Chapter 15

The apartment smelled like garlic bread, pasta, and whatever dessert Paige had attempted to bake before nearly setting off the smoke alarm.

Which meant dinner was going well already.

“You almost burned the apartment down making brownies,” you reminded her while setting plates on the table.

Paige pointed dramatically from the kitchen.

“They survived.”

“Barely.”

“They’re rustic.”

You laughed.

Maya, sitting in her high chair nearby, immediately laughed too despite having absolutely no idea what was happening.

Paige melted instantly.

“There she is.”

That was another thing that had changed over the last year.

Paige had always loved attention.

Now?

Now she lived for making Maya laugh.

And tonight Maya was about to receive plenty of attention.

Because Paige had invited the team over for dinner after practice.

Her senior year teammates slowly started arriving around six.

First came KK Arnold, loudly announcing herself before the door was even fully open.

“If there’s no food left, I’m transferring.”

“You live here at this point,” Paige called back.

“Correct.”

Behind KK came Ashlynn Shade carrying drinks while Ice Brady and Sarah Strong followed close behind.

Aubrey Griffin arrived a few minutes later.

Then Jana El Alfy.

The apartment quickly filled with noise and laughter.

Maya immediately noticed.

And instantly became fascinated.

Because as soon as everyone entered the apartment, all attention shifted directly toward her.

“Oh my God,” Sarah said immediately.

“She’s bigger already.”

KK dropped dramatically onto the floor in front of Maya’s high chair.

“HI, MAYA.”

Maya stared at her for two seconds.

Then squealed happily.

Paige folded her arms proudly.

“She’s obsessed with me.”

KK pointed.

“That child doesn’t even know you’re in the room right now.”

Maya was too busy staring at the sudden crowd of people like she’d just discovered fame.

And honestly?

She loved it.

One year old and already thriving under attention.

Paige claimed constantly that Maya inherited that trait directly from her.

You unfortunately agreed.

Dinner somehow turned into chaos almost immediately.

Not bad chaos.

Fun chaos.

KK kept making Maya laugh by pretending breadsticks were microphones.

Ashlynn let Maya repeatedly steal fries off her plate.

Sarah somehow ended up with stickers stuck all over her sweatshirt because Maya decided decorating people was fun.

And through all of it, Paige watched proudly from the kitchen.

“You look ridiculous,” you told her quietly.

Paige looked over.

“What?”

“You’re staring at her like she invented happiness.”

Paige didn’t even deny it.

“She kinda did.”

Your chest softened immediately.

Because she meant that completely seriously.

Across the room, Maya suddenly decided she no longer wanted to sit still.

Which lately had become her entire personality.

The second you unbuckled her from the high chair, she took off.

Well-

“Took off” was generous.

She waddled.

Tiny uncertain toddler steps across the living room while everyone immediately reacted like she was performing in the Olympics.

“Oh my God!”

“Look at her go!”

“MAYA!”

The attention only encouraged her more.

Paige burst out laughing as Maya proudly stumbled toward the center of the room with both arms out for balance.

“That’s my girl.”

KK immediately crouched down with open arms.

“Come here, tiny human.”

Maya squealed happily before taking three more unstable little steps-

Then dramatically plopping onto her diapered butt.

The entire room gasped.

Maya blinked once.

Then started clapping for herself.

The apartment erupted into laughter.

Paige nearly doubled over.

“She’s literally me.”

“Unfortunately,” Ashlynn replied.

Paige ignored her completely.

Too busy walking over and scooping Maya into her arms.

“You fell?”

Maya smiled proudly.

Like yes, she had.

And she’d do it again.

Paige kissed her cheek immediately.

“So brave.”

You laughed from the couch.

“You’re encouraging the drama.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Maya leaned back against Paige’s chest before spotting KK again.

Instantly reaching toward her.

KK looked offended.

“Oh, now you want me?”

Paige gasped dramatically.

“Excuse me.”

Maya ignored her completely in favor of grabbing KK’s hoodie strings.

The betrayal on Paige’s face made everyone laugh.

“This is unbelievable.”

“Looks like she’s moved on,” Sarah teased.

Paige held Maya tighter immediately.

“No she hasn’t.”

Maya responded by patting Paige’s cheek lovingly.

Paige melted on the spot.

“There she is.”

“You are so whipped,” Aubrey laughed.

“For my daughter?”

Paige looked genuinely confused.

“Obviously.”

And honestly?

Everyone in the room understood it.

Because it was impossible not to notice how much Paige loved being Maya’s mom.

The way she constantly kept one hand on her.

The way her entire face softened every time Maya laughed.

The way she looked happier now than she’d ever looked before.

Eventually Maya made another attempt at walking.

This time between Paige and you.

Tiny steps.

Wobbly balance.

Pure determination.

The whole room immediately quieted like they were witnessing history.

“Come on, baby,” you encouraged softly.

Maya focused hard.

Tongue sticking out slightly in concentration.

One step.

Then another.

Then another.

Until finally she practically launched herself into your arms.

The apartment exploded.

Cheering.

Clapping.

KK actually screamed.

Paige looked like she was seconds away from tears.

“Oh my God.”

You laughed while holding Maya close.

“Did you see that?”

“I saw it.”

Paige pressed both hands dramatically against her chest.

“She’s a genius.”

“That’s not how walking works,” Sarah laughed.

Paige pointed immediately.

“Don’t ruin this for me.”

Maya, meanwhile, was absolutely loving every second of the attention.

Smiling.

Laughing.

Clapping proudly for herself.

The star of the entire night.

Exactly where she wanted to be.

And as Paige watched her daughter soaking up the attention from the people she loved most, she couldn’t stop smiling.

Because this-

The noisy apartment.

Her teammates laughing.

You holding Maya.

Her daughter learning how to walk surrounded by people who adored her-

This was everything she’d ever wanted.

Even if Maya was already becoming just as dramatic as Paige herself.