by Ava Walsh
She turned to look at the door finally and pressed her eyes shut for a second. She loved Sophie too, of course she did. But Maya was now the most important person in her life and she would do anything it took to keep her happy and safe.
***
By the time Olivia had picked Maya up from her mother’s house and they had returned to the apartment, it was nine at night. Maya had already been fed and she lay dozing in her mother’s arms when Olivia brought her into the house.
Olivia smiled as she looked into Maya’s peaceful face and laid her down on the couch. Her phone rang in her bag suddenly and Olivia was snapped out of her thoughts. She found her bag on a chair, pulled her phone out and answered it, not recognizing the number.
“Hello,” she said, not entirely paying attention.
“Hello. Olivia?” the male voice said and she frowned.
“Yes. Who is this?” she asked, pulling her canvas shoes off her feet. She sat down on the couch, finally able to relax her feet after a long day.
“Hi, Olivia.” The tone of the voice was nervous, slightly unsure of himself. “This is Craig. Craig Walker,” he informed her, and Olivia stood up from the couch. What? Her heart was beating differently this time, but not out of excitement, the way it did each time she saw Rufus.
“Craig? Hi,” she mumbled, at a loss for words. She hadn’t spoken to him in three years.
“How are you, Olivia?” he asked. It sounded like he was pacing the floor. He was probably as nervous as she was. Olivia sat back down on the couch slowly. She needed to sit down for this.
“I’m good. How are you?” she asked and heard him clear his throat.
“I spoke to Sophie today. Your friend, Sophie Frost? Umm…she called me,” Craig said, and Olivia covered her face with her hands.
“Did she? Why? What did she tell you?” Olivia asked, pressing her temples with her fingers. She couldn’t believe Sophie had done this.
“She said that…that…she told me that I have a daughter. With you…” He was struggling with his words and Olivia shut her eyes. This was an absolute nightmare.
“Craig,” she said, and he stopped talking. “I’m sorry that she called you. She shouldn’t have.”
“But is it true? Do we have a daughter together, Olivia?” Craig’s voice was shaking and it seemed like he was rushing around his room now, unable to walk slowly anymore.
“Look, Craig. It was a one-night thing. Let’s just forget it, okay?” Olivia said, and she pulled her phone away from her ear and hung up. She still had the phone in her hands when it started ringing again. Olivia dropped the phone on the floor and Maya woke up, squealing in her sleep.
Olivia bit down on her lip in frustration and picked Maya up into her lap, leaving the phone on the floor, ringing away.
She couldn’t believe any of this was happening. Sophie, that bitch!
Olivia put Maya in bed and sat by her side reading her a fairytale. The muffled sound of the phone ringing a few more times disturbed them, but only slightly. Olivia kept the door of the nursery tightly shut as she read.
Maya fell asleep easily and Olivia bent down to kiss her forehead and push the golden curls away from her face.
Back in the living room, she found her phone on the floor. Craig had tried calling her six times but had finally stopped. She dialed Sophie’s number instead and on the third ring her best friend picked up.
“Olivia!” Sophie exclaimed. The nervousness in her voice was palpable.
“What the hell did you do, Sophie?” Olivia hissed into the phone. She didn’t want to yell and wake Maya up again.
“You mean Craig? Did he call you?” Sophie asked. “I can explain…” she tried to say, but Olivia interrupted her.
“Yes, he called me. With questions. Which I’ve kept hidden from him for three years. Who gave you the right to ruin all of that in one day?” Olivia couldn’t help it anymore. She was screeching into the phone.
“Olivia…” Sophie tried to get in a word but Olivia wouldn’t let her.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay away from us, Sophie?” Olivia yelled again, throwing one of Maya’s stuffed toys against the wall.
“Listen to me. He wants to help. He wants to do something, anything. I think you should take up that offer,” Sophie said, and Olivia laughed.
“I don’t want Craig’s help. Or yours for that matter. I wanted it to be a secret and you’ve ruined it!” Olivia was pacing the floor now.
“Why do you want it to be a secret? It’s a small town, his parents still live here. You should take advantage of the situation. He is as responsible as you are for Maya!” Sophie had begun yelling into the phone as well.
“Well. Did you ever think that it was my choice? That I didn’t tell him?” Olivia screamed back, and Sophie fell silent.
“Sophie. Please don’t ever call me again, or visit me. You’ve broken my trust and you can’t ever have it back,” Olivia said, then hung up.
Whatever Sophie’s motivations behind this, she had taken it a step too far. Craig didn’t want to have anything to do with this, and neither did Olivia. There was a reason she had never told Craig about Maya and Sophie had no right to use that information how she saw fit.
Olivia bit down on her lip and continued to pace the floor.
“I hate you! I hate you!” she kept mumbling to herself, not quite sure who she meant when she said that.
Now she’d have to fend off Craig all her life, or at least until he forgot about this. She shook her head again as the image of Craig kissing her floated up in her brain. A shiver ran down her spine. If only she had had the courage to say no to Rufus, none of these things would have happened. If only she hadn’t fallen in love with him.
Chapter Seven
Olivia expected it to be Sophie when she heard the knock on the door the next evening. It was late again. Maya was fed and in bed and she was just putting the plates away after her dinner for one. But it wasn’t Sophie, it was Rufus.
Olivia opened the door gingerly and stared at him in silence. He was casually dressed today, in a pair of old jeans and a cotton t-shirt that clung to his torso and accentuated the muscles on his arms.
“What are you doing here?” Olivia asked, unable to keep the viciousness out of her voice. Was this another tactic of Sophie’s?
“I got your address from my sister,” he said, a weak smile on his face. The dimple was faintly visible on his cheek.
“And did she force you to come here as well?” Olivia asked, still standing at the door and blocking it. Rufus Frost wasn’t going to be invited into her home. No way was he allowed to come in and invade Maya’s personal space.
“What?” He looked confused and Olivia rolled her eyes. “No. Why would Sophie ask me to come here? I wanted to see you. It seemed awkward that night when you drove away. I’ve been thinking about you since then.” His voice had softened as he spoke, and Olivia could hear her heart beating. It was the same rhythmic palpitation which occurred every time she laid eyes on him. He looked as gorgeous as ever, smelt of the sea and his eyes still shone a crystal green. Olivia was suddenly conscious of the ragged cotton shorts and the oversized sweatshirt she was wearing. Her brown curls were tied up in a messy bun and she’d removed all her makeup by now. What could Rufus possibly want from her now that he’d seen her like this?
“What is there to think of, Rufus? We had sex. Just like three years ago, and now you’ll be gone from town in a few days and it’ll all be over,” Olivia said and crossed her arm over her chest. She was beginning to feel like she didn’t care what Rufus thought of how she looked. In fact, it might be better if he wanted to leave, unimpressed.
“Is that what it was to you?” Rufus asked, his brows tightening, his face contorting. Olivia’s heart stopped. She hadn’t expected this response from him.
“What are you talking about?” Her voice cracked and Rufus took a few steps towards her.
“Is that what that has always been to you? A one night stand? An occasional fu
ck every few years?” Rufus ran his hands through his hair as he spoke. He suddenly looked like a man who was broken. Olivia licked her lips in confusion. He seriously couldn’t be asking her this!
“That’s what it is to you! You’re an NFL star, why else would you sleep with me a few days before you have to go away both times?” Olivia let her arms drop to her side and stepped a few inches back into the apartment. She didn’t want to be so close to him. Rufus was looking into her eyes again with that scorching gaze that she couldn’t resist. Images of his bare chest and his hips grinding into hers kept reemerging and she had to force her brain to focus.
“So what if I’m in the NFL? That doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings,” he said, following her into the apartment. Rufus didn’t look around him at the state of the house, the way Sophie had the previous night. Instead, he kept his eyes focused on her.
“Feelings? What are you talking about?” Olivia squeaked, the panic rising in her bones now.
“That you hurt my feelings when you drove away that night. That I thought about you constantly these past three years, and hated myself for waiting that long to say anything to you.” Rufus stepped towards her again and Olivia stepped away. This couldn’t be happening. It had to be a game. Rufus Frost couldn’t actually be declaring to someone, to her of all people, that he actually had feelings.
“I don’t believe you,” she blurted out and turned her face away from him. She didn’t want to hear it, didn’t want to know that the past three years had been wasted. In fact, for all she knew, he could have told all his one night stands the same thing. What else could he possibly want from her? She had given him everything she had.
“Why, Olivia? Just because I’m famous? Don’t you know me as the Rufus from your childhood? The guy who always looked out for you?” he asked, and she was forced to face him again.
“But you did the same for Sophie. I was her best friend. It was only natural that you’d look out for your sister and her friends.” Olivia’s voice was growing desperate. What game was Rufus playing? Her heart couldn’t deal with it anymore. What about Maya?
“I looked out for Sophie, for Sophie. And I looked out for you, for you.” His voice was tender and soft, and the look on his face had changed too. He was trying desperately for her to understand him, to believe him. But Olivia didn’t want to. What had she worked so hard for all these years?
“Olivia?” A different voice pierced through her brain and both she and Rufus turned to look at the door, which was still wide open.
She hadn’t seen him in person in three years, but it was definitely Craig Walker. Standing in the flesh, in smart, dark jeans and a tight leather jacket, with the same dark, stylish hair and a look of concern on his face.
“Craig?!” Olivia screeched, her hands flying to her face. What was going on? What could she have possibly done to offend the universe this much? She wanted to run away and hide somewhere.
“Rufus Frost,” Craig said, as he recognized the man standing in front of Olivia.
“Hello, Craig.” Rufus’ voice had changed suddenly as he smiled at Craig. The same devilish grin had returned to his face, the look that Olivia didn’t trust.
“What are you doing here, Craig?” Olivia broke in, stepping towards Craig now. He entered the house and shut the door behind him.
“I tried calling you back last night. But you didn’t answer. I want to see my daughter,” Craig said, his voice rising a little. Olivia threw a look at Rufus, and he looked like a defeated man. He was slowly accepting his loss.
“You can’t see her right now, Craig. Maya is sleeping and I’m not going to wake her up in the middle of the night to give her a shock.” Olivia dropped her voice now to drive in the point that her daughter was fast asleep in the room next door.
Craig came closer to her, a look of pleading in his eyes now.
“I can wait. I’ll wait till the morning. I’m not leaving without having met my daughter,” Craig said and grabbed Olivia’s shoulders. She tried to wriggle free but he tightened his grip.
From the corner of her eyes, Olivia could sense that Rufus was turning away from them.
“Craig, please…” She tried pleading with him, but he didn’t relent.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner, Olivia? My daughter is two years old now. I’ve missed so much time. We’ve missed so much time,” Craig said. He tried to hug her, but Olivia pulled herself away.
Rufus had placed his hand on the doorknob now and Olivia bit down on her lip. It was now or never. It had to come out eventually, and what was the point of denying it anymore?
“She’s not your daughter, Craig,” Olivia said quietly and watched as Rufus stopped in his tracks and turned to look at them. Craig’s hands fell from her shoulders, a look of disbelief creeping into his eyes.
“You’re lying,” Craig thundered, louder than he should have. “Why are you trying so hard to keep me away from Maya?” Craig asked, and Olivia breathed in deeply.
“She’s not yours, Craig. We can get a DNA test if you insist, but she’s not yours,” Olivia said and swung her head to look at Rufus. Rufus stood still, his face paralyzed in shock. He didn’t look disheartened or scared. Instead, there was joy creeping into his eyes as he stood staring at her.
“Rufus is Maya’s father. We were together around the same time, as you and I were,” Olivia said, turning back to Craig, who looked as shocked as Rufus did now. Only his look was more of disbelief and anger.
“How can you be sure then?” Craig asked, hurling the words at her, while also throwing glances at Rufus.
“Because nothing happened between you and me, Craig. We kissed, you led me up to a bedroom and while we were undressing, you fell asleep on the bed.” Olivia crossed her arms on her chest. It felt good to say it out loud and to finally tell the truth to all the parties concerned, even though she still couldn’t be sure how any of this would pan out. But Sophie was right in her own way. Everyone needed to know. Maya didn’t deserve to be a secret. She deserved to be celebrated, to be loved by everyone who was responsible for her. Olivia didn’t need to protect her from Rufus. She remembered the guy Rufus was as a teenager, he was kind, strong and protective. He deserved to know and protect his own daughter.
“I don’t believe this. Why would Sophie lie to me, then?” Craig thundered again, and Olivia bit her lip. She hung her head, aware that both the men were glaring at her now.
“Because that’s what I told her. I couldn’t hide Maya from her of course, but at the same time I didn’t want to tell her that it was her older brother’s baby.” Olivia could feel herself blushing.
Craig sighed loudly and plonked down on the couch.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me. One last minute flight, all the way from California, all over a lie. Because you couldn’t tell your best friend the truth!” Craig was grumbling now as he spoke, and Olivia blushed a deeper red. He was right. She was a coward and she’d wasted everyone’s time.
“Take it easy, Craig. She didn’t ask you to come over here.” Rufus spoke up finally and Olivia jerked her head up to look at him.
Rufus had a smile on his face. He was looking at Craig but turned to her when he sensed her eyes on him.
“Whatever. Congratulations, man,” Craig said, standing up from the couch and sticking his hand out in Rufus’ direction. “Seems like you always win, don’t you,” Craig said, with an obnoxious grin. Rufus accepted the handshake and then patted Craig on the back.
Craig threw Olivia a half smile before walking over to the door.
“Take care, Olivia,” he said and left the house.
Olivia and Rufus stood staring at each other, several seconds after Craig had left the house.
“Rufus…” She tried to find the right words to say but he rushed to hold her.
“You should have told me, Olivia. You have no idea how happy that would’ve made me,” Rufus said, grabbing her by the waist and pulling her close to him. He was kissing her cheek, her neck and her forehea
d, while she craned her neck back with her eyes closed, enjoying the onslaught of affection.
“I didn’t think you wanted to know. I didn’t want to trap you. You deserved to go and make your career in the NFL.” She spoke gently as he continued kissing her and Rufus stopped.
“Take me to my daughter, now,” he said, and she opened her eyes to find his smiling face looking down at her.
Chapter Eight
Olivia had dressed Maya in her new clothes, a pink frock with lace and net at the edges. Maya was delighted, clapping her hands and admiring herself in the mirror, as Olivia tied two pink ribbons to her pigtails.
“I don’t know who looks prettier.” She heard Rufus’ voice behind her. He had just stepped out of the bathroom and was smiling at them. His white shirt was tucked into his tailor-made pants, and the collar was open at his neck. His blonde hair was neatly combed to the side, while his green eyes shone with delight.
Maya squealed and clapped her hands again, and her father walked over to pick her up in his arms. Olivia looked on, imagining that this moment would last forever. It had been a week since she’d introduced Maya to her father, and since Rufus had moved into the small apartment, already too small for the two of them. He didn’t seem to mind. He’d already extended his trip, canceled PR events and locked himself away with Maya and Olivia.
“Ready?” he turned to her and asked. Olivia nodded and smiled as she watched him walk out of the bedroom with Maya in his arms, letting her play with his earlobes.
Olivia gave herself one last quick look in the mirror. Her curls looked great again, and she let them hang loose, just like her daughter’s. She was in a gray lace dress to match her eyes and high gray heels. She’d chosen a pale pink for her lips and painted her nails the same. Olivia wanted to dress up now. She had a reason to. It had started to make her happy again.
They were waiting for her at the door when Olivia left the bedroom. Maya was still in Rufus’ arms, laughing and giggling at her father. Rufus blew her a kiss when Olivia approached them and then shut the front door behind them, and they climbed the stairs together.