She Didn't Have Time (Steve x Female!Reader)
Anyone would think he was a friend that was leaving after stopping by for a coffee, that you were standing on the porch to say goodbye and wish him a safe journey home with the promise of seeing eachother again. Well, how wrong they'd be.
The father of your child, the man you thought was the love of your life, was standing on the porch after packing his car with his belongings; he was leaving.
He was looking at you, and you thought maybe you saw regret on his face. Was it regret that he was leaving or something else? You didn't want to know.
"Goodbye." He said, in a small voice.
You said nothing. You just stared at him, knowing no amount of crying or begging would get him to stay.
"I'm not what you need, you're better off without me." Funny, your mother had said the exact same about him, it's pity you didn't listen.
You again said nothing and he frowned before turning and getting into his car. He drove off without a backward glance and you sighed. The sound of a baby, your baby, crying caught your attention and you knew there was no time to cry or feel sorry for yourself, not when you had a innocent little girl relying on you.
***
The years rolled on and the bills became more expensive. You had to get a babysitter at night so you could go and work your second job to make ends meet.
Times like this made you felt like life was passing you by, you felt like you were missing out on things. Lucky for you there was no time to dwell on that, so instead you watched life pass you by and forced yourself to be content with what you had.
On a rare day off you invited your friend round to spend the day with you and your daughter.
"Hey!" She grinned, hugging you as she came through the door.
"Hey, it's so good to see you." You replied, hugging her back.
"It's good to see you too. Where's my favourite little girl?" She asked just as your daughter ran out into the hallway and jumped into her arms. "There she is!" She kissed the top of her head.
You smiled at the interaction, glad your daughter had another adult in her life.
"You gotta get out of the house, Y/N. Not just for work, you need to go out. Maybe then you can find someone new." She said sincerely, and you knew she right, but you just didn't have time for that right now.
***
Your daughter decided that she wanted to learn to play piano and go to ballet classes which meant you were going backwards and forwards picking her up from one class and dropping her off at the next before going to work. You were exhausted, but seeing her happy made you happy.
You couldn't believe she was 5 already, where had the time gone? It has flown by, and you hadn't really done anything for yourself in that time, never put yourself first. You frowned at the thought but reminded yourself that your daughter was more important.
You'd often asked yourself, could you trust a man again? You didn't think you'd find the answer to that question so soon.
You'd gotten a flat tire at a crowded car park, an hour before you were to pick up your daughter. Brilliant. "This is just typical." You groaned, inspecting it.
"Would you like some help?" A male voice spoke from behind you. You turned around, startled.
Gosh, he'shandsome, you thought.
"Please." You smiled. He returned the smile, going to collect some tools and a spare tire from his truck before returning.
"I'm Steve." He said, holding his hand out.
"Y/N." You replied, shaking it.
"So Y/N, do you have kids?"
You froze. You don't want to scare him off, but you couldn't lie about such a thing.
You opted for just telling the truth; you didn't have time to lie. "She's five."
"I saw the car seat, I love kids. Does she have your eyes?" He smiled.
You couldn't help the smile that took over your face. This man seemed too good to be true, yet here he was in front of you. You allowed yourself to hope, something you hadn't done in a long time.
After fixing your car and calling your friend and asking her to pick up your daughter, you and Steve went for coffee and you ended up talking for hours, about anything and everything. He told you about losing his parents and you told him about your ex walking out.
Everything felt like it was falling into place. You hadn't felt like this in years. The way Steve looked at you when you spoke, the way he smiled when you spoke of your daughter, the way he made you laugh, you weren't sure you would ever find this.
"I would love to meet her someday, she sounds a lot like her mum." He grinned, taking a sip of his coffee.
"I thank god everyday she's nothing like her dad!" You said and Steve laughed. "I think she would like you." You smiled.
"Well maybe next time all three of us can do something, what does she like?"
"She loves picnics." You smiled at a fond memory of you and her having a picnic when she was three.
"A picnic it is then." He smiled.
You felt your heart beating fast; for the first time in five years you weren't afraid to trust someone, to fall in love even. You'd put off your needs for so long, but not anymore, you didn't have the time for that.