The light filtered through the gaps in the curtain, highlighting the features of her sleeping face. The hair tie she had used to secure her hair in her braid had fallen out in her sleep, with a few loose locks now escaping. Yet regardless of the misshapen state of her hair, Lily's peaceful state at that moment only accentuated her beauty. The blanket moulded with her curves, dipping in at her waist and lifting up around her hips as she cuddled her pillow close, laying on her side.

Brushing a lock of her hair out of her face, I leaned down and kissed her.

She let out a barely audible groan at the slight disruption to her slumber.

"I'm off to work now," I whispered, pressing my lips once more to her forehead.

She mumbled an incoherent noise again, then nuzzled closer to her pillow.

"I love you." Taking one last look at her, I got off the bed and closed the door, letting her return to her restful, uninterrupted state.

I hated getting up this early, as it also meant I went to sleep early. And Lily, tired most of the time due to the growing children in her womb and the extensive uni work she slaved over when she got home, was often awake when I was asleep, and asleep when I was awake. Bonding time was getting less frequent.

But, at the same time, as I drove to work that morning and the sun broke out above the houses surrounding me, there was something as peaceful about the quiet streets as Lily when she's fast asleep. It felt like even though I was driving away from her, she was still here with me.

The morning was slow. Jessica and I cleaned the store before it opened for customers, then headed out to collect trolleys and bring them in. At 9am though, my area manager rocked up.

"Cory," he called out to me in the carpark. "Can I see you for a second?"

Nodding, I walked inside, handing the tie down ropes to Jessica who said she'd take it from here.

"We are going to have a chat in the meeting room," he told me when I was in hearing distance, turning to start walking through the centre to the back dock.

"Okay..." My stomach started to tense. I didn't like this was going. As we weaved our way through the workers and stock, heading towards the meeting room tucked in at the back of the store, I began to plan out all sorts of responses to whatever scenario I was walking into. My main argument was emphasising I needed this job because of my babies on the way. I couldn't lose this. We would be screwed if I didn't have work, leaving us to move back in with our parents.

"Take a seat Cory," John said when we entered the room.

Gulping, I sat down rather stiffly, placing my hands on the table before putting them on my lap briefly, then back on the table. What does one do with their hands when they plead to keep their job?

"You've worked with us for a while now," he started.

Nodding, I replied, "Almost two years."

"Exactly. And you're a really hard worker."

"Yes, sir. I try. I really like this job."

A grin broke out across this face as he folded his fingers together, leaning over the table. "You don't have to look so nervous, Cory. I'm not firing you or anything."

At his words, a rush of relief came over me, a sigh escaping my mouth as I relaxed into the chair. "Oh thank goodness."

John chuckled and leaned back in the chair slightly, before sitting up straight. "No, it's actually the opposite." He lifted up his bag, pulling out an envelope, opening it up and sliding a piece of paper across the table to me. "We know you're studying at the moment, but your commitment to this job and consistent turn out hasn't gone unnoticed."

I nodded, swallowing the new lump that had formed in my throat, wondering what was to come.

"Steve said you've done a phenomenal job training Jessica and previous staff members before her. He says you've been his best staff member to rely on."

"I do my best, sir."

John smiled, knowingly. "Steve has resigned, Cory."

My eyebrows went up. "Oh. I didn't know."

"Get got offered an area manager job with a competitor. We're sad to see him go, but people do like to move up. And unfortunately the next step for him would be my job. But I don't plan to leave that any time soon."

"Yes, of course."

"Now you know we like promoting from within rather than getting someone else, training them, all that. Given the vacancy coming up, I was wondering how you felt about potentially taking Steve's position as manager of the services at this store."

My jaw literally dropped at that moment, but I quickly shut it, trying to remain professional.

John pushed the paper directly in front of me now. "You'd have a full time salary, sick days, holiday and... we're also open to including all your time you've worked with us to work towards the different of the contractual time of a full-time worker so that you can get paternity pay."

"You mean I could get time off work when my children are born?"

He nodded, smiling. "It would be two weeks. And if you wanted to save up some of your holidays for then, we'd be open to negotiating that too."

I took in a deep breath. "I wouldn't have time for my studies though."

"No, Cory. I suppose you could always go external or do it online... but it will be a physically demanding role, as you know. More paperwork, filling in for people when they can't make it... Now I always say do what you want to do, Cory. If you're really passionate about your studies, do go ahead. But a part of me has been wondering whenever I've come to see you whether you actually are enjoying what you're doing. It's not my place to question it, I know, but you've already changed degrees once."

"I'm not super happy with my studies still, to be honest."

He nodded slowly. "You could always use this as an opportunity to save some money and really think about what you want to do. Not everyone is suited to study either, Cory. Some thrive in managerial positions and work their way up through experience. You may be one of those people."

I pursed my lips, mulling his words in your head.

John touched the paper once more. "All the details of the offer are in there, as well as the salary and benefits. Think it over. Talk with your partner. Let me know by the end of the week if you want it."

I broke out in a grin. "Thank you, John. I really appreciate even being considered for the offer."

"My pleasure, Cory." He got to his feet and held his hand out to me. I shook it and he walked off.

After taking a couple deep breaths, I slipped the contract back into the envelope then placed it in my locker.

When work finished, I checked my phone to see a text waiting from Lily.

Lily: I'll be late. Got a study thing with a peer that I'm doing an assignment with. Eat dinner without me.

A sigh escaped me. I would have to wait to tell her the news. After firing her a text to study hard, I opened up my previous message thread to Tristan.

Me: What are you doing right now?

Tristan: Avoiding study. You?

Me: Just got off work. Want to shoot some hoops?

Tristan: Would love nothing more.

Tristan was already at the court, waiting for me when I pulled up, basketball ready.

"Hey man!" he called out. "How you doing? It's been forever."

"I know!" I gave him a brief hug, grabbing the ball from his hands. "It's been too long. How are you and Casey doing?"

A grin broke out on his face. "Oh, you know. Great as usual."

I smiled at him. "That's what I like to hear."

"What about you and Lily?"

My smile wavered.

"Oh no."

"No, we're good. Just... haven't had much time with each other and not much time to process the scare we had. I don't know. I just want to spend more quality time with her but we are both so busy."

"Maybe you should work less?"

I dribbled the ball a couple of times then shot it through the hoops. "I actually wanted to talk to you about that."

"What?" Tristan asked, running back over. "Don't tell me you lost your job."

"No. Opposite actually."

"Opposite?"

"They want to promote me to manager of the department."

"What? That's awesome. Wait. How would you manage that with study?"

Noticing his distraction, I ran over, taking the ball from his hands and began dribbling it to my end of the court, shooting it into the basket. "Two to me. Focus, dude."

"Stop distracting me!" He pulled the ball from me and began dribbling it. "Will you take it?"

"I'm considering it..."

"Have you talked to Lily?" He weaved around me, heading towards his hoop.

"Not yet. I just found out today and she's busy on a group project." I stole the ball from him and began making my way back down the court.

"Would you give up your studies?" He tried to reach for the ball, but I spun around and shot it from where I was into the hoop.

"Three to me." I caught the ball and stood with it in my hands. "I'm tempted."

"Cory..."

"I don't think I'm cut out for this university stuff. Like... study had never been my thing. You know that."

Tristan pursed his lips, but his expression said he understood... it was almost as if he was expecting this conversation would arise. "What's holding you back?"

I tossed the ball to him. "I think Lily would be disappointed in me if I don't get a desk job."

"You can make lots of money in manager positions."

"I know. It's $70 000 a year. They will even give me paternity pay."

"Shit. Seriously?"

I nodded.

He heaved a sigh. "Do you like the work?" It seems as though we had both given up on the game for now.

"I really do. Like it's intense, but... I don't have to think too hard. I have the mental capacity when I get home to talk to her. I'm tired but... Studying is just not for me at this point in my life."

"Then I guess you know what you want to do."

"But how do I tell Lily?"

He shrugged. "Just be honest with how you feel." And with that, Tristan began dribbling to his end of the court, finally scoring a goal.