For some weird reason, I almost burst into tears.
Later that night as I got into bed, I realized part of the reason Baird’s apology made me so emotional was because that was twice now we’d argued, and he’d been the first one to show up in person to apologize. To fix it.
All of Will’s texts and then his email about wanting to talk … not once did he walk his arse to my front door.
I was realizing more and more as the weeks went on that what I’d had with Will had been superficial. That messed with my head just as much as he’d messed with my heart. Because what did that say about me? That I’d been ready to marry a man I was hiding my true self from? A man who had made all the decisions about our lives and rarely ever compromised to give me what I wanted from it—and I’d allowed him to do that. Why hadn’t I pushed back? Why did I always have to people-please?
Though … I didn’t feel the need to do that with Baird. He was the first person in years I’d had any kind of conflict with.
Huh.
Thankfully, I didn’t have much free time to dwell on all that. The last few weeks had been a whirlwind of preparation for the beginning of the social media campaign. The production team had already filmed us doing a short introduction that they’d post after the campaign and engagement announcement.
On Saturday, I’d traveled with my pseudo-cousin Beth to Glasgow for the Cup final. Her parents, Braden and Joss (who were like my aunt and uncle), were there too to support Callan, along with Beth’s siblings, sixteen-year-old Elle and twenty-two-year-old Luke. Our other “cousin” Lily joined us with her boyfriend Sebastian, who was a huge Caley United fan.
“I know we’ve to keep your engagement on the down low for now,” Lily had said as soon as she saw me, “but congrats.” As she hugged me, she warned, “You should also know January is plotting your very slow and painful death.”
I laughed as we drew apart. “Why?”
Lily’s adorable dimples creased her cheeks. “Because she’s had a massive crush on Baird since they met.”
My smile had fallen. “Are you serious?”
“Aye, but she’ll get over it.”
“I don’t know.” Sebastian draped his arm around his girlfriend, drawling in a posh Etonian accent. “I’mnot quite over it.”
“Hey, I thought your man-crush was on my fiancé, not Maia’s?” Beth teased. She’d already congratulated me in the car on the drive over. She’d also proceeded to pepper me with a million questions I did not want to answer in front of her family.
My aunt Joss had finally said dryly, “Perhaps Maia wants to keep her private relationship with her fiancéprivate?”
“Right.” Beth had nodded like she understood, then mouthed at me, “We’ll talk later.”
I couldn’t say I was looking forward to having to lie to her.
Once Sebastian had assured Beth that Callan was his number one and Lily had assured me January wasn’t seriously plotting my untimely death, we’d settled in to watch the match.
Unfortunately, our boys didn’t win.
They played valiantly, and it was some game. I’d always been more of a rugby fan than football, mostly because Grace’s best friend was a rugby player and she’d gotten me into the sport.
But having people I cared about on the pitch really made me invested. My voice was hoarse from screaming and shouting right alongside Beth and Sebastian.
After the game, Baird, Callan, and John were gutted.
So close and yet so far.
I hadn’t known how to be with Baird in front of everyone.Therefore, I decided to shove aside the lie between us and embrace the truth. He was my friend. And I hurt for him. I’d hugged him hard, and Baird had held on to me like I was a lifeline.
Afterward, he didn’t want to join us for dinner. I left with him because it would look weird if I didn’t. However, when we reached the city center, he’d given me a sad smile and said he needed to be alone for a bit, and I found myself dropped off on Hart Street. Watching him drive off, knowing he was hurting, plagued me all night. I’d texted him to check in over the weekend, but he wasn’t very chatty. That only made me worry more.
I didn’t know what to expect when he showed up for the video shoot this morning. It was day one of our schedule. Today we were shooting our parts in the campaign and engagement announcement film Pennington’s wanted to release at the end of the week. Christina gave me the day off work, which meant I had to make up the hours over the next few days. I felt awful that Baird had to muster up enthusiasm to do this just days after his Professional League championship dream was crushed.
My jittery nerves were already at peak level. Of course, the production team didn’t know we were acting the part of newly engaged lovers, which added to my nervousness.
The production had been in South Lanarkshire since the wee hours of the morning. They had spent the past few weeks gaining permits and permissions so they could arrange our announcement using their homeware products on a huge field where Baird and I were to fly over in a hot air balloon. Since I didn’t have a car, Baird was going to drive us to the site, but he’d texted me late last night to tell me he wasn’t in the city, so he’d just meet me there.
I knew he was suffering from the loss, but I was anxious about where he was and what he was doing. My chest burned every time I considered who he might be doing it with. Never mind the fact that he knew I was in a bit of a state about our plan and I’d wanted his support.
