Chapter 5: Playing perfect
1322 Words
Maya came downstairs wearing the professional outfit Linda had picked out, every hair in place, makeup subtle and appropriate.
Linda looked up from her coffee, eyes scanning Maya with the precision of a general inspecting troops.
"Good morning. You look presentable." She set down her cup. "We have that client meeting at ten. Did you review the files I sent you?"
"Yes, Mom. All reviewed."
Derek walked in from the back porch, coffee mug in hand, hair still damp from his morning shower. His blue-gray eyes met Maya's for half a second before sliding away.
"Morning," he said to Linda, deliberately not looking at Maya.
"Derek. There's breakfast if you want." Linda barely glanced at him. "Maya and I will be gone most of the day."
"Sounds good. I've got work anyway." His voice was carefully neutral.
Maya poured herself coffee, acutely aware of Derek standing three feet away. She could smell his soap, see the tension in his shoulders, feel the weight of last night between them like a living thing.
"Maya, we're leaving in five minutes." Linda gathered her briefcase. "Don't forget the presentation notes."
"I won't."
Linda walked out, heels clicking toward the garage.
The moment she was gone, Derek's hand found Maya's lower back. Just a brief touch, but it sent electricity through her.
"You okay?" he whispered.
"Yeah. You?"
"Barely." His fingers traced her spine through her blouse. "I can still taste you."
Maya's breath caught. "Derek—"
"I know. We can't. Not here." But he didn't move his hand. "Tonight?"
"After she goes to bed. Midnight."
"Where?"
"My room. She sleeps like the dead once she's out."
His eyes darkened. "That's dangerous."
"I don't care."
"Maya! Car!" Linda's voice echoed from the garage.
Derek's hand dropped. Maya grabbed her bag and walked out, feeling his gaze on her the entire way.
---
The client meeting was torture.
Maya sat through two hours of Linda dominating the conversation, making decisions, presenting Maya like a trophy—"my daughter, studying at Berkeley, so brilliant", while treating her like she was invisible.
"What do you think, Maya?" the client asked at one point. "About the sustainable housing angle?"
Before Maya could answer, Linda cut in. "Maya's still learning the business. What I think is more relevant here—"
Maya's jaw tightened. She smiled politely and let her mother talk.
All she could think about was Derek. His hands on her body. His mouth on her neck. The way he'd looked at her like she was the only thing in the world that mattered.
"Maya? Are you listening?" Linda's sharp tone cut through her thoughts.
"Yes, Mom. Sorry. Just taking notes."
Linda's eyes narrowed slightly, but she continued her presentation.
By the time they got home at six, Maya was exhausted from pretending.
Derek's car was in the driveway. Relief flooded through her.
Inside, Derek was in the kitchen making dinner. He'd changed into jeans and a fitted black henley that showed off his tattooed forearms.
"Figured I'd cook since you two were working all day," he said, not quite meeting Maya's eyes. "Hope pasta's okay."
"That's thoughtful of you, Derek." Linda set down her briefcase. "Maya, go change. Something casual for dinner."
Maya went upstairs, her heart racing. Dinner with both of them. Pretending. Acting normal when all she wanted was to drag Derek to her room.
She changed into jeans and a soft sweater, took a breath to steady herself, and headed back down.
---
Dinner was excruciating.
Derek had made carbonara, and it was delicious, but Maya could barely taste it. Every time she looked up, she caught Derek's eyes on her. Every accidental brush of their feet under the table sent sparks through her.
"This is really good, Derek," Linda said. "I didn't know you could cook."
"Picked it up over the years. Living alone, you either learn or eat takeout forever." He twirled pasta on his fork. "How was the meeting?"
"Productive. Maya did well." Linda glanced at Maya. "Though she seemed distracted at times."
Maya's heart skipped. "Just tired. Long day."
"Hmm." Linda sipped her wine. "I actually wanted to discuss something. The charity gala is in two weeks. Maya, I've already picked out your dress. We'll do a fitting this weekend."
"Okay, Mom."
"And Derek, you should come too. It's a family event. Good opportunity for you to reconnect with people in town."
Derek's fork paused. "Sure. If you want me there."
"Of course I do. You're my brother." Linda's voice softened slightly. "I know things have been... strained between us. But having you back home, it's been nice. Like having family again."
Something flickered across Derek's face. Guilt, maybe.
"Thanks, Lin. That means a lot."
Maya watched them, her chest tightening. Linda was trying with Derek. Actually trying to rebuild their relationship. And here Maya was, sleeping with him behind her back.
The guilt was suffocating.
After dinner, Linda went to her office. Derek and Maya cleaned up in charged silence.
"You okay?" Derek asked quietly as they loaded the dishwasher.
"I don't know. Hearing her say that, about family... it made me feel awful."
"I know. Me too." Derek's hand found hers briefly. "But we can't stop now. Can we?"
Maya looked up at him. "Do you want to stop?"
"God, no. But maybe we should." His thumb traced her palm. "This is eating me alive, Maya. Every time Linda looks at me with trust, I want to confess everything."
"Then maybe we should tell her."
"And lose you? Watch her throw me out and cut you off?" Derek shook his head. "I'm not that strong."
"Me either."
They stood close, not quite touching, the weight of their secret pressing down.
"Midnight?" Derek whispered.
"Midnight."
---
At 11:45, Maya heard Linda's bedroom door close and lock.
She waited, every nerve on fire.
At midnight exactly, there was a soft tap on her window.
Derek slipped through, closing it silently behind him.
"Hi," Maya breathed.
"Hi yourself." He pulled her against him. "I've been going crazy."
"Me too." She kissed him. "I hated pretending at dinner."
"I know. But we have to be more careful. Your mom's watching." His hands slid under her sleep shirt. "She said I seemed distracted today."
"You were distracted?"
"All I could think about was this. You. Us." He kissed her neck. "It's getting harder to hide."
"Then don't hide." Maya pulled him toward the bed. "Not here. Not with me."
They fell together, trying to stay quiet, losing themselves in each other.
Afterward, wrapped in her sheets with Derek's heartbeat under her ear, Maya felt complete.
"I love you," she whispered.
Derek went still. "Maya—"
"You don't have to say it back. I just needed you to know."
He tilted her face up, his blue-gray eyes intense. "I love you too. That's the problem. I love you so much it terrifies me."
"Why does it terrify you?"
"Because loving you means I have everything to lose." He kissed her forehead. "And I've already lost everything once before. I don't know if I could survive losing you."
"You won't lose me."
"You don't know that. If your mom finds out—"
"She won't."
They held each other tighter, as if they could will it to be true.
Maya woke to Derek shaking her gently. Outside, the sky was lightening.
"I have to go."
"Stay. Just a little longer."
"Can't risk it." He kissed her. "I love you."
"I love you too."
He dressed and climbed out the window.
Maya watched him disappear, then closed the window and got back into bed.
Her phone buzzed with a text from Derek: *Tonight changed everything. We need to talk about what happens next.*
Maya stared at the message, her stomach flipping.
What did happen next?
How long could they keep sneaking around?
And what would they do when the secret became too heavy to carry?
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