Page 28 of Pucking Fate

I guess I’m not wrong to have been angry at her for keeping him from me.

At the same time, nothing good will come from me holding on to that anger. Not when I want to prove to her that I can be a good father to Finley and a good man for her.

It’s my fault Maya didn’t call me when I up and left town and she decided not to end the pregnancy, and when she was in labor, I was out partying with friends. That’s why I know that I don’t really have anyone but myself to blame for missing out on the first years of my son’s life.

All I know is that I won’t miss out on anything else with him ever again.

12

Maya

There are no decent job prospects for me within a sixty-mile radius. Not that I would actually drive an hour for a minimum wage job. Even if I wanted to, there’s no opportunity that I’m qualified for. The only two potential options are cleaning hotel rooms or working the cash register at a retail store. Both of which have long hours, which would prevent me from picking Finley up from school, few if any benefits, and wouldn’t pay enough for me to buy groceries for the month.

Still, despite my lack of education and experience, I decide to fill out the applications online for a few other positions while Christian is outside playing with Finley.

The one job that caught my interest and had a flexible schedule and benefits was the activities director at a senior center. I bet I could even bring Finley in with me in the afternoons or on weekends. The elderly love having cute little visitors. While they want at least a year of experience, they onlyrequire a high school diploma rather than a B.A. which I never earned.

Since I also need a few references, I send a quick text message to two of the moms in the neighborhood and then one to Elle.

Elle’s response comes back first.

“Of course I’ll give you a glowing recommendation! Give Finley my love.I’ll call you tonight when I get home from work!”

I’ve just put my phone down on the coffee table and picked the laptop back up to enter Elle’s name and address when the back door opens and closes.

A second later, I hear the hallway bathroom door slam shut.

Christian is chuckling before he steps into the living room wearing nothing but boardshorts. My jaw literally drops. Good lord, his rock-hard abs are delicious and he’s so damn tan despite spending most of the year in an arena on ice. He looks more like a surfer than a hockey player.

Seeing me staring at him, he says, “Finley’s taking a quick potty break.”

“Oh, right,” I agree, wondering if letting them play in the sprinkler and slip and slide today was a good idea or if I was an idiot for not joining them. “Y-you should both grab some water while you’re inside too,” I tell him as I watch the droplets of water trickle down his chest and stomach toward the waistband. “Help yourself to anything in the kitchen. Finley knows where the glasses are in the cabinet. Maybe I could get you a towel…”

Glancing down at his bare chest, Christian says, “Shit. I mean, shoot, I’m dripping all over the floor.”

Putting the laptop aside, I hurry to the hall closet and return with two towels. “Here you go.”

“Thanks,” he replies as he begins drying off right there in the living room. Nodding to my computer that’s back in my lap, he says, “Whatcha working on?”

“I’m trying, unsuccessfully, to find a job,” I reply.

“Not having any luck?”

“Not really. There are a few positions that I would love to get but probably have no chance of even landing an interview. Which leaves me with few choices since I haven’t done anything my entire life except one semester of college before I dropped out and nearly six years of being pregnant and raising a child. Neither is going to be very impressive to a potential employer.”

“I’m impressed,” Christian says when he takes a seat on the coffee table in front of me. “You were really young and had no experience with kids before you had Finley. He turned out great, so I think that’s a pretty big accomplishment.”

“Thank you,” I say, genuinely warmed by his compliment even if I know he’s only saying it to try to get me out of my panties again tonight. Not that he needs to try very hard… “Still, there are tons of women who have done the same thing. Being a mother doesn’t gain you any credit career-wise. If anything, I don’t want any future employers to even know that I’m a mom.”

Christian’s blond brow furrows. “Why not?”

“Because single mothers have to miss a lot of work when their kids are sick or have school events. It makes us look like we’re less dependable. Oh, and god forbid we get pregnant again while working for a company. That would require time off for doctor appointments then maternity leave. If they hire a man instead of a woman, they know they can avoid all of that.”

“That sucks.”

“That it does,” I agree.

“Well, if you need any references or whatever, feel free to put me down.”

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