Chapter 101
The call came through as we were cruising down Commonwealth Avenue.
"Mrs. Sterling?"
I nearly dropped my phone. Jenna's voice bubbled through the speaker—high-pitched and excited.
"You're not at work today, right?"
"No. I'm off."
"Perfect! Let's go shopping! I need someone with actual taste, and Grandma keeps trying to make me buy tweed."
I couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "I can't today. Amy's at the estate, and I need to pick her up."
"Oh! You're going to the estate?" A pause. Then: "Wait for me! I'm coming too!"
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone. Blinked.
"What just happened?"
Adam glanced over, smirking. "Jenna happened."
"Your cousin is... a lot."
"That's one way to put it." He shifted lanes, smooth and easy. "If you don't want her tagging along, just tell her no."
"I don't mind," I said quietly. "Actually... I kind of envy her."
"She's happy." I turned back to the window. "No baggage. No... I don't know. She just seems free."
My phone buzzed. Ryan.
[Maya, you were way out of line today. Bringing him to the hospital? Starting drama in Mom's room? The doctors said no stress—and you walked in with your boyfriend like you were trying to kill her. If Mom takes a turn, that's on you.]
[And about Sterling—look, I get it. He's rich. He's treating you nice right now. But you need a reality check. People like the Sterlings don't marry people like us. You're setting yourself up to get hurt. Do yourself a favor and find someone normal.]
I deleted both messages.
Stared at the blank screen.
"You okay?"
Adam's voice pulled me back.
"Fine."
---
When we pulled up to the estate, Jenna's red Ferrari was already parked out front, gleaming like a traffic cone with a superiority complex.
She jumped out the second she saw us. "OH MY GOD. You two. Standing there. Looking like a Ralph Lauren ad. I'm dying."
I froze.
Adam just raised an eyebrow. "You need medical attention?"
"Shut up." She bounced over, practically vibrating with excitement. "You guys should just get married. Like, right now. Elope. I'll be the witness."
Adam slid his arm around my waist. "I like that idea."
I elbowed him. Hard.
He laughed.
---
Inside, Amy spotted me and came running. "Mommy!"
I crouched down, catching her in a hug. God, I'd missed her. Even though it had only been one night.
"Hey, baby. Did you have fun?"
"Uh-huh! Great-Grandma taught me how to make Boston Cream Pie. And Great-Grandpa let me sit in his big chair."
I straightened up, taking her hand as we walked toward the sitting room.
Mrs. Sterling was perched on the sofa, looking every bit the matriarch. Robert stood by the fireplace, hands in his pockets.
"Grandma. Uncle Robert." I gave a small nod.
Robert smiled—gentle, warm. "Sit. Please."
I settled onto the couch with Amy tucked against my side.
Robert leaned forward slightly. "How's your mother?"
"At the hospital. Waiting for some tests. Then surgery."
Robert nodded. "If you need anything, tell Adam. We're here to help."
"Thank you," I murmured.
Grandma changed the subject. She knew that my relationship with my mother wasn't good. And she wasn't going to make me talk about it.
Then Adam walked in.
He sat down next to me. Close.
His hand landed on my waist.
I shot him a look.
He grinned back, shameless.
Jenna practically squealed from across the room, watching us like we were her favorite Netflix series.
---
We stayed for dinner.
By the time we finished eating, I was ready to leave. Ready to go home, get Amy to bed, maybe collapse on my couch and pretend today hadn't been a complete emotional minefield.
But then Adam's phone buzzed.
He stepped out to take the call.
When he came back, he looked at me. "Come with me. To the Harvard Club."
I blinked. "What? No. I need to take Amy home."
"Amy can stay here tonight."
Mrs. Sterling perked up. "Yes! Let her stay another night. We'll have so much fun."
I looked at Amy.
She looked at me.
"Can I, Mommy? Please?"
"I don't think—"
Adam grabbed my hand. "Let's go."
"Wait—"
But he was already pulling me toward the door.
Behind us, Jenna's voice rang out. "I'M COMING TOO!"
---
Twenty minutes later, the three of us walked into the Harvard Club.
Ethan and Parker were already inside.
They both froze when they saw me.
Parker recovered first, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, well. Look who finally showed up."
"Hi," I said awkwardly.
Ethan smirked. "Didn't know we were having a couple's night."
I yanked my hand out of Adam's grip. "We're not a couple."
"Then why are you holding hands?" Ethan shot back.
"We weren't—" I started, but Adam's arm slid around my shoulders, pulling me back against him.
I shoved him off.
Jenna flopped onto the couch, pulling me down next to her. "Ignore them. They're idiots."
A few minutes later, the door opened again.
Parker stood up, grinning. "Finally."
Chloe walked in.
I quickly made introductions. "Chloe, this is Jenna. Jenna, Chloe."
Jenna immediately zeroed in on Chloe's neck. "Oh my God. What is that?"
Chloe slapped a hand over her throat. "Maya. Help."
I was already laughing too hard.
Jenna's eyes went wide with realization. "Wait. Are those—did someone bite you?"
I pulled Jenna back by the shoulders, trying to look stern. "Jenna, honey. You're being a tiger. If she doesn't want to show you, back off."
"But they're so red!"
I lost it. Completely dissolved into laughter, clutching my stomach.
Chloe smacked my arm. "You're useless."
I fished a scarf out of my bag and wrapped it around her neck. "There. Problem solved."
Then I leaned in close, keeping my voice low. "So... how intense was last night?"
Jenna's head whipped around.
I pushed her face away. "You don't need to know."
"That's not fair!" She pouted. "You can't whisper secrets and not tell me."
---
When we finally left, Chloe climbed into Parker's car.
Jenna cornered me by Adam's car. "Okay. Spill. What's going on with Chloe and Parker?"
"What do you think?"
She gasped. "Wait. Those marks on her neck—Parker did that?!"
I just smiled.
Her jaw dropped. "Oh my God. OH MY GOD."
Adam appeared, shoving Jenna toward her own car. "Go home. Stop gossiping."
"But—"
"Now."
She huffed but obeyed, practically skipping to her McLaren.
Adam handed me his keys. "You're driving."
I stared at him. "You drank."
"Obviously."
"And you trust me with this?" I gestured at the Aston Martin.
He leaned in close, his voice low. "I'd trust you with my life."
My breath caught.
Then he smirked. "Besides. If we crash, at least we'll die together."
I smacked his arm. "Don't say shit like that."
"Fine." He opened the passenger door, sliding in. "I want to grow old with you instead."
I climbed into the driver's seat, ignoring the way my heart skipped.
---
The next morning, my phone rang. Ryan.
"Maya. What the hell? You hired a caregiver? What's that supposed to mean?"