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Maya

C hristian kept his promise, calling Finley every night to talk on video so they can see each other. Then we flirt a little once he’s tucked into bed.

I knew I was going to miss him, but I had no idea it would hurt so much.

Finley’s handling the separation better than I am, likely thanks to the daily calls and my intentionally scheduled playdates with his friends.

But one week apart is too long for me. That’s why we made the five-hour drive down today, the first Friday after training week.

Finley skips ahead of me, his tiny sneakers scraping against the pavement, obviously happy our long car ride is over as we approach Elle’s salon, our first stop since getting into town other than lunch and a bathroom break. His excitement at seeing Preston and Christian tonight is palpable.

For the millionth time, I second-guess surprising everyone this weekend, hoping Elle and Preston won’t mind our visit. If they have plans, Finley and I can always get a hotel room for two nights.

And Christian, well, part of me wanted to surprise him for a different reason, to see if he’s keeping his promise. I still can’t believe he dumped two million dollars into my checking account as if it was “a little spending money” for me and Finley. I refuse to touch a cent of it, though, leaving it for Finley to use for college one day.

Elle’s shop is so cute and girly, all pretty in pink, exactly what I imagined as I push open the door, making a bell jingle in greeting.

Elle’s standing behind an older gray-haired lady, a brush in one hand, hair dryer in the other. When she glances up and sees us, she raises both straight up in the air.

“Finley! Maya! You’re here!” Her smile is warm and genuine, which is a relief, as she powers off the dryer.

“We’re here,” I agree, unable to help my own grin.

“Aunt Ellie!” Finley exclaims, using his nickname for Elle as he runs over and throws his arms around her waist. He also bestows the title on her for the first time as she puts down the brush and hair dryer to hug him back.

“Oh, I’ve missed you, cutie. Preston has too,” she tells him.

The rest of the salon is buzzing with activity, the usual sounds of hair dryers and chatter filling the space from the other side where a brunette is clipping a client’s damp hair.

“I just had to come see your shop,” I tell her. “It’s so cute! I’m sorry to drop in unannounced, though. We’ll let you get back to work and catch up with you tonight, if that’s okay?”

“No, stay! I’m almost finished up and then I’m free for the next hour. There are restrooms in the back and a sitting area with some snacks if you can wait?”

“As long as we’re not imposing.”

“Never,” Elle replies. “Help yourselves!”

A few minutes later, as promised, Elle finds us hanging out in the little sitting area. “So? What do you think?” she asks, her hands braced on her hips.

“I love it. I should’ve given you a heads-up to try to get an appointment for a trim.”

“Well, come on back,” she says with a smile. “Audrey can keep an eye on Finley since she’s sweeping up and he seems to like watching Animal Planet.”

“I don’t know. Are you sure? You shouldn’t have to work during your lunch break.”

“I’ve already had lunch, so it’s just an empty spot,” she explains, then waves me forward. “Come on.”

“If you’re sure,” I tell her, then to Finley, sitting next to me on the small sofa, “Stay right here, okay?”

“Okay,” he replies easily enough.

As I sit down in one of the salon chairs and Elle starts combing my hair, I try to remember the last time I had a haircut. Last year? Year before?

“What are we thinking? A little trim or a big change?”

“Ugh, no. I hate change,” I tell her. “Could you just take as much as you think it needs for the dead ends? I actually can’t remember my last cut,” I admit sheepishly while she fits the black cape around me.

“Then you are due one today.” Wetting my hair with a squirt bottle, she says, “I’m so glad you decided to come down. Are you staying the weekend with us?”

“Oh, Elle. I’m an awful sister-in-law,” I confess. “I should’ve warned you we were coming and asked if we could stay with Preston.”

“You know the answer is always going to be yes. Besides, it’s his apartment, not mine. I just stay over occasionally.”

“Occasionally?” I ask, grinning at her in the mirror’s reflection.

“Fine. I stay with him most nights. But there is more than enough room for you and Finley. He’s been so worried about you two.”

“Of course he has,” I mutter with a roll of my eyes. “We’ve been fine. We miss him, not his overprotectiveness or his wallet. I’m actually still waiting not-so-patiently to find out about that activity director position.”

“Right. The one that will decide your fate; get it and you stay in Maryland, don’t get it and you move here. Tell me more about it,” Elle says as she breaks out the shears.

We spend the next fifteen minutes catching up before Elle uses the hairdryer to dry my hair and blow away the loose hair from my cape. In the silence, my mind wanders over to thinking about Christian, how to tell him we’re visiting, and whether or not he’ll be invited to Preston’s.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Elle says, meeting my gaze in the mirror when she puts the dryer away.

I force a smile. “It’s nothing, really.”

Elle gives me a look. “Girl, part of my job is to gossip and find out what’s going on with all my customers while I work. And I can practically see your thoughts churning.”

I let out a sigh because Elle is so easy to talk to, it’s hard to resist sharing. But I’m not sure if I want to talk about him. “It’s just… complicated,” I say, my voice quiet.

“Christian?” she asks, her hands pausing from brushing out my hair.

I nod. “He’s doing so great with Finley and with us, but I just… I can’t shake the feeling that it won’t last. At least not with me. That he’ll get bored or distracted or… forget about us, me, once the season starts.”

Elle turns me in the chair to face her, her eyes serious. “I know it’s hard to do, but you can’t hold on to the past forever, not if you want to move forward. It’s going to take some trust, though.”

I cross my arms over my cape, a little defensive. “But what if he hasn’t really changed? What if he hurts me again? I still haven’t recovered from the first time.”

Elle lets out a sigh, leaning back against the counter. “Look, I get it. I really do. You’ve been burned by him before, and it’s hard to trust someone who’s hurt you. But Christian… I think he missed you, even when he was sleeping around. I’m certain of that, actually. He missed you before he knew you two had a son together.”

I bite my lip, thinking back to the way Christian’s face lights up every time he sees me and Finley. He’s making an effort, not just for our son but for me too. There’s definitely something deeper, more genuine there, just like when we were dating. But still, the fear lingers.

“I just don’t know, Elle. What if I take the leap and we end up hurting Finley, too?” I whisper. “Or seeing him after he moves on is too hard? I can’t drag our son through a nasty breakup.”

Elle studies me for a moment. “You know, I used to feel the same way about Preston.”

That catches me off guard. “Preston? Really?”

She nods, her expression softening. “Yeah. When we first got together, I was so sure he would never make room for me in his life. I mean, you know what he’s like. He’s this big, tough guy who loves his family more than anything. Then, I didn’t think we had a future because of the distance between us. But it all worked out.” Elle smiles, shaking her head. “Now, I can’t imagine my life without him. He changed our complicated circumstances. He uprooted his life for me, Maya. And while Christian may not be able to up and leave this city right now, I think he would do it for you if he could. Are you willing to do the same for him?”

I look down at my hands, her words sinking in. I’ve seen Preston and Elle together, how solid they are, how they balance each other out—her sunshine to soften his grumpiness. They weren’t perfect, there were distance and obstacles between them, but they made it work. And maybe… maybe Christian and I could, too.

Glancing over at the sitting area where Audrey and Finley are watching some penguins play, I say, “If we move, I want it to be my decision for once. And what’s best for Finley. I just wish I knew exactly what the future holds.”

“I get it,” Elle says, her tone gentle. “But here’s the thing—you’re never going to know unless you give it a chance. You don’t have to jump in with both feet, but maybe… maybe you could take a step.”

“A step?” I ask, glancing up at her.

Elle shrugs. “Yeah. Like… visit him while you’re here or when he’s on the road for a preseason game. See how he is after you two are forced to be apart. Maybe that’ll give you some clarity.”

I laugh lightly. “What, you’re encouraging me to spy on him?”

She grins. “I’m just saying, sometimes seeing someone in their natural element gives you a better idea of who they really are. Plus, it’s a good excuse for you to go on a little road trip with me.”

I roll my eyes, but the idea sticks with me. Visiting Christian on the road wouldn’t be the worst idea. Maybe it would help me figure out if he really has changed or if I’m just setting myself up for more heartbreak.

Elle returns to my hair again, working her magic on the annoying little flyaways. But I needed more than a trim from her. I needed all the heart-to-heart she could muster.

After we’re done, Finley happily shows off the cookie Audrey gave him as a reward for being so “good” which is fine with me, since he deserves it for being such a trooper on the long drive.

Still thinking about Elle’s advice, I ask her, “Do you know what time training usually ends?”

Elle gives me a knowing look and grins. “Usually around six.”

“Six.”

“Uh-huh. And I’m closing up here at four today, you know, if you were to need a babysitter.”

“Are you sure?” I ask with a wince, already imposing on her for dropping by.

“Absolutely! I’ll give you a key to go to Preston’s apartment so you two can get settled in, then I’ll be there a little after four.”

“You really are the best, Elle. I am so freaking glad your breakup with my ex led you to my grumpy brother.”

“Same, girl,” she replies with a wink.