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Maya Lawrence

“ M om, please…please do something. Y-you can’t let Daddy kick me out,” I whisper. My throat feels like it’s on fire as a cascade of tears run down both my cheeks.

“You heard your father, Maya – just marry the boy and make this right,” she replies while wringing her hands, refusing to look at me from the edge of her seat on the sofa.

“Maya isn’t going to marry Christian,” Preston grumbles as he paces in front of the fireplace. “Her and that asshole ended things weeks ago, before she even found out she was pregnant.” Then he turns to me with his eyes softening. “It’s going to be okay. Dad’s just…angry right now,” Preston says. “He’ll calm down in a few minutes and take it all back–”

Before he can finish his thought, our father storms back into the house carrying a stack of cardboard boxes piled so high I can’t even see his face. The sudden bang of the boxes hitting the hardwood floor right in front of me makes me jump. “Go start packing. I want you out of here tonight. Don’t come back until you make this right.”

“I’m…I’m sorry, Daddy. I didn’t mean for this to happen…” I say as I begin to sob. I knew my parents would be angry and disappointed, but I didn’t think they would throw me out of the house like I’m trash.

“Your mother and I are going to Bible study, and when we get back tonight, you better be gone from here.”

“You can’t do this to her!” Preston shouts as he gets in his face, taller and more intimidating than even our father now.

“This is my house and my rules! She broke them, so now she has to deal with the consequences of living in sin. Your sister will not step a single toe in my house again until there’s a ring on a finger!”

“That’s bullshit!” my brother argues.

“You can take her in since this is your fault as much as it’s hers and that careless boy’s. It was your job to look out for her and you failed!” he shouts at my brother.

“This isn’t Preston’s fault. It’s mine…” I sob.

“You’re both a disgrace to this family,” my father says. “Your brother can help you raise the bastard, because your mother and I don’t want anything to do with it.”

Maya

Nearly six years later…

I hate change.

Whoever said “change is good” lied. Change is never good, just inevitable.

I especially hate big changes like the one I feel coming this morning. My brother is already showered, dressed, and awake with a cup of coffee in his hand, his back braced against the kitchen counter. His brow is furrowed, as if he’s thinking hard way too early this morning, one of the first days of his summer break that’s supposed to be relaxing.

“Morning,” I say in greeting as I pour a cup of coffee for myself. Between the two of us, we can go through a whole pot, which is why we prefer the old-fashioned method to the new single cup machines.

“Morning,” he replies. His tense, six-foot-four frame doesn’t move from his contemplative stance as I sit at the breakfast table.

“What’s up, Preston?”

“So, I’ve got some news,” he says gravely, as if preparing me for the worst. Which is confusing since my brother just won the freaking national hockey championship, everything he’s ever worked toward his entire life.

“Okay. Give it to me,” I tell him, since the suspense is killing me.

“I signed a contract this morning with the Greensboro Bobcats.”

The mention of the Bobcats automatically makes me think of Christian.

“Oh wow. So, it’s really happening? You’re moving to North Carolina?” Moving to the same city as the man I still can’t stop thinking about years later. And just thinking about the M-word nearly has me breaking out in hives thanks to old trauma.

“Yes, it’s definitely happening.”

I should’ve realized it was a done deal. Why wouldn’t he want to move to be in the same city as his sweet girlfriend Elle?

“My offer still stands,” he says. “I know you hate the idea of packing up and moving, but I want you and Finley to come with me to Greensboro. I’ll find us a house big enough for the three of us.”

I lift a single eyebrow. “I think you mean four.”

“Huh? Oh, Elle.” A slight smile lifts his lips at the mention of his girlfriend.

“Yes. Elle! Don’t even pretend like you two won’t be living together before the end of the year. Heck, I would put money on you two moving in together before the season starts!”

“That’s not…I don’t know.” He shrugs his wide shoulders. “I hope so, but I’m not going to rush Elle into this when everything is so new.” Turning to pour himself another cup of coffee, Preston goes on to say, “But that doesn’t change the fact that I won’t feel right in Greensboro if you and Finley aren’t there with me.”

In Greensboro…the city that worships Christian Riley, which means I would likely see his face on billboards and possibly run into him at the grocery store.

“I think we should stay here in Maryland.” In this house, the only house Finley knows since he was an infant the last time we moved, and far away from a certain puckboy.

“Do you really think you can raise him here on your own?”

I scoff at my brother indignantly and cross my arms over my chest, leaning back in my chair. “Preston, you know I appreciate everything you’ve done to help me raise Finley, but he’s my son. I don’t need you to keep supporting us.”

“Don’t you, though?” When I glare at him, he holds up both of his palms in surrender. “I’m not trying to be an asshole; I’m just being realistic. You don’t have a job. Hell, you’ve never worked a day in your life.”

“I know I haven’t, but I’ll find a job this summer.” It can’t be that hard to find a job, right?

“Maya…” Preston says, his voice full of doubt.

“Just because I don’t have a college degree or experience doing, well, anything other than distributing snacks at pre-school, I’m sure I can find some sort of work.”

“I’m not trying to be mean, but even if you do find a job, do you really think you’ll make enough in an entry-level position to support you and Finley?”

Well, crap. Probably not. I don’t even know what the minimum wage is, though I’m guessing it’s less than fifteen dollars an hour after tax deductions, which would be around six hundred dollars a week.

“The house is paid for and I’m not selling it,” Preston goes on to say. “I can help with the other bills, even if I’m not living here.”

“I don’t want you to do that.”

“I have plenty of money, Maya. And I’ll be making more than before, thanks to the new contract.”

“I appreciate the offer, but it’s time for me to fend for myself for once,” I tell him. “You’ve been my crutch for too long as it is.” I’ll never forget the look on my brother’s face when our father told him it was his fault that I got pregnant within my first few months of my freshman year of college, a burden Preston still wrongfully carries. “I’m so glad you helped give me the time to stay home with Finley all these years, but since he’s starting kindergarten in the fall, I’ll have the entire day to work before having to pick him up from school.”

“You could apply for jobs in Greensboro just as easily…” Which would also require moving.

When I just stare unblinkingly at him, Preston sighs and takes a seat across from me at the kitchen table. “Fine. I hope it works out and that you can find work in this area, but if it doesn’t, I’m here. Or I’ll be there, and I can send money here. Dammit, I hate this!” he grumbles as he shoves his fingers through his dark hair. “I wish you and Finley would just come to Greensboro with me.”

“I hate it too,” I tell him with a smile. “Not because we’re losing our financial stability, but because we’re losing you. Finley is going to miss you so much. You’re the closest thing he’s had to a father his whole life.”

“Right, so will you at least think about it? For Finley? You don’t have to decide today.”

“No, I wouldn’t have to decide today, but I would have to decide before school starts this fall,” I point out.

“Right,” he agrees. Then, clearing his throat, Preston nervously rubs the back of his neck. I’m pretty sure I know what uncomfortable topic he’s going to bring up before he even speaks. “Speaking of fathers…what are you going to do about Christian?”

I shrug with my arms still crossed in annoyance, since this is not a subject I like to discuss. A few weeks ago, Preston told Christian Riley that he’s Finley’s father after years of him being in the dark. Without warning me.

“What is there to do?” I ask him. “Christian knows he’s Finley’s father now. What that means going forward is ultimately up to him, I guess.”

“It’s not going to be easy,” Preston remarks.

“You think I don’t know that?” I huff. “I was finally beginning to close that chapter of my life and now he’s right back in it…”

“I meant for Christian. It’s not going to be easy for Christian to be a part of Finley’s life when he doesn’t even live in the same state!”

Shaking my head, I tell him, “That’s not my fault.”

“No, it’s not. You have the right to live wherever you want with Finley. You’re his mother. But what if Christian wants to take on the responsibility…”

“I’m not letting Finley stay with that playboy hundreds of miles away for a single night without me, if that’s what you mean.” Panic begins to rise, tightening my chest at the thought of losing any time with my son. “Wait. You don’t think…would Christian take me to court for custody?”

With the millions the man earns playing professional hockey, how would I fight that? I know Preston would spend however much money it takes for me to get my own attorney, but I dread having to fight over my son. My son, who I have spent every single minute of every day with his entire life. I’m all Finley knows. Me and Preston. If Christian tried to take him, I’ll never forgive him.

“Honestly, I don’t know what Christian plans to do, Maya. Maybe he’ll demand visitation or maybe you’ll never hear from him again. Wouldn’t it be better if you deal with him yourself, though? If you would just try to talk to him and ask him what he wants, you may avoid a world of trouble in the future.”

“Well, that is a problem for another day. How about we tackle today’s problem first?”

My protective brother perks up, as if suddenly on high alert for any and all lurking danger. “What problem?”

“You have to tell Finley your news before he hears it from one of his friends in the sports headlines.”

“Oh, crap,” Preston mutters.