Chapter 13
The following section includes a brief instance of mild on-page cheating. It is part of the story’s journey, but this moment may be difficult for some readers. Please feel free to skip it if it feels overwhelming.
I’m not bending
Maya
I stare out the airplane window, watching the clouds blur as my fingers unconsciously graze my lips. The memories of last night don't just come back… they flood me.
I feel almost foolish now for that split second of disappointment yesterday, when I saw the bag in his hand and thought, just for a moment, that it might be a gift for me.
The feeling evaporates instantly, burned away by the visceral memory of what he actually did to my body.
It was intense, raw, and consuming in a way I’ve never known before.
It renders every past experience irrelevant. No one else has ever come close. With Colin, everything feels entirely different… like I'm finally waking up.
I watch him rise and head toward the bathroom, my pulse quickening in the stillness of the room. I’m waiting, aching for an invitation that never comes. When the muffled rush of the shower begins, I decide not to wait any longer. I take the lead.
I step into the stall, and there he stands, eyes closed, steam clinging to his skin, blurring his outline.
I grab the body wash and let my hands glide over his skin, tracing the powerful lines of his shoulders, the curve of his chest, the hard, sculpted planes of his abs.
His eyes stay shut. He doesn’t speak, doesn’t move.
He lets me claim him with every touch. The scent of soap mingles with the heat of our skin, and I shiver despite the warm water.
He doesn't return the gesture, yet even with his eyes closed, I feel his presence on me, consuming.
When we step out, the silence is thick. He wraps a towel around his waist and goes straight to the bedroom without a word.
I grab a towel for myself and follow, watching him head for his clothes.
I don't let him get that far. I walk past him, let my towel hit the floor, and settle on the edge of the dresser, my legs spread wide in a clear, silent invitation.
He comes toward me with determined steps, fits between my open legs, and pulls my naked body against his.
Between a feverish blur of kisses and caresses, he reaches for a condom and he's inside me before I can even take another breath. Before long, he’s telling me to bend over the dresser, and then he's behind me, driving into me with a punishing pace.
Colin’s eyes are closed, his head thrown back, looking as if he’s lost in the sheer, dark pleasure of being inside me. I, however, can’t look away. My gaze is fixed on our reflection in the mirror, raw and impossibly intense.
My skin still tingles at the memory.
Before drifting off to sleep last night, I took the bag he'd left and tucked it into my suitcase. A small, secret smile played on my lips as I hid it away, a reminder of what we’d shared. I fell asleep hoping it was only the first of many nights like that.
Early this morning, he was back. He knocked on my door and took me right there, pinned against the wood before I could even fully wake up.
He spoiled me afterward, ordering breakfast to the room.
While we ate, we talked about the ceremony and his acquaintance, Henry Brown, whom he was meeting for lunch later today.
Right up until the last minute, I held onto the hope that he’d stop by my room and tell me to come along.
I waited, but the knock never came. Not a single text reached my phone.
Disappointed, I spent the rest of the afternoon drifting alone by the hotel pool, letting the hours blur together.
Eventually, I headed back to my room just in time to gather my things before the driver took us to the airport.
I glance to my side now and see him. His eyes are closed, his head resting against the plush fabric of the first-class seat. I wish every day could feel like this weekend—this bubble where I have him all to myself.
The thought of landing twists my stomach. I know that once the wheels touch the tarmac, something will shift. It won’t feel the same. I’m not ready for the distance to return. I just need more time.
Cecily
I see the video call light up on my phone and stretch across the couch to hand it to Alicia. The smile that blooms across her face the second her dad says, “How’s my little princess?” loosens the knot that’s been lodged in my chest since he left.
They talk for a few minutes about the movie she’s watching and how she’s feeling, until Colin asks to speak with me.
“Hi, love,” I say softly, keeping my eyes on the screen as I step into the kitchen for a bit of privacy.
Colin is sprawled across the bed in his hotel room, shirtless, his hair a little mussed, his expression still heavy with sleep but soft in that way that always undoes me.
“Hi, baby,” he murmurs with a lazy smile. “How was your evening after we last spoke? Alicia looks so much better… Is Ethan around? I miss all of you.”
Relief washes through me, followed by something quieter, the simple comfort of seeing his face, of hearing his voice. “We miss you too,” I say softly.
He called as soon as he reached the hotel, and we texted afterward.
We couldn’t talk again once Alicia fell asleep on the family room couch, her head resting on my shoulder, and I didn’t want to risk waking her.
The photo he sent later, holding the award, pride bright in his eyes, made me smile in spite of myself.
Still, even with Colin trying so hard to be present from afar, it isn’t the same. I wish he could have stayed.
Sometimes, I hate how much space the company takes up in our lives.
“She’s recovering really well,” I tell him. “She was so happy when I showed her the picture you sent yesterday.” Then, remembering, I add, “I hope Hannah wasn’t upset about the last-minute invite. I should send her flowers or something—just to thank her.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary,” he says easily. “Hannah already had plans this weekend. Theodora arranged for one of the assistants to accompany me. Her presence at the event was gift enough. No flowers needed.”
“Colin,” I scold, exasperated. He can be so casually condescending sometimes.
He flashes that easy smile, the one he knows disarms me, and immediately shifts gears, telling me about the event, about people asking after me. He says we need a proper night out soon, just the two of us. That he misses taking me on real dates.
I can’t help smiling.
After we hang up, the day slips by quietly. I spend it with Alicia and Ethan. When the medication sends her to bed early and Ethan heads out with friends, I try to distract myself with research. Anything to keep from counting down the minutes until Colin comes home.
When I finally hear his footsteps, I rise without thinking, waiting at the doorway of the sunroom. He pauses when he sees me, drops his suitcase to the floor, and closes the distance between us in long, determined strides.
He lifts me into his arms, holding me tight, his voice warm against my hair. “God, I missed you so much.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, returning the embrace. He takes my mouth in his before I can utter a word. The kiss is heated, and before I quite realize it, he’s carrying me toward our bedroom, reminding me, in the soft glow of moonlight spilling across the room, just how much he’s missed me too.
I’m lying on top of Colin.
The moment we finished making love, he pulled me close, and we stayed like this. One of his hands traces slow, languid circles along my back, while the other rests on my thigh, draped over his leg, holding me there.
Earlier, we went to one of my favorite restaurants. A place we haven’t been to in ages.
Colin has been more present this week. I’m not sure if it’s because of the award Montgomery Clifford won, or if Miami simply did him good, but something about him feels lighter.
More relaxed. Almost carefree. Tonight was ours, just ours, and it felt as if no time had passed since the last time we allowed ourselves something like this.
We came home laughing between kisses and half-formed sentences, until laughter turned into touch and we ended up tangled in bed.
I press a kiss to his chest, and he exhales softly, content, his hand tightening gently on my thigh.
Not ready to let sleep claim us yet, I start telling him about Alicia and her best friend’s new hobbies for the summer, and their plans for when school starts again, the kind of enthusiasm that seems to change by the week.
When I mention Ethan, I feel the subtle shift beneath me, the way his body tightens just slightly.
Even after all this time, some things still haven’t fully healed.
“He barely sees you,” I say gently. “You two need to reconnect. The bond is there—but if you don’t nurture it, it won’t last forever.
” I lift my head and touch his face, silently asking him to look at me.
“Just… think about what I said. A weekend with just the four of us. You and Ethan can have some real time together.”
He sighs, then smiles, pressing a gentle kiss to my knuckles. “I promise I’ll try harder,” he says. “I actually think I might have an idea.”
I smile back and settle my head against his chest, letting the steady rhythm of his heartbeat ease me into sleep.
Ethan
I’m laughing at a video Conrad sent me, some idiot wiping out hard, when his voice cuts through the room and my good mood is gone.
I glance at the clock on my phone. 5:30 p.m. A new record for him, ever since he started working most Saturdays instead of just disappearing for a few hours.
“Ethan. You’re exactly who I wanted to talk to.” He tosses his briefcase onto the armchair. “I’ve been looking at some cars I thought you’d like. There are a few models I—”
“Don’t bother.” I push off the couch, already heading for the stairs. “I like the one I’ve been practicing with.”
“That old junker that used to be your mother’s? The one I had her trade up from?” He scoffs. “That was just to help you build confidence behind the wheel. You’re turning seventeen soon. I want to get you a car that actually suits a boy your age once you get your license next month.”
He’s already scrolling through his phone, lining up cars he assumes I’ll want. He doesn’t listen. He barely ever does anymore.
“You don’t need to waste your time,” I say flatly. “I’m keeping Mom’s car.”
His jaw tightens, his grip whitening around the phone. “As long as you live under my roof, what I say goes.”
“Fine. Whatever.” I turn toward the stairs, my chest tight. “Take Mom’s car. I’ll walk. Or bum rides. I don’t want any of the cars you’re trying to push on me.”
I’m halfway up the stairs, pissed enough to feel my eyes burn, when his voice snaps like a whip.
“I wasn’t finished talking to you, Ethan.”
“Well, I’m finished, Dad,” I shoot back, spitting the word like it tastes bad.
As soon as I turn the corner toward my room, I nearly run straight into Alicia, standing outside her door.
Great.
“Were you and Daddy fighting again?” she asks in that small, worried voice.
I force a smile and stop in front of her. “Of course not, Buttercup. Just… guy stuff.”
“But you’re just a boy,” she says, wrinkling her nose.
I flick it lightly, earning an indignant glare that makes me laugh despite myself.
“You need to stop doing that. It’s annoying, and I’m not a child anymore.”
“I don’t see you saying that to Dad when he calls you ‘little princess,’” I tease.
Alicia crosses her arms and narrows her eyes. “You’re still just a boy.”
“Would a boy have enough money to take you out for your favorite ice cream before dinner?”
She tries to hide it, but her eyes light up instantly. Alicia has been obsessed with ice cream for as long as I can remember.
I tell her to grab whatever she needs so we can head out, then check in with Mom. I need to get out of here, even if it’s just for a little while.
I find Mom in her room, sitting in the armchair with her laptop open on her lap. She’s staring past the screen, out the window, like she’s somewhere else entirely.
She probably doesn’t realize I notice how much Dad being gone all the time weighs on her.
When he got back from his trip, things were…
different. For about a week. They even went out on a date that Friday.
I stayed home with Alicia, still gaming with friends, when I heard their muffled laughter drifting down the hall.
I cracked the door just enough to see him pinning her to the wall, kissing her, his hand on her hip.
I shut the door immediately.
I know Alicia and I weren’t born out of fairy tales, but no kid needs that burned into their brain.
Of course, it didn’t last. This week, everything’s back to normal.
I rest my hand on her shoulder. “Hey. I’m taking Alicia out for ice cream, okay?”
“Of course,” she says, smiling, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Just don’t be long. And one scoop only. I’m ordering takeout tonight, so be back to choose.”
I kiss her cheek and turn toward the door, but she catches my arm.
“Have you decided what you want to do for your birthday?” she asks gently. “Are you sure you don’t want me to plan something with your friends? Maybe by the pool?”
The last thing I want is to add more to her plate. She’s already carrying enough. And honestly, parties aren’t my thing.
“A cake with you and Alicia is perfect.”
“And your father,” she adds.
I don’t even think before answering. “Sure, if he makes it home in time to see me blow out the candles.”
Before she can say anything else, Alicia comes into the room with a bag slung over her shoulder, gives Mom a quick kiss, and grabs my hand, pulling me downstairs.
We’re halfway to the door when Alicia spots Dad by the living room window, a glass of brandy in his hand. She goes to him immediately, her excitement obvious.
His eyes lock onto mine over her head. He clearly wants the last word, just not in front of her.
I don’t look away.
I pass him with my chin lifted, the message loud and clear. I’m not bending. And if he thinks money or gifts are going to buy back my respect…
He’s dead wrong.