheeks hurt from the blush that starts to appear. “It all takes time and practice, but you’ve already got it down.”
I walk towards the kitchen and pause to find it spotless. All the cutlery and plates have been washed and put away, the sides wiped down. “Did you tidy up?”
It most definitely didn’t look like this this morning.
Finn approaches me, Skye still in his arms. “Yeah, I thought I’d help out. I also changed the bedsheets and did a load of washing. I wanted to make myself useful.”
All of a sudden, I’m awash with emotion, and my hands begin to shake. I turn back to him, and once he notices my watery eyes, he starts to panic.
“Shit,” he murmurs before placing Skye down on her playmat. “Maya, I’m sorry if I overstepped. I didn’t—”
My body crashes into his, and I wrap my arms around him, using his T-shirt to dry up my tears that won’t stop falling. He holds me tight and rests his chin on top of my head.
“Sunshine,” he whispers, and I cry even harder.
“I’m just really grateful,” I sniffle. “I know I’m a sad excuse for a woman.”
Finn pulls back an inch and cradles my face between his hands. “Hey, don’t say that ever again. You’re not. It wasn’t that messy in here. I just thought I’d do as much as possible before you got back. I’m definitely not as sleep-deprived as you.”
“Thank you.”
He strokes my hair back gently. “Anything for you.”
I remove myself from his grip and furiously wipe my face. “God, I need to get a grip. When will my hormones go back to normal?”
“I’m not judging you.” He sounds sincere—he’s never judged me before. “You have every right to feel the way you do. It’s okay.”
After a few moments, I walk to the fridge and open it, and to my surprise, it’s stocked. “Did you buy food too?”
“Yeah, I did a quick supermarket order. Nothing crazy. Just to see you through for the next few days,” he says as he stands behind me.
“Why are you being so nice?” My lips wobble.
Finn’s fingers pinch my chin as he rolls his thumb over my skin softly. “Because you two are my priority, and I’m doing everything I should have been doing from the start and will continue to do for the rest of my life.”
My eyes burn again at his declaration. “Thank you.”
I flick my gaze to his lips, and the desperation to press up onto my toes and kiss him is ridiculous. God, I miss him. I miss him so much that it makes my heart bleed.
But I can’t. I told myself I wouldn’t. To not disturb what we’ve got going on.
Sure, we’ll always care about one another, but Skye needs us to be on good terms. I’m not risking it. I can’t.