Conrad
I am finally fit enough to leave the house for more than an hour, thank God. I have been going stir-crazy being stuck inside. The only thing that made it worth it was because Maya was with me. I feel bad she has been spending all her time caring for me. I know she is fine with it, but I am sure she is ready for a break too. Today, I had planned lunch, a little shopping and some time at the park to relax. I wish I could do more, but I am not quite ready to push myself too much. Maya wouldn’t let me anyway.
I am still in a little pain, but nothing compared to what I was. I have more energy. My arm is still in a cast, but it will be for the next few weeks at least. Maya had gone out to pick us up some breakfast and coffee to start our day. I told her I would get it, but she insisted she would. It is only down the street anyway. We called the order ahead, so it should be ready when she arrives to pick it up.
The sound of my intercom makes me stop in my tracks. Surely Maya can’t be back already? If so, she must have forgotten her keys. I pick up the tablet to check the camera to see who it is. I groan in frustration when I realise who it is. Bridget! What the hell does she want? I thought I had made it clear she had to stay away from us.
I am not letting her into the building, but I will go down to her because if I don’t, there is a chance she will press it again and hang around until someone answers. I also would rather not Maya run into her. I sigh and leave my apartment, heading outside.
I open the door, “What do you want? Why are you here?”
The annoyance is clear in my voice.
She looks up at me, smiling brightly like she has done nothing wrong.
“I just wanted to check in on you and see how you are doing?”
“I am fine. I am doing better. You have seen, now you can leave.” I reply.
“Come on, don’t be like that. I wanted to make sure you were healing.” She says sadly.
“I am. Maya has been taking good care of me.”
Bridget rolls her eyes at the sound of her name.
“I didn’t think she would stick around since she was the cause of it.”
“Don’t you dare come around here and start with that bullshit again. You have no fucking idea because you have had such a perfect damn life. A life where you have everything you have ever needed. Just like I have. You have no right judging and assuming when you don’t have a fucking clue.” I snap.
“I didn’t come here to fight with you, Conrad.”
“No, you came here to take digs at my girlfriend. You can leave now. I don’t ever want to see or hear from you again. Am I clear?” I state firmly.
The Bridget I knew would have reacted in such ways. She would have been as helpful as she could, not only for me but for Maya, too. She would try to understand the situation. I don’t know what the hell has happened to her. Whatever it is, she needs to sort her shit out and find the person who she used to be. That person I could be friends with. Maya and she could be friends too if she were that person, but she isn’t. I don’t want her in life or around Maya. Maya has dealt with enough shitty people in her life; she doesn’t need another one.
“You don’t mean that.” She whispers.
“I do. I want nothing to do with you. I don’t know when or why you lost who you were, but this person you have become, I have no idea who it is, and quite frankly, I don’t want your negativity and attitude anywhere near my life.”
“I haven’t changed that much.” She whines.
“Yes, you have. Now, please leave.”
How many times do I need to tell her before she listens?
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hear Maya’s voice snap from behind.
“She was just leaving,” I answer.
Bridget turns to face Maya, “I wanted to see he was okay.”
“You are not welcome here. Conrad told you that.” Maya snarls.
“You realise I have known him longer than you, right? He was in my life before yours? And if stayed that way, he wouldn’t have gotten hurt.” Bridget snarls back.
“There is a reason you two never worked out. He is with me now. I know you want him back, but guess what? You aren’t getting him.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Bridget smirks.
“No, Maya is right. You and I were over years ago. I will never be with you again. I am with Maya; nothing will change that. I plan to spend the rest of my life with her, and you need to learn to deal with it.”
“You should go now,” Maya says confidently.
We don’t give Bridget another chance to say anything because we head inside, closing the door behind us.
“I am sorry. I hoped I could have gotten rid of her before you came back.” I sigh.
“It is fine. I wish she would stay away,” she groans.
“Me too, but let’s not her ruin our day, okay?” I smile.
“I promise I won’t.” Maya grins and kisses my cheek.
We arrive back in the apartment and settle down to have our breakfast. As we did, a thought came to mind.
“Maybe you should move in here officially. You are here all the time. You are paying rent on an apartment you aren’t using.”
Yes, she has basically moved in, but we haven’t made anything official. Most of her things are still at her place.
“Really? Is that what you want?” she asks softly.
I nod, “Yes. I meant when I said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you, angel.”
The smile grows on her lips, “Okay.”
“You mean?” I beam.
Maya giggles and nods, “Yes, I mean it.”
I grin widely, “Yay! We can sort it all out once I am better.”
Maya reaches in and kisses me softly, “I will look forward to it.”
I know we haven’t been together long, but it is what I want. It is what she wants it would seem. Why wait around? She spends all her time here anyway. And with her not working, the money she pays for rent will be handy until she finds another job. I would never see her struggle, but I know she won’t take money from me, so this is an option that works out for both. I really want her here anyway. It feels right.
“Me too.” I agree.
I know Maya is the one for me. I don’t have a single doubt. This is the right next step for us. I am ready to start planning our lives and futures together.