Sunny Side Up - JJ Maybank

10

It was a week after Flora's first birthday. My friends had celebrated it with me, buying her sweet gifts and Kiara had even baked a cake. We were at the beach today, it was her favourite place and she was messing about in the sand as I tried to read my book. I'd only managed three pages in the hour we were here though.

"Daddy!" Flora yelled happily, running across the sand towards JJ with her arms outstretched as he effortlessly picked her up and spun her around.

"Sweetie we've been over this, JJ is not your daddy," I told her gently, getting a pain in my chest when I thought about how her real father didn't even care about her.

"I don't mind if she wants to call me daddy; if you're comfortable with it?" JJ said, setting her down on the floor and watching her run to play with the other kids.

"That's really sweet, J. I think she'd love that. You've practically raised her with me anyway," I said, taken aback. The grins were wide on both of our faces. It was strange trying to explain to people that JJ wasn't Flora's real father nor was he my boyfriend, but our little family worked and we were happy which was all that mattered.

JJ had really matured in the last year; he didn't smoke weed anymore and I couldn't remember the last time he'd told me about one of his sexual escapades. Although I hated Rafe with my entire being, I missed the sex, but I was too scared to bring any man into my life because I had to put my daughter first. I'd thought about JJ a few times, intimately, but we were so close I wouldn't want anything to ruin our dynamic. Especially as he was such a big part of Flora's life and I couldn't let another man leave her.

Things were starting to change between us though the more time we spent around each other. We'd always been close, he was my best friend; but recently I was getting butterflies every time our hands touched, or when I'd accidentally fall asleep and wake up on his shoulder. I pushed down my feelings though because I knew he didn't feel the same and it would be awkward to bring it up and then move on. He was too important to me for me to ruin our friendship.

Up until now, I'd always thought that my feelings of attraction towards JJ weren't mutual, but I'd notice changes in the way he was looking at me, and he was being flirtier in conversation. We were watching a new movie and Flora was at Kiara's house for the night for a sleepover, Kiara was honestly an angel for offering, but we were both exhausted after decorating the apartment all day.

JJ curled his legs up under him with a grin and twisted his body easily until he was lying stretched out on the couch with his head on my lap. I gave him a knowing smile and ran my fingers through his hair, my long nails scratching his head until he closed his eyes blissfully.

The film was nearing the end and I was already half-asleep, but determined to stay awake until the end credits so I could talk about it with JJ – it wasn't often we got the chance to watch a new movie together without interruptions.

"Your eyes are so pretty," I mumbled sleepily, staring down into the brightest blue while he was engrossed in the film.

"Almost as pretty as you."

He cocked a half smile and I continued running my fingers through his hair, not noticing when my fingers went slack in his blonde locks. He did though, and quietly manoeuvred himself from my lap so that I could lie down on the sofa instead. I didn't feel him press a kiss to my forehead and leave; I was just left with the emptiness when I woke up alone.

"JJ?"

"Down here sunshine," he whispered back, and I peered down to see him curled up on the floor.

"What are you doing down there?"

"I didn't wanna wake you but I didn't wanna go to my house."

"You should have taken the bed, idiot," I laughed, but inside my heart swelled at his chivalry.

Somehow we both ended up in my bed.

Maybe we were more than friends...