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“It is poor bloody baby, so don’t make fun of me.” Christ, my heart felt full, stinky teenage boys aside. Maddy was my world, and now Maya was joining it, and she’d done nothing but enhance it. She and my daughter seemed to like each other and that was a huge weight off my shoulders, but it was getting that I couldn’t imagine how I’d traverse it if they didn’t.
“Seriously, Will, she’s a fantastic young woman and she’s bright and sensible and she’s happy and that’s because of you. She would never want to upset or disappoint you, so whatever she does it will be with the best of intention, so trust her.”
I let out a short breath. “How did you get so wise about teenagers?”
“Well, I was a teenage girl, and my mum and dad were pretty cool when I was.”
I hadn’t realised how hard it was being a single parent; I’d always just got on with things. Sam and Louise had always helped, but big decisions had always been down to me. Now with Maya in my life, I’d at least have someone to check in with. And the idea of that made me equal parts scared and excited. Was I going too fast? Thinking too far ahead? I had no idea, but it felt right.
“Can I let you into a little secret,” Maya said, tilting her head on one side.
My heart squeezed involuntarily, scared because of the furrow of her brow. “What?”
Worry flashed over her beautiful features, and I gritted my teeth, waiting for something bad.
“Don’t be angry with her, because she did a good thing.”
“Fucking hell. Tell me.” My pulse began to race. “What is it?”
“I called earlier, and Maddy answered your phone. She asked me to come over. She said that you’d had a bad day.” Her shoulders heaved, like she was relieved to have got it out. “She did that for you because she loves you, Will. Because you’re a good dad and she’s an amazing young woman, so don’t worry about her too much.”
I wasn’t sure my heart could get any fuller, but in that moment it did. There was nothing more I wanted or needed to feel fulfilled.
“She did?” I whispered.
Maya nodded. “She did.”
“And you didn’t mind coming over here? You didn’t feel pressured?” They weren’t really questions because I knew the answers. They were statements of fact.
“Not at all. In fact,” she said with a giggle, “I was glad of the excuse.”
“She certainly understands me.” I let a smile hitch at the corner of my lips. “She knows exactly what I needed.”
As we watched each other, an intense energy crackled, sending a shiver over my skin. Maya’s eyes were bright, and when she licked her lips, need and want twisted together in my stomach.
“I don’t know if you realise this,” I said, quietly as my hand moved up her arm, “but I really,really, like you.”
Maya’s gasp was quiet, more like a small inhale but combined with the tremble of her hand, I knew what it meant. She was feeling it too. The connection we had so soon. The desire to be together. The need to share the same space.
“I know,” she admitted. “I really,reallylike you, too.”
Euphoria was probably the word to describe the emotion I had bubbling inside of me. Excitement and happiness were overpowering any sensible thoughts that I should have. Yet, I held back from saying the words that were on the tip of my tongue. They didn’t scare me, but I didn’t want Maya frightened into making a decision that might damage my heart.
“Are you staying all night?” I asked, taking a lock of her hair and winding it around my finger, my gaze intent on hers.
“If that’s okay. Maddy won’t mind, will she?”
I shook my head. “We’ve had a conversation about it and she’s more than happy. Besides, she wouldn’t have asked you if she was.”
Maya’s smile was beaming as she gave a contented sigh. “Then I’d love to stay.”
I knew then that if she’d have added the wordforeverto the end of that sentence, I really wouldn’t have minded. Not one little bit.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Maddy
Dad was clearly troubled by the sudden appearance of his own father. He was trying to act like he didn’t care, but I knew he did. He’d taken time off from the bar, saying it was to spend the day with Maya, but I was sure it was in case his dad turned up again.
