She blushed a little and looked away. “May I ask why?”
“Well, it’s not something I like talking about, but… my parents are not very nice people.”
“When did you stop talking to them?”
I searched her face, wondering why she wanted to know so much. “About seven years ago. I went to university here at Edinburgh, and when I graduated I returned to London. I tried to be a part of the family, but it… Let’s just say I was better off back in Edinburgh, where I felt more at home with the friends I’d made here. I stayed in a flat with a number of them for a while, and then they all started pairing off and getting engaged. By then I’d built up a clientele and was making good money editing, and so I found my little flat on Nightingale Way.”
Maia came to an abrupt stop, and I halted too, looking back at her quizzically. “So you did it,” she said softly. There was something in her tone. Something akin to awe. “You made a life for yourself outside of your family. You really did it.”
I understood now. “Yes. I really did.” And you will too.
Her eyes grew big, luminous, and there was something hesitant in them. “Can… May I ask what your family did that was so awful?”
I looked out over the city I loved and sighed. “Some other time perhaps.”
When Maia didn’t reply, I glanced sharply back at her, afraid I’d hurt her feelings. Instead her sad smile was one that offered understanding.
“That was quick.” Logan was stooped over, his elbows leaning on the railing of our landing as he watched us climb the stairs. I looked up at him, and my smile faltered when I took in his appearance. He looked as exhausted as Maia.
“Turns out Maia is not much of a shopper.” I threw her a teasing smile as we stepped onto the landing to join Logan. I held up the bags in my hand. “I had to force-feed her.”
He straightened up, eyeing the bags and then Maia. “Did you get everything you needed?”
She nodded shyly.
We had gotten her everything she needed. Clothes, underwear, shoes, and toiletries.
Logan reached for the bags Maia was carrying. “Let me help you with those.”
I smiled at the way she watched his every movement with big round eyes, completely fascinated by him, before I let us into my flat. They followed me inside to the guest room, and I dumped the bags on Maia’s bed. Logan followed suit, and he took in the room. “This is nice. Do you like it, Maia?”
“It’s really nice,” she agreed quietly.
“Oh, here.” I dug in my purse for his credit card and handed it to him. Our eyes met, and he gave me this little smirk. I laughed. “Don’t worry. We were kind.”
His smirk turned into a tired smile, and I ignored the little pang of feeling it produced in my chest. “I’m sure you were. Have you guys had lunch? I thought I could take you out.”
“We haven’t. But you know… I’ve got some work to do. Why don’t you take Maia?”
We locked gazes again, and that little pang I felt quadrupled at the gleam of gratitude in his eyes. “That sounds great. What do you think, Maia?”
She nodded, and I could see her trying to mentally bat away her nerves like she had done in our landing yesterday when she’d confronted Logan. My gosh, was that only yesterday?
“What do you fancy?” Logan said as he guided her out of the room.
“Um… a cheeseburger?”
“Oh, my kind of food, girl. I know where we can get a good burger.”
“Have fun!” I called after them.
Maia gave me a wave at the door, and Logan lifted his chin toward me in what I assumed was a macho good-bye. When the door closed behind them, I bit my lip.
What the hell was I doing?
“What the hell are you doing?” Aidan yelled.
I winced and pulled my phone away from my ear.
“Grace? Grace!”
“I’m here,” I snapped. “Stop yelling before you blow out my eardrum.”
“I was shouting at my teammate, who is acting like a complete arse,” he said. “Sorry. I’m in the locker room. Anyway, I probably should be yelling at you. Would you like to explain to me what on earth made you think it was a good idea to take in a strange homeless girl who may or may not be your annoying next-door neighbor’s long-lost daughter?”
I’d decided it was best to call Aidan and let him in on my current situation, because he’d be pissed off at me if he found out about it much later. However, I was now rethinking that decision.
“Well, when you say it like that, it sounds nuts.”
“Because it is nuts.”
“Look, they needed my help.”
Aidan grunted at that. “I’m coming over to meet them.”
I frowned at the thought. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. Maia is overwhelmed as it is.”
“I’m sorry this girl is going through all this and I think it’s amazing that you want to look out for her, but I’m looking out for you. I’ll be over at yours in a bit to meet them. No arguments.”
I smiled because it wasn’t so bad having someone care about me. “Fine. But I’m not feeding you.”