Page 78 of Pucking Fate

Elle nudges me gently with her elbow, a knowing smile on her face. “He really is a natural,” she says, nodding toward Christian. “Finley adores him.”

“I know,” I murmur, watching as Finley throws the frisbee just a little too high, and Christian stretches to catch it before tossing it back with ease. “He’s good with him. Really good.”

Elle takes a sip from her water bottle and eyes me cautiously. “How are you holding up?”

“It’s…a lot,” I admit, pulling my knees to my chest. “I’m happy Finley has his dad in his life. But, at the same time, it’s all happening so fast. The summer has flown by and school starts soon…”

Finley will be starting kindergarten over three-hundred miles away from his father and uncle. And I’m not sure how I’ll do everything on my own.

Preston returns to us with a fresh lemonade, and sits down beside Elle, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Everything okay over here?”

Elle gives him a reassuring smile. “Maya just mentioned that school starts soon.”

“Gah.” Preston shakes his head and leans back on one arm, his long legs stretched out in front of him in his athletic attire. “I can’t believe he’s old enough to go to school. I mean, pre-school was really more like daycare. To think that he’s going to the real deal in a few weeks blows my mind. I remember holding him when he was barely bigger than my palm.”

“Time flies,” I agree.

Finley and Christian come back over to the blanket, both of them smiling. Finley’s cheeks are flushed from the sun and running around, and he flops down beside me. Christian sits next to him, a little out of breath but grinning from ear to ear.

Preston grabs the cooler and opens it, handing out sandwiches. “So, I’ve been meaning to ask,” he says, biting into his ham and cheese. “Elle and I were talking about our honeymoon plans, and we’ve narrowed it down to two spots. Bali or Santorini. Thoughts?”

Elle chuckles, rolling her eyes. “Ignore him. We’re not even engaged!”

“Yet,” my brother remarks.

We all know it’s only a matter of time.

“Well, I think they’re both beautiful,” Audrey chimes in from her spot, putting her magazine down. “But Santorini has those amazing views, and you could get those Instagram-worthy sunset shots.”

“Bali’s got the beaches, though,” Christian adds, reaching for a sandwich. “Plus, the diving is incredible there if you’re into that.”

I listen as the conversation flows easily between everyone, laughter and lighthearted banter filling the air. It feels good—natural, even. For a moment, I allow myself to relax and enjoy this little piece of normalcy.

“So, Maya,” Elle says, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “We have great schools around here too, and Finley seems to love it…”

Her question hangs in the air, and I stiffen slightly. I knew this topic would come up eventually, but I wasn’t prepared for her to ask it now, in the middle of a peaceful picnic, where they can all gang up on me. I glance at Preston and Christian, who are suddenly very interested in their sandwiches, though I can see the tension in Christian’s jaw.

Preston, always quick to read the room, clears his throat. “Yeah, I mean, I know you want a place of your own, but you could stay with me until you find a place. Or with Christian…”

“He offered but…” I start.

“He offered up his bachelor pad?” Audrey asks in surprise. “I barely recognize this Christian. The one who broke Elle’s heart is long gone.”

“He is,” Christian says, finally looking up. His eyes flicker toward me for a brief second, but he quickly turns back to his sandwich. “And Maya said no to all of it, so can we please just drop it?”

There’s a shift in the air, subtle but unmistakable. The conversation lingers dangerously close to what we’ve all been skirting around—the question of what’s really happening between Christian and me.

Elle shoots me a supportive smile in apology for bringing up the topic.

“I think fatherhood has been good for you,” Audrey says, breaking the silence. “Forcing you to grow up.”

Christian smiles warmly, his gaze softening as he looks at Finley. “I won’t deny that.”

Finley beams, proud of the attention on him, and scoots closer to me, leaning against my side. “Mommy,” he says, his eyes sweet and innocent when he looks up at me. “Could we please move in with Christian? I mean, with Dad?”

I can feel everyone’s eyes on me, and I wish I could explain it to my son, our son, but I can’t. And I hate that I have to figure out how to refuse his request in front of everyone.

I swallow hard, trying to find the right words. “That… would be a big change, buddy. One I’m not sure we’re ready to make yet.”

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