Chapter 12

Chapter Twelve

Will

I rrationally, I wanted to punch the little shit's lights out. Irrational because I quite liked him. He was attentive to his sister, respectful to me, and polite to Monique when she checked in on us. My biggest problem was the way he looked at my daughter. It wasn't creepy or salacious, but there was something in his eyes. Something I'd seen before. I'd been a teenage boy. It was the look that told me he liked her, a lot. A look that told me he was having thoughts of what could happen between them. He was also making a big effort not to touch her in any way. I could see under the table that his legs were tucked under the seat, and when they both reached for the ketchup at the same time, he drew his hand back like the bottle was on fire.

If he'd just been some kid who wanted to… shit, I couldn't even contemplate it… I would have probably felt better about it. I could have warned him off with threats to his balls. Zak wasn't like that, though; he was serious about his studies and his future, which meant he would probably become serious about Maddy. That also meant the probability of a broken heart somewhere along the way.

As for Maddy, it was clear she felt the same way. She was looking anywhere but at him and anything I said she either rolled her eyes at or laughed a little too loud. Fidgeting and restless, her fingertips tapping incessantly like she was drumming a trance beat on the table. She could fall big time for this boy, and I didn't want her being derailed.

Then again, he might be good for her. He was talking about going to Edinburgh University. If they got serious maybe she'd follow him there. I scrubbed a hand over my face and groaned inwardly. Who the hell thought being the parent of a teenager was easy? Maddy was a good kid, and yet bringing her up was still filled with jeopardy.

"So," I said, pushing my empty plate away, "how are your parents settling in?"

"Great," Zak replied. "At least they seem to be. They try not to talk about work when they get home."

"Daddy works a lot," Amelia added.

We'd established that she was nine years old, loved Harry Potter and doing colouring books and had gradually lost some of her shyness as the minutes had passed. Her voice was quiet and clear but every time she spoke she aimed it at Zak. Not like she was checking it was okay, but just that she was still a little shy.

"He does," Zak replied, grinning at her. "But if he didn't we wouldn't have all the nice things we have, would we?"

He leaned forward and took a piece of toast that she'd left on her plate, taking a bite out of it. I glanced over at Maddy, and she was watching him, while pretending not to. She definitely had a crush on him, even if I didn't know my daughter, the blush on her cheeks would give it away.

"I have a trampoline," Amelia announced.

"Wow," Maddy replied. "I always wanted a trampoline."

Did she? I didn't know that. I would have got her one if I'd known.

"Want to have a go on mine?" Amelia asked.

Zak laughed. "I think maybe Maddy has grown out of wanting a trampoline."

Amelia's head whipped around so she could look at my daughter. "You don't want to go on it? Why not? Everyone loves trampolines."

Maddy was obviously torn between upsetting Amelia and annoying Zak. Blind to the fact that he liked her, she must have thought he would hate her becoming friendly with his little sister. I was torn between telling her that she should have more self-confidence because she was beautiful and keeping her away from the teenage boy with raging hormones. I went with throwing the two teenagers together, hoping I didn't regret it.

"I think she'd love to go on your trampoline," I offered, picking up my mug of coffee. "You're never too old for trampolines."

Zak looked at me, his eyes wary, and then over to Maddy. "You can if you like. I just thought…"

"Yes," Amelia cried, bouncing on her seat. "When can you come to our house?"

Maddy stared at me, unsure of what I was doing or why I'd said what I said. Maybe it was the possibility of never hearing from or seeing Maya that had made me soft. Losing out on something that I knew could be great, I wanted to be sure Maddy didn't go through the same thing.

"Well," I announced. "I need to go to the bar for a couple of hours, so if Maddy wanted to go back with you, I could pick her up later." I placed a hand on Zak's arm. "Unless you're busy."

His eyes went wide as he shook his head. "No. No. We were just going to watch a film until Mum and Dad got back."

I looked back at Maddy, who was bright red and chewing on her lip. "Do you have plans?" I asked her.

"No." She finally locked eyes with Zak. "If you're sure you don't mind. I mean if you'd rather do something else. Or maybe I could stay with Amelia for you, until your mum and dad get back."

I wanted to shake her and tell her to have more belief in herself. To back herself because this boy next to me didn't want to do anything else. He wanted to spend time with her. I just hoped that Zak had the balls to take control.

"No, I have nowhere else I want to be. It would be good if you could come back to the house with us." He cleared his throat. "Maybe play on the trampoline, and then we can all watch a film together?"

I couldn't help but smile, and I liked him a little bit more. I just hoped he didn't let me, or more importantly, Maddy, down. Maybe I wasn't ready to let her go, but knowing it was time meant that I had to trust him.