“Not a supplier?”

  I shook my head. “I met Maya. In Leeds.”

  “So, Maya finally messaged you.” She raised an eyebrow and smirked. “Nice work, Dad.”

  “Will you, then? Meet her.”

  “Wow, you do like her.” Scratching her chin, she glared at me. “Why are you so nervous? Is she an ex teacher of mine?”

  “No!”

  “She’s not under twenty-five, is she?” Maddy’s face went white, and if I didn’t want to get the conversation over with, I would have let her think I’d found a woman closer to her age than mine.

  “She’s thirty-two.”

  “And she’s not married?”

  “No,” I replied. “Never been married.”

  “Children?”

  “No.”

  “Well, she’s getting on a bit, Dad if you do decide you want babies together.”

  “Maddy,” I groaned. “We’ve had one date.”

  “And yet you want her to meet me.” She shrugged. “Sounds pretty serious already if you ask me.”

  I was slowly losing my patience. “Madeline, are you happy to meet her or not?”

  She considered it for a minute. “Yes, I’d like to. If she’s special to you, then I’d love to meet her.”

  “Seriously?”

  She dropped her feet to the floor and stood up. “I am very serious. I’d love to meet her.” Throwing the cushion back onto the armchair, Maddy moved over to the sofa and sat down next to me, putting her hand on top of mine. “Dad, I’m glad you’ve met someone that you like enough that you want me to meet her. I’ve been telling you for ages.”

  “I know, sweetheart, but it’s always just been us. Me and you. I wanted to be sure that were okay with it.” I ran a hand down my face, not sure why I was finding it so hard. I liked Maya and I wanted to see where it could go. I wanted her and Maddy to get along. To really like each other. It was just bloody difficult realising that things might be about to change in a life that I’d become so comfortable with. I wasn’t normally someone who stood still. I believed in moving forward and relishing change, but introducing a woman into the life that Maddy and I had forged together, well, it seemed like a huge leap.

  “I’m more than okay with it. Honestly, Dad.” She leaned in close, hugging my arm. “At least if I go to uni, I’ll know that you’re being looked after. That someone is feeding you.”

  “I can feed myself, you know.” I leaned back, taking Maddy with me, settling against the cushion. “You’re not a little girl anymore, and I’m struggling a little bit with that. There’s a boy you’re talking to…” She slapped me playfully on the chest. “And then you might go off to university.”

  “And I might not.”

  “Maddy, sweetheart, we’ve talked about this. Going away will be better for you than studying online. You’ll have a better experience than if you stay here with me.”

  “We’ll see,” she said with a sigh.

  “It’s just bloody scary.”

  Grinning, she held out her hand. “Take my hand, Daddy.”

  I smiled, hearing the words that I’d said to her since she was a little girl, and placed my large, calloused one in her small, smooth one. I loved that now she was older she knew that sometimes I needed to hear it too.

  “I know it’s scary, William, but we all have to grow up.”

  I narrowed my eyes on her. “You’re a little turd.”

  Giggling, she reached up and kissed my cheek. “So, when do I get to meet her?”

  “I don’t know, but soon. I hope.” I thought back to my afternoon with Maya. I wanted more of it. More afternoons spent laughing and flirting with each other.

  “You’d better call her then, hadn’t you.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Sighing, she rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad. I’m sure.”

  The relief rolled through every muscle in my body, like I’d been given a sedative. The realisation at how tense I’d been feeling, waiting for Maddy’s reaction, made me blink.

  “You okay?”

  Stirring myself, I turned back to my daughter. Her expressive eyes showed concern as they grazed over my face, searching for whatever it was that she thought was bothering me.

  “She’s not pressurising you into meeting me, is she?”

  “No, honestly, Mads, I’m fine.” I leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “It’s just a big thing, you know. Introducing a woman that I actually like to you.”

  “As opposed to…”

  “A woman who begs to meet you because she thinks I’ll like her more.”

  “Maya isn’t like that?”

  I shook my head. “Nope. She’s nothing like any other woman I’ve ever dated.”

  Maddy burst out laughing. “Dad, you don’t date. You have one night stands that last a couple of weeks.”

  She wasn’t wrong. It didn’t mean that I wanted to admit it, though. “Whatever, Madeline. Now, get to bed.” I smiled, just so she knew I wasn’t being serious, but also didn’t want to talk about it any longer.

  Yawning, she stood up and gave me one last hug. “Night, Dad. And ring her.” She raised both her eyebrows—eyebrows that I had paid a stupid amount of money for her birthday.

  “I will. I’ll call her now.”

  That earned me a kiss on my cheek, and as she disappeared, I grabbed my phone and called Maya.

  Maya’s Diary Entry

  Panic over, he called me at about half ten. He was waiting for Maddy’s boyfriend to leave so he could speak to her.

  I’m going over there and he’s going to call me tomorrow to finalise the details!

  There’s something about him that makes me feel like this could be going somewhere. Like maybe he could be the one who treats me properly. The one who I could have a future with. Is that stupid? One meeting and a phone call?? I’m an idiot. I can’t rush this. I can’t make it more than it is. I’ve been excited about a relationship before, and it turned to crap, so I need to stop getting ahead of myself on this one.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Maddy

  The last thing that I expected to see, as I walked towards the school gate, was Zak. He stood out amongst the hordes of kids milling around. Our sixth form didn’t insist on us wearing school uniform like a lot did, but even if he had been dressed in grey trousers and jumper with a white shirt and burgundy tie, I’d have spotted him anywhere.

  Leaning casually against the metal mesh fence, he had an unlit cigarette dangling from his mouth, a sexy grin keeping it in place.

  “Hiya gorgeous.” He took the unlit smoke from his mouth and shoved into the top pocket of his thick padded jacket. My stomach and heart battled with each other as to which could flip the most, and my cheeks felt like they were burning.

  “Hi. What are you doing here?”

  He looked around as he pushed off the fence, stretching his long limbs in a stride towards me.

  “Erm that would be waiting for you. What else?”

  I shrugged. “I don’t know. I just didn’t expect it.”

  “We both have maths first thing, so…” He held out his hand for me.

  I hadn’t even told Ana, or any of the others about Zak kissing me at the kitchen table. Ana knew that we’d gone out, but that was it. By the time Dad had spoken to me about Maya, all I’d been ready for was to get in my bed and fall asleep. Admittedly, dreaming about Zak.

  “Are you sure you’re ready for everyone to…” I looked around. “I don’t know. I mean…”

  “Maddy,” he whispered, leaning in close, “I like you. I don’t mind who knows. Do you?”

  I would have been happy to scream it to everyone. Hijack the sixth form weekly meeting and add it as an agenda item.

  “No, I don’t mind.” I gave him a shy smile. “I was just thinking, you know, we’ve not been talking for long and⁠—"

  He laughed. “I don’t believe in all that talking shit. I like you. I like kissing you. I like spending time with you. So as far as I’m concerned we’re together. Are you okay with that?”

  Swallowing, I nodded.

  “Good.” He gave me a wink, which in no way whatsoever gave me the ick, and then grabbed my hand. “If we hurry, we can have a quick snog before everyone else gets there.”

  I snorted out a laugh, embarrassment making me hide my face behind my hand. Zak didn’t seem to mind, because he pulled me closer and then wrapped his arm around my neck while still holding my hand, and walked us in through the school gates.

  More than a few people stopped to stare at us, but Zak kept marching forward while telling me about a school talent show that Amelia had entered. With each step my confidence grew and by the time we reached the door to the sixth form block, I had the biggest smile and felt pride like I’d never felt before.

  I wasn’t bad looking. A lot of people had told me I pretty, my dad always said I was beautiful, even Zak had called me gorgeous, but I wasn’t sure that counted as it was in a greeting. The point was, being with him, with his arm around me, made me feel like I’d suddenly become the coolest, prettiest girl in school. He was stunning to look at, was sweet and had rizz, and rightly or wrongly him picking me made me feel like I mattered. It wasn’t a great advert for me being an independent, strong woman, but I was a seventeen-year-old girl who was liked by the hottest boy in school, so at that point I didn’t really care. I wanted to enjoy the moment.

  As we pushed through the doors, Zak kept his arm around me, manoeuvring us sideways so he didn’t have to let go.

  “Do you think your dad would let you go to a party at the weekend?” he asked, as we walked down the corridor towards our maths class. “One of the lads from the football team is having one. His mum and dad are going away for a few days.”

  “Who’s the lad?”

  Zak’s brow furrowed as he thought about it. “Jack someone.”

  “Dawson? Jack Dawson?”

  He nodded. “That’s him. So, you fancy it? You think you’ll be allowed to go?”

  “I’ll just tell him I’m going. He won’t mind.” He might warn me about drinking too much, or not doing anything stupid with Zak, though, “He would only say no if I don’t know whose party it was.”

  “I know, but I don’t want to piss him off. I told you; he scares me.”

  Rolling my eyes, I poked him gently in his side. “He does not. There’s nothing scary about him.”

  “Hah,” he scoffed. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one seeing his daughter.”

  That sent a little thrill through my body, jolting my heart to take an extra beat. When I looked up at Zak and saw two lines furrowed between his eyebrows, I couldn’t help but laugh. Even concerned he still looked gorgeous.

  “Honestly, Zak, he’s a big softy. Don’t worry.”

  “Well, I don’t want to risk it, so make sure he’s okay about it.” He kissed my cheek, sending me into another hot mess. “Maybe I should ask him?”

  “No, don’t do that,” I snapped, pulling us to a stop outside our classroom. “Don’t you dare.”

  He burst out laughing. “Okay, okay. Chill.” He held up his hand, clearly amused. “I won’t.”

  “No, you bloody well won’t.” I shuddered. “No one needs to ask him.”

  “He’ll know anyway, Liam is going, and his dad is bound to tell yours.”

  He wasn’t wrong. They told each other pretty much everything, especially where Liam and I were concerned.

  “We don’t have to go,” Zak offered tentatively. “We could do something else.”

  “No, I want to go. It’ll be fun, and honestly, my dad will be fine.” Looking at him and his earnest face, I had a massive urge to kiss him, but not the nerve.

  Zak narrowed his eyes on me and smirked knowingly. Leaning closer his mouth slanted over mine and he kissed me. It wasn’t deep or rushed but sweet and slow, his tongue lazily sweeping against mine. As I was about to push against him and possibly ride his thigh, Zak pulled away, smiling.

  “Bloody hell, that’s a development.”

  At the sound of Liam’s voice, we both turned to see him, Emma and Ana standing watching us, each of them grinning.

  “Alright,” Zak said, clutching my hand he brought it in front of him, a clear signal to anyone watching that we were together. It gave me a thrill.

  “When did that happen?” Emma asked, blinking like she was sending Morse code with each flutter of her eyelashes.

  “He’s liked her for ages,” Liam informed her knowingly.

  “They went on a date last night,” Ana added.

  Emma whipped her head in her direction. “How did you know that? How did I not know that?” She glared at me. “Does Liv know?”

  I shook my head. “I only told Ana last night. It was a last minute thing.”

  “The date or telling Ana?” she asked, sounding a little hurt.

  “Both.” I shrugged. “I didn’t mean to keep it from you, but I just…”

  Emma threw her hands in the air. “I get she’s your very best friend, Maddy, but you could have told us.”

  Pouting, she hitched her bag further up her shoulder and turned towards the classroom. Liam gave us a tight smile, and then watched her throw the door open.

  “She’ll be fine,” he said. “I’ll talk to her.” He jogged after her, leaving Ana staring at us with a raised eyebrow.

  “Date went well then?”

  Zak chuckled. “Yeah, definitely.”

  “If I was you, I’d message Liv,” Ana suggested. “She’s gone to the dentist and is back at lunchtime.”

  I nodded and looked towards the classroom that Emma had disappeared into. She was right, Ana was my very best friend, but I could have easily let Emma and Liv know later in the evening. I would have been upset, too, if she hadn’t told me.

  “She’ll be fine. You know she’s a drama queen,” Ana added. “Now come on before we get into trouble for being late.”

  I looked up at Zak, unease making my chest tight. “I should have told her, and Liv.”

  “Like Ana said, she’ll be fine.” He gave me a quick kiss. “Now, come on let’s get in there.”

  Nodding, I let him tow me in, sad that I’d upset my friend, and that it had marred my excitement of what was starting with Zak.

  “I am sorry,” I told Liv and Emma as we sat eating our lunch. “He asked me, and I just messaged Ana after he picked me up.”

  Liv shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.” She winced and touched her cheek, the side where she’d had a filling in her tooth. “Emma, stop being ridiculous. Now, this party on Saturday. Are we all going?”

  “Jack Dawson’s?” Ana asked, poking a fork at her salad and practically snarling at it.

  “Yes. The football team are going, obviously, and Harry Mayhew,” Liv informed us, the subject of Zak and me clearly no longer of any importance. “So, we need a plan.”

  “For what?” I asked.

  She huffed and placed her hands on the table. “To get Harry to notice me.”

  “Just wear your lowest-cut top,” Emma muttered.

  “Or that leather skirt that barely covers your bum.” Ana popped a tomato in her mouth and winced. “I don’t know why they insist on serving these shitty, sour tomatoes.”

  Liv flicked her long blonde, poker-straight hair over her shoulder and lengthened her spine. “Can we be serious?”

  My attention moved to the double doors leading into the dining room as Zak, Liam and a couple of other boys strolled in.

  “Maddy!”

  Liv’s voice snapped my gaze back to her. “What?”

  “A plan. We need a plan for me to get Harry’s attention.”

  “We’ve told you,” Ana stated, peeling a banana. “The clothes will do it.”

  “Yeah,” Emma added. “The skirt and the top together will seal the deal.”

  As Liv continued talking about her latest crush, I sensed that I was being watched. The hairs on my arms stood up and a shiver ran through my body. I turned my head and saw Zak looking at me from across the room. Toby, one of the boys he’d come in with, was talking to him, but his attention was definitely on me. There was a beautiful smile on his face as soon as our eyes met.

  “Oh, for shit’s sake,” Ana groaned. “Just go and speak to him.”

  “No.” It was hard, but I tore my gaze away from Zak. “He’s having his lunch.”

  “Yeah and he looks like he wants to eat you.” Emma snorted at her own joke, and I felt myself shiver with excitement.

  The anticipation of doing more than kissing Zak took my breath away. Already, I could imagine going further with him than any other boy I’d been out with before. I mean, I’d done things, more than kissing, but I’d never gone all the way. I’d never felt enough for someone to have sex with them. It wasn’t like I was waiting for ‘the one’ or for marriage, but I just hadn’t ever felt like I wanted to before. Yet Zak was different. I wanted more with him, even if he wasn’t the boy I’d end up with.

  Turning my gaze back to him, I was disappointed to see his attention was back on whatever the boys were talking about. I watched him for a few seconds and then sighed, still unable to believe that he seemed to like me as much as I liked him. About to turn back to the girls, I instantly stopped because Zak’s head swivelled in my direction. When he winked and gave me a broad smile, I knew for definite he was going to be my first.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Will

  My mouth felt dry, and the silence seemed to have stretched for hours. It was actually only seconds—ten to be precise. I knew because I was counting.

  “I told you, honestly,” Maya said, sounding breathy. “And you’re sure that Maddy is okay with it?”

  The relief that she was okay with Maya coming over was immense because this relationship was different.

  “She’s totally on board. Honestly.”

  “What do you think? Shall we all go out for dinner?”

  The vice-like grip around my chest loosened, and nervous air rushed out. “That would be fantastic. I’ll book somewhere.” My mind was already racing ahead to where we could go. “There’s a great pub in the next village along.”