After You Left (Lucaya)

22.

A/N: thank you guys for enjoying this book. It truly means the world to me. Still have a few more chapters to go. Just wanted to tell you guys that. As always, love you guys and thanks for always sticking with me ❤️

Maya's POV

After I left work I drove to Claire's school to pick up her, Michael, Mikayla and her little boyfriend Drew. It didn't take them too long to make their way to my car. Once they all got in, we made our way to our house. I looked in the rear view mirror and I could see Michael staring at Claire like nothing else was around him. It was kinda adorable. I'm really hoping Lucas isn't going to catch on to all this. One can only hope right? When we pulled in the driveway Lucas was already home from work. When we got in the house the kids all went to Claire's room to hang out. When I walked in mine and Lucas' room he was passed out on the bed. I shut my door behind me them crawled my way on top of him carefully so I didn't wake him up just yet. I leaned down and kissed him softly on the lips and he gave in like he normally does. After I pulled away after a few minutes of making out his eyes fluttered open and he smiled at me.

"Good afternoon Sundance. It's time to wake up." I smiled back at him.

"Where's Claire?" He asked in a sleepy voice.

"She's in her room with her friends." I replied. "I just wanted to wake you up and let you know we were home." I leaned down one more time and kissed him then got off of him to head out into the kitchen to start making dinner for everyone.

After dinner we all sat in the living room so Claire could open her presents. She opened mine and Lucas' first. We got her a brand new iPhone, she only had a generic flip phone before, and we also got her a laptop. She seemed over the moon excited which is all that mattered. Mikayla and Drew got her some iTunes gift cards and Michael got her some art supplies because she loves to draw like I do and he also handed her a little box with a note attached to it. Lucas hadn't noticed, but I overheard her tell Michael she would open it later. After everyone left and I got the mess cleaned up Lucas was already asleep for the night. So, I went to see Claire before she went to sleep. I softly knocked on her door and when I opened it up she was looking at the little box Michael gave her. She was fixated on the note that she didn't even notice me.

"What did he get you?" I asked as I sat down next to her.

"He got me this beautiful necklace." She said and then showed me the necklace. It was so sweet, he had her birthstone put on it. I'm not sure if she was overwhelmed by the gift or that she was so happy she was going to cry. "Mom why would he give me something so expensive?"

"Honey, what he got for you is a really thoughtful gift, you should be happy." I nudged her trying to be less serious.

"I am happy, I just didn't expect something like this from him. It's not like we're dating, we're just best friends." She explained to me.

"Sweetie, he likes you. There's no more being just friends about it. This is him showing you how much he likes you. Maybe you should let down your walls and give him a chance, it may surprise you." I said putting my arm around her. "If I didn't let down my walls with your dad, you wouldn't be here right now. Maybe it's something to think about?"

"Yeah, I guess. I'm just so used to being on my own and to not depend on a single person besides you and dad." She explains.

"Sometimes that's how life is, things happen that close you up, but then the most wonderful things can happen and it can be better then you can ever imagine. Just don't get pregnant and cause your father to have heart failure." I said to her to ease up her mind.

"Mom!" She seemed shocked at my last sentence. "I'm sitting her confused about weather I like a boy or not and you're already over here worried I'm gonna get knocked up at 16."

"Hey it happened to me." I said while I laughed at her response to me. "Just make good choices, I want you to be happy. If you're worried about your father, don't worry about him, I can handle him."

"I know, you're probably the only one that can handle him and his constant freak outs. I couldn't do it." She sighed.

"You gotta take it as it comes unfortunately, the first time he flipped out over Michael when you guys were 12 I just stared at him and laughed because he sounded ridiculous. Really though, don't worry about him. Do what your heart is telling you, it'll never steer you down the wrong path, I promise." I said as she leaned her head on my shoulder. "And if things don't work out, I'll be right here for you. I won't lie to you and say heart break doesn't hurt, because it does. You just have to be careful who you give it to. Michael was always there for you when you felt out of place because everyone had a dad and you didn't. He's a good kid and if this is who you like and who you want to be with then I approve, you could do much worse believe me. He's become a part of the family over the years."

"Thanks mom, I love you." She said as she turned a little to hug me.

"That's what I'm here for baby girl, you're the greatest gift that's ever been given to me. Happy Birthday." I smiled as I hugged her a little tighter.

After we finished talking I headed for bed. After this long exhausting day sleep was calling for me. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful daughter and an amazing boyfriend. My life wouldn't be the same without these two. They're the glue that holds me together at the toughest times of my life.