Chapter 25

***

"I hate you." I say to Jake.

"I'm sorry! You were really loving it..."

I wince again as he caresses the red, swollen — his very own — hand mark.

"Poor baby," he chuckles softly. "That does look painful." He kisses my forehead then applies the frozen bag of peas back on my ass, soothing the lingering burn.

We're swimming in a black wave of silk bedsheets, cloaked in the 3 AM darkness. The only light source is glaring from the flat screen TV.

I'm in one of his black shirts, a bare leg over his hips, and my cheek on his chest. He has his strong arm wrapped around my waist.

"What do you like to watch?" he asks, lifting the remote control.

"Porn."

He snorts. I smile and continue. "Mm, it depends on my mood...I like everything. Psych thrillers, anime, K-dramas, Bollywood, rom-coms...you?"

"Bollywood?"

"Shah Rukh Khan in 'Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge' was bae."

He chuckles. "W-what?"

I deepen my voice. "Oh, I'm sorry. I only watch manly shit, like animal documentaries to learn how lions hunt."

"It's interesting!" he yells, eyes wide. "I fucking love the Discovery Channel."

I pound on his chest. "I King Kong. I defend."

He gives me a lazy smile and presses the frozen peas harder, making me yelp.

"Let's watch Friends." I settle back on his chest.

"Down."

~

It's Sunday. I have brunch with Jake and Naomi at 12 PM — still have no idea how Jake convinced me to go, guess I'm that stupid — and I have Molly's birthday at 3.

I suppose knowing that there's a time limit helps. The more predictable the event, the less painful it will be. People often wonder how I manage two hundred students, but can't carry a one-on-one conversation — the answer lies in structure and preparation.

Hence the cannabis oil I'm about to drop on my tongue to emotionally prepare for the anxiety of 'will she like me?' or 'will she pretend to like me, but actually hate me?' and of course 'will I have to pretend that I don't see that she is pretending to like me?'

You know what, let's add a couple more drops for safety measures.

~

I can't wait to meet this amazing woman and bond with her over bread.

Why was I so worried? Peas don't worry when they float in a cup of noodles. They just flow. Yippee.

At 11:30 AM, Kayden calls and I put down my noodles to answer.

"This better not be about my Romeo, Kayden." I roll my eyes. "I told you, I'm not bringing him."

"It's canceled. Sorry for the last minute notice."

"What?" I frown at his distant tone. "What happened?"

"Nothing, it's... ugh, it's Natalie." He sighs, traffic noise in the background. "I had told her about this months in advance and she called me just now, saying she has fifty people coming over because she's planned a special party."

"Is that what Molly wants?" I ask, trying to mask my anger.

"I don't know... I doubt it? But... Natalie is an expert at guilt-tripping. Molly won't be able to argue and I don't want to fight with Nat on her birthday."

"Kayden..." I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "You're wrong."

"What?"

"Molly wants you to fight for her. Trust me! She feels helpless right now. She needs an adult who will stand up for her. You have to go rescue her."

"That's really sweet Mia, but I don't see how—"

"I can help."

"I don't want to involve you in the drama—"

"You're my friend and I care about Molly. It's totally not professional and this might be the end of my sessions with her, but I don't care. She sees me as an older sister anyway, I'll gladly switch into that role."

"Mia I can't ask you to do that, you're... thank you. Thank you, but no—"

"We need to fight for her, Kayden." My throat tightens and I swallow the lump. "These things matter... trust me."

"But Natalie already has people over, she'll put on a show in front of them."

"Then we'll use that to our advantage."

~

I send Jake a quick text message at 11:40 that I have an emergency and apologize that I need to cancel the brunch date with Naomi.

"Why aren't you answering your phone?" He texts back after I miss his call.

"Cause I'm running around, I'm sorry. I'll explain later," I reply.

"Everything ok? My sister was really looking forward to meeting you."

"I know, please don't guilt trip me. It's not like she knows me yet."

"Okay? That's not what I was trying to do."

"It's not a big deal, we can have brunch any other day."

"It was a big deal to me. But alright, I'll talk to you later."

"Fuck!" I cry out, reading the last next. "This is why I wanted to explain later! I'm too stressed out to think straight!"

I dash out of the grocery store with twenty pink balloons in my face and spot the Uber waiting for me. I run up to the white car and open the backseat door.

"Lady, you can't put that in my car! I won't be able to see where I'm going!" The driver with a unibrow and heavy cologne scowls from the driver's seat.

"I'm sorry, I'll look out for you!" I shove the balloons inside, popping a few in the process.

~

"Thanks so much, Andranik! Good luck with your bodyshop and remember, less is more!" I give my Uber driver a thumbs up as I get out of the car.

The Beverly Hills street sparkles with overwatered front yards, fancy chirping birds and houses I'd have to sell my soul to afford.

Kayden waits outside his car in front of a house I assume is Natalie's. The noise of balloons hitting each other makes him turn around as I run up to him.

He smiles. "Hey, Mia—"

"Where are your balloons, Kayden?" I shout in panic, startling him back.

"In my car..." He drawls, looking me over. "Why are you so hyper?"

"I need the adrenaline to pull this off! Now, let's huddle for the game plan!"

"What the hell are you doing here?" Angry Natalie yells from her balcony. She's in a golden dress with a scoop neck and an intricate hairdo. Her skin is so spray-tanned she looks like a cheese puff.

I give her a sly smile. "Well hello there, Natalie. How you doin'?"

"Get the hell out of here before I call the cops." She says with a curled upper lip and a vicious glare.

"Come on, you're not going to call the cops." Kayden opens his palms. "Natalie, just let me have Molly for a couple of hours. It's her birthday—""

"I know it's her birthday." She lifts a perfect eyebrow. "My guests also know it's her birthday."

"Molly!" I cup my mouth and shout. "It's me, Mia! Your dad is here too!"

The front door opens with confused Molly behind it. She's in a pink dress, auburn hair loosely curled, cheeks dusted with endearing blush. A hopeful smile lights up her face as she sees us.

"Molly!" Natalie leans over the railing to scold. "You have so many people who drove all the way here to see you. Go back inside."

"They're your friends, mom." She frowns, voice gentle.

"Well, you don't have any friends, do you, sweetheart? Shouldn't you stay and socialize? Or are you going to sulk in your room for the rest of your life?"

"Do your friends know you talk to your daughter like that?" I shift on one hip, raising my eyebrows at Nat. "Or is everyone else there just like you?"

Her jaw tightens. "You... just wait until I report you—""

"I don't care if you report me, lady, I'll burn your house down. You think I'm kidding? I burned my room down when I was eight on New Year's Eve for the sake of science."

"You did what?" Kayden turns to me.

"Yeah..." I shrug sheepishly. "I wanted to know what happens to a candle when it burns to the bottom, so I put it in my closet—"

"Kayden, take this lunatic away. I'm not kidding." Natalie snaps.

"Mom, stop! Please!" Molly yells just as some of the guests emerge behind her and Natalie, startled by the commotion.

Natalie, noticing the audience, straightens her shoulders with a smile. "Honey, these people are ruining your party. Tell them to respect you and leave, okay?"

"I told you that I want to be with dad this year! Just this one time!"

"Your father is a loner and you deserve better, I'm trying to help you—"

Molly's eyes fill with tears and Kayden lowers his head in shame. Nat smirks at me, before turning on her heel to go back inside.

"Excuse you, ho," I blurt, stopping her mid-walk. "But Kayden's the coolest guy and also the better parent."

At that moment, two cars pull up on the street and I smile. The doors open and teenagers rush out with party hats.

Molly's boyfriend, Nick, runs with a megaphone and gives me a high five.

Her two best friends hold up a giant birthday sign. Nick's two friends have dozens of balloons in each hand.

Everyone lines up in front of the house by our side. I grab the megaphone from Nick and bring it to my lips, turning to Kayden who's beaming at me.

"Your balloons, Kayden." I urge and his eyes widen before he dashes off to his car.

Molly gapes as Kayden comes out with his own set of balloons while Nick runs to his car and blasts R Kelly's 'It's Your Birthday' song on full volume. Our group starts swaying as we sing to her.

"Girl, I bet you had thought I went and forgot. It's a special day."

Nick passes the megaphone to Molly's best friends who wave at Molly, then hand it to Kayden who awkwardly sings before the wind knocks my balloons into his face.

I push them away to reveal Kayden glaring at me and giggle sheepishly, then take the megaphone from him to sing my part.

Natalie screams 'enough!' while her guests cheer and smartphones come out to record the event.

"But wait, there's more!" I wave at Nick, who runs back to his car and changes the music. A moment of anticipatory silence passes before the next song.

"Go, go, go, go, go, go. Go shorty, it's your birthday. We gon' party like it's your birthday."

50 Cent's 'In Da Club' begins as the neighbors come out of their houses.

Nick bobs his head as he swaggers over to Molly and starts to unbutton his Hawaiian shirt while his friends holler and whistler behind him.

"What the hell is he doing?" Kayden's fatherly voice interjects, but I'm laughing too hard to respond.

Nick's friends run up to Molly and unfold a plastic chair, sitting her down on it as Nick waves his hips in front of her grinning face.

"Nick! Molly!" Kayden yells in horror and marches towards them while the guests and neighbors die from laughter.

Right as Nick is bending down to shake his booty, Kayden smacks him across the head, waves a finger at Molly, and drags them both to his car.

I run up to one of the guests and give them my balloons then grab the megaphone from Nick as I get in Kayden's car with them.

"Ladies and gentleman..." I pop my head out the window and smirk at Natalie. "Let it be known that Molly is the real queen, and she'll never have to endure Natalie's boring parties, ever again!"

Natalie screams profanities, but it's hard to hear or care over the music and laughter as we drive away, leaving behind Beverly Hills.

~

Three hours, ten mozzarella sticks, two birthday cake slices, and countless smiles and hugs later, Kayden and the kids drop me off.

It's 4:30 PM and I have no phone notifications. My heart sinks as I picture Jake's frown and re-read our last conversation.

I take a quick shower and try to push away the guilt. My mind splits into two. One that tells me I have to make up for what I've done and another that argues I shouldn't feel obligated.

But Jake's not my mom. He's not trying to manipulate me. He deserves better.

As I open my dresser to put on new clothes, I almost reach for another drop of cannabis oil, before I pause mid-air. I don't need this. I don't need to escape. He deserves better than someone who runs.

So I pick up something else from my bottom drawer.

A little maid outfit.

It's a black dress that ends below the butt with white trim. It comes with a little apron that ties in the back with a bow. Plus, it has a cute headband and a choker necklace.

I put it on along with black heels and a trench coat, before heading out to ask for forgiveness.

Butterflies flutter the entire way there. I picture the moment he opens the door and his mouth falls open as he drinks me from head to toe. Or not. He can act indifferent, I won't mind. I'll work for it if I have to.

I park down the street to make sure he doesn't notice, then strut to the house. I throw the trench coat in the bushes that line the pathway and ring the doorbell with a smirk. The doorknob twists open as I drawl with a French accent.

"Monsieur, I'm here to beg for your—"

A sudden coldness hits my core and my body stiffens at the woman staring at me. She turns her gaze to my tiny outfit all the way to my bare legs while I shrivel and pray to turn into an ant.

"You must be the professor." She says with a cold, unbothered voice.

Thick blonde hair drapes down to her waist. Curves covered in all black. Pouty lips. A little nose. Large hazel eyes. Piercing into me with dark, thin eyebrows.

"Non, je suis...le maid?" I squeak.

Jake appears over her shoulder with a casual expression before his eyes pop out of his sockets.

"Holy fucking shit, baby."

I stand frozen for a small second then dive behind the bushes next to me.

"Ow!" I land on all fours, wincing as the branches scratch my skin. I snatch the trench coat from the ground and cover myself. "I'm so sorry! I thought you were home alone..." I cry out.

"She makes time for this, huh?" Naomi mutters to Jake.

I swallow the lump in my throat. "I'll just leave—"

Footsteps crunch on the branches as Jake walks around the bushes and stands before me. I'm kneeling on the grass to hide from Naomi when he bends to grab my wrist and tries to pull me up.

"My God, baby. Where'd you get that outfit?" He laughs breathlessly with a dimpled grin. Okay, at least he's not mad at me.

"This?" I grimace, looking at myself. "It's nice, right? I thought you'd like it."

"It's so fucking hot."

"Thanks, I was going to do the dishes or like vacuum a little—"

"Are you two seriously having this conversation right now?" Naomi shoots from the front porch.

"Come on." Jake chuckles, lifting me up on my knees. "Okay, this looks wrong—"

"Jake, I swear to God!" Naomi yells.

I gulp and look at Jake who shakes his head at me and smirks.

Guess this is payback for canceling.

~~ A/N ~~

What a great first impression, huh?

Pray for Mia.

If this was fun to read, please vote! <3