Page 65 of Take My Hand

“Of course I can,” he scoffed. “She’s the one who can’t even make decent scrambled eggs.”

“Dad, who would get you out of bed on time for work if I wasn’t here?”

He narrowed his eyes on me and then grinned. “Maybe you have a point.”

I turned to look at Maya, and my breath hitched. She was gazing at both me and dad and her eyes were glistening. She’d told me that her mum and dad lived in Scotland and that she missed them, so maybe that was what had made her emotional.

“What about you, Maya?” I asked. “Where did you go to uni?”

“Sheffield. Not the best for my course, but,” she laughed and shook her head, “believe it or not, I didn’t want to leave home either.”

“See.” I pointed at Dad. “Not everyone wants to go away to Uni.”

“Exactly.” Maya laughed and nudged Dad in the ribs. “Not everyone wants to leave their dad.”

“Don’t encourage her.” The smile that he gave to her was as gentle as I’d ever seen him give. It was just like the ones he gave to me when I was worried, or scared, when he wanted to reassure me. He’d give me that smile and then say, ‘Take my hand.’

I didn’t want to spoil their moment, but suddenly I felt like I shouldn’t be there. It wasn’t exactly a private moment between them, but it was obvious they were both falling quickly for each other, and they should have been able to do that without me ogling them.

“I’m just going to the loo,” I told them.

Dad’s eyes tore away from Maya’s and met mine. “Do you want a desert, sweetie pie?”

I almost told him my favourite, brownie’s with ice cream, but then remembered that maybe Zak might come over.

“I’m fine, thanks.”

“Maya?”

She shifted in her seat and licked her lips before shaking her head. Dad blew out his cheeks, and I realised that theprivate momentwas fast approaching. Me disappearing for a few minutes would be good for them.

“Just get the bill, Dad,” I told him. “If we fancy anything we’ve got some ice cream in the freezer.”

Dad swallowed and then cleared his throat. “Good idea.”

As I left them alone, I would have put money on Dad creeping across the landing later, and it made me smile. I was happy for him, and even if he and Maya only lasted a short time, he’d experienced something with someone who was more than just a hook up. He deserved that because it was time he thought about himself for once and maybe me going away to uni would be good for him, too.

Zak’s WhatsApp Messages

ZAK

It’s official I have a girlfriend!

OSCAR

That was quick. You haven’t even been talking to her for long.

ZAK

You know I hate that talking shit. She’s out with her dad and the woman he’s seeing tonight but think I’m going to go over later.

OSCAR

Message me the deets!

ZAK

Fuck off!

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