Page 31 of Chance

"This is so cute," Allie says, holding up another baby outfit and putting it into the trolley, distracting me from my bad past.

I don’t know why that memory came up. Maybe it’s because I’m in a shop full of loving parents with their young children, and some part of me wishes I had that kind of past. We are shopping at some random baby store, which I swear is the most uncomfortable place I’ve ever been shopping. Somehow, my sister and her best friend have ruined shopping for me. The ‘evil duo,’ my new nickname for Allie and Izzy, have nearly bought the entire shop. I love shopping, but I'm lost in this store. Half the things in the trolley, I have no idea what the hell they do.

"Sebastian, come here," Izzy shouts from somewhere near the back of the store.

"Go, I'll pick more outfits you'll need, and I’ll get some bibs too. Oh, those Moses sheets you'll need, too."

She coos at a piece of cloth that has ducks all over it, what the hell is a baby going to do with a piece of cloth? I have no fucking idea what those are, and it annoys me. Most of this stuff was not in the pregnancy books I read. Maybe I should have read the books about what happens when the baby actually gets here.I shake my head and start walking toward Izzy. I should have just given them my card and written down the address for the store to deliver all this stuff.

Izzy is standing by a row of four cots. They are all slightly different, but she is in front of a white one that has her attention. It looks like a sledge on the ends and has drawers underneath. The baby furniture is all white, which matches the changing table and the wardrobes in the room. The room is painted a light blue, thanks to Luke who did that yesterday. Maisy is getting out of the hospital in two days, and I want everything done by then. We chose all the furniture for the house together online, and it's all been set up with the help of my family and friends.

"I like this one," I say, coming to a stop next to Izzy.

"I agree. It will match well. Do you want the bedding that it has now, or we can choose another?" she asks. It's a white bedding set with little cream rabbits stitched on the ends.

"I like this, do you think Maisy will like it?" I askthe important question.

"I'm sure she will." Izzy smiles.

Her phone goes off and she starts texting away, a big smile spread across her face as she chats to, who I’m guessing to be, Blake. She looks so happy from a text that I can't help but smile down at her. I used to dislike the happy look between them because it reminded me of what I thought I'd never get again, and I was stupidly jealous of them.

I go to speak to the manager and agree on a price for all of the stuff bought today to be dropped off at the house tomorrow morning.I pay for everything while Izzy and Allie talk by the entrance.

When I walk up, all I can see is Allie’s grin, and I say,"We noticed Maisy doesn't have many maternity clothes. I don't know if you wanted to buy her any."

She stops talking when my face lights up. Shopping for adult clothes I can do. I'm sure Allie and Izzy regret telling me they went through Maisy’s bag, which her dad had brought to the hospital. I’m surprised he even turned up. I had to ignore the urge to shout at him when he refused to see her or even look at me. I was too worried about Maisy to care what he did at the time, but I did see that her dad looked awful.

We shop for hours, and I buy more clothes than I think she will ever need. When I finally get back home, I just collapse into my bed.

I yawn, waking up in my old home. I finished packing the last of my clothes the other day after I got back from the hospital, and I haven't slept in our new house yet. I want the first time to be with Maisy next to me, the idea makes me as hard as a rock, and I have to calm down before I can even get out of bed.

It’s bittersweet to close the door on my room; I have bad memories of my father, but better ones of Harley looking after me. The memories of holding Maisy for the first time are in this room, and many other memories we had together.

I grab the last two boxes after showering. I get dressed in jeans and a green shirt because I know Maisy loves me in green.

I bump into Luke on the stairs, who is doing up his shirt buttons as a pretty girl with bright-red hair holds his arm.

"Morning." I grin and wink at him when the girl looks away.

"Morning, bro. Need any more help at the new house?" he asks, moving to the side so I can get past.

"Nah, I’m good. I'm getting Maisy in an hour and taking her back." I grin, and he pats my shoulder.

"I'm happy for you." He smiles.

"Baby, I want to go to bed." The girl pouts and runs her hands up Luke’s chest.

"See you soon, bro, be safe," I say, nodding my head at the girl, who is slowly undoing Luke’s top.

"I will," is all he says before grabbing the girl and lifting her over his shoulder while she giggles.

I walk straight to the car, planning to get breakfast at the coffee shop on the way. I can get some blueberry muffins and some ice tea, which I know Maisy is crazy for right now. I message her quickly from my phone and get into my car. I haven't told her I bought her a new car yet, which is at our new home. It's a Duke and perfect for getting all the baby’s stuff in. It's also purple, which is her favourite colour. I kind of bought it for her, but I know she won’t drive it unless I claim it’s also mine.

I park outside the coffee shop, which looks busy. I order my things and then sit down to wait. I look up as someone slides into the booth next to me and blocks me in.

"Elena, what are you doing?" I ask in an angry whisper, trying to move away from her, toward the window, but there isn’t anywhere I can go.

"I missed you, and what's your new number?" she asks while pushing her breasts into my arm.

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