Ethan's hand lingered on the doorknob, hesitant. The sunlight poured across the porch, glinting in Tessa Brooks' hair, turning it into strands of gold that seemed almost unreal. She stood there, tote bag slung over one shoulder, a playful tilt to her stance, one foot slightly forward, radiating the kind of effortless energy that had made her unforgettable since childhood. Ethan had known her for years -- seen her at school events, birthdays, and neighborhood gatherings -- but framed in his doorway, she seemed impossibly alive, like the room had sharpened to make space for her alone.
"Hey," she said brightly, her voice cutting through the quiet. "Finally letting me in, huh?"
Ethan cleared his throat, stepping aside. "Hey… uh… come in." His pulse raced at the way her presence filled the space before she even crossed the threshold.
Tessa laughed lightly, her voice dancing across the living room. "There's the girl who sonehow forgot to tell her friend about all this, Maya!" she said, placing her tote down.
Maya gave a tired but genuine smile. "You're not gonna let me hear the end of it are you?"
Tessa placed her hands on Maya's shoulder and squinted her eyes "You dare do that again, I swear... "
Maya gripped her hand before she could finish. "It won't happen again, I promise"
Tessa grinned, warmth in her eyes. "Better. Now move, I gotta greet my godmother."
Tessa's gaze moved toward Maya's mother. "Hi, Linda! You're looking better than I expected. I was worried when I heard the news." She reached out, brushing a hand lightly over her mother's. "Honestly, you've been through so much, and it's good to see you smiling."
Linda returned a faint, warm smile. "Thank you, Tessa. It's really nice to see you."
"No, thank you," Tessa said. "I finally get to be here. And now you're stuck with me."
The house felt brighter with her presence. Laughter slipped into the spaces between conversation, filling corners that had felt quiet and heavy earlier. Ethan lingered near the doorway, pretending to scroll on his phone, but every gesture Tessa made, every glance, drew him in, tugging at a part of him that had been dormant for years.
Dinner followed, warm and lively. Their father had left earlier for an evening commitment, Logan had already gone, and Damien lingered longer than usual, helping clear plates and catching subtle glances with Maya.
Later, Maya and Damien walked to the porch so he could load a small box into his car. "Thanks a lot," Maya said softly. "For helping… for everything today."
Damien shifted the box to one arm. "Anytime," he said simply, his gaze steady.
Her chest tightened at the quiet intensity in his eyes. For a heartbeat, the world around them seemed to shrink to just the two of them.
"I'll see you around, Maya," he said finally, his voice low, carrying warmth. Their eyes met, lingering, a subtle spark in the air before he turned and walked to his car, leaving her pulse quickened on the porch.
Back inside, Maya caught a faint burning smell. "Ethan?" she called.
Ethan stood over a smoking pan, towel in hand, cheeks flushed. "I… may have overcooked the chicken," he admitted sheepishly.
Tessa appeared in the doorway, wrinkling her nose and laughing. "Overcooked? I can smell that from across the hall. Is this dinner or a smoke signal?"
"It might still be salvageable…" Ethan said, stepping aside.
"You're lucky I'm here," Tessa teased, grabbing the spatula from him. Her shoulder brushed his as she moved, casual yet charged. Maya bit back a smile, quietly enjoying the tension between them.
By nightfall, Maya and Tessa had retreated to Maya's room, curling up cross-legged on the bed beneath the warm glow of the lamp.
"Okay," Tessa said, leaning forward, eyes bright with impatience. "Spill. Every single thing about these Cross brothers. I want all the details."
Maya chuckled softly, tilting her head. "Well… I stayed at Damien's apartment a few times when I didn't want to come home. You know… needed a quiet space, some distance. And…" She hesitated, smiling. "I had to act as Isla Harrington, his girlfriend. Met the family, played the couple games, all of it. It was… surreal."
Tessa blinked, then leaned closer, her grin widening. "Wait. You stayed in his apartment? And… played the girlfriend? Like… really? What did you guys even do?"
Maya laughed, a little nervously. "Tessa! Nothing happened, okay? We… just spent time, talked, tried to act natural. It wasn't anything romantic in that sense. Just… being there, making it seem real. Playing the part."
Tessa rolled her eyes, still smirking. "You're way too slow at getting him to… you know… lay his cards on the table. I expected more juicy details by now! Come on, spill. I want the full girlfriend story. Did you guys act like a real couple? Were there… moments?"
Maya's cheeks flushed, and she bit her lip, smiling faintly. "We had moments. Quiet ones. Small, simple things. But… nothing beyond pretending, okay? It was more about being close, supporting each other in small ways, making sure the charade felt real for the family."
Tessa chuckled, nudging her shoulder. "I knew it. And yet, you're sitting there acting all coy. I can't believe how careful you are. I expected at least one scandalous story by now."
Maya laughed, shaking her head. "You're relentless, you know that?"
"I am," Tessa said proudly, grinning. "And I'll get every single detail from you, whether you like it or not. I want the full picture -- the apartment, the games, the family meetings, the 'girlfriend' act, everything. I don't care if it's slow."
And so they continued, hours stretching late into the night. Maya shared the awkward, humorous, and surprisingly tender moments she'd experienced, Tessa teasing, prodding, and laughing along with her. Their conversation wove through stories, laughter, secrets, and playful jabs, the room glowing softly in the lamp's light, carrying them far beyond the hours of day into a shared world of friendship, warmth, and quiet, endless chatter that lasted all night.