Love Affairs

Maya Cole stood in front of the black iron gate with one suitcase beside her and rain running down her face. She had been standing there for almost ten minutes. She could have turned around. Part of her wanted to. But there was nowhere to go. The taxi that had brought her was already gone. The driver had taken her money and left her standing outside the biggest house she had ever hated. Carter Estate. She looked at the tall walls surrounding the property. Nothing had changed. Even after five years, she remembered the place too well. The long driveway. The trees along the road. The white lights near the entrance. And somewhere behind those walls was Daniel. Maya swallowed. She had promised herself she would never come back. Life had a funny way of making promises useless. Her mother was dead. The house she had grown up in was gone. Her stepbrother had sold almost everything before she could stop him, leaving her with debts she didn't even know existed. Her bank account had barely enough money to survive another week. She had called three friends. One was getting married. Another had moved to another city. The third had simply told her, "I'm sorry, Maya. I really can't." So she had come here. To Daniel. The one person she had spent five years trying to forget. Maya picked up her suitcase and walked toward the gate. A security guard stepped forward. "Can I help you?" "I need to see Daniel Carter." The guard looked at her. "Do you have an appointment?" "No." "Then you can't go in." Maya almost laughed. Of course. Five years ago, she had entered this place without knocking. Daniel had opened the door for her. He used to smile whenever he saw her. He used to pull her close and complain when she stayed away too long. Now she couldn't even get past the gate. "Please," she said. "Just tell him Maya Cole is here." The guard's expression changed. He looked at her again. "You said Maya Cole?" "Yes." He picked up his phone. Maya waited. She could hear her heart beating. A few seconds later, the gate opened. Her stomach dropped. A black car came slowly down the driveway. It stopped in front of her. The driver's door opened. Daniel stepped out. Maya forgot how to breathe. He looked older. Not old. Just different. His dark hair was shorter than she remembered. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves folded around his forearms and a silver watch on his wrist. Five years had changed his face. But not his eyes. Those eyes were still the same. They looked at her like he was trying to understand why she had returned from the dead. "Maya." Hearing her name from his mouth hurt more than she expected. She tightened her grip on her suitcase. "Hi." Daniel stared at her. He didn't smile. He didn't move closer. "What are you doing here?" There was no warmth in his voice. Maya looked away. "I need somewhere to stay." Daniel gave a short laugh. She looked back at him. "I'm serious." "I can see that." "I only need a few days." "No." The answer was immediate. Maya nodded slowly. "I thought you might say that." "Then why did you come?" She looked at him. There were so many things she could have said. Because my mother died. Because my home was taken from me. Because I don't have anyone. Because even after five years, some stupid part of me still believed you might help me. Instead she said, "I don't have anywhere else." Daniel's face didn't change. "You should have thought about that before." Maya felt the words hit her. She looked down. "I know." She turned around. "Maya." She stopped. Daniel looked toward the suitcase. "You can stay in the east guest room." She slowly turned back. "What?" "Two weeks." She stared at him. "Why?" "Because you look like you're about to sleep on the street." Maya almost smiled. "Still kind." "Don't mistake it for kindness." "I won't." Daniel stepped aside. "Come inside." Maya pulled her suitcase through the gate. Every step felt strange. She had imagined returning to this house many times. In some versions, Daniel begged her to stay. In others, she walked past him without feeling anything. She had never imagined this. She walked into the house behind him. The smell hit her first. The same polished wood. The same expensive perfume. The same flowers near the staircase. She remembered sitting there with Daniel one night, eating ice cream straight from the container because neither of them wanted to cook. She remembered his hand around hers. She remembered being happy. Maya quickly pushed the memory away. She was halfway up the stairs when a woman's voice stopped her. "Daniel?" Maya looked back. A woman stood in the hallway. Victoria Hale. She was beautiful. Perfect hair. Perfect dress. Perfect smile. The diamond on her finger caught the light. Maya knew who she was. Everyone did. Daniel's fiancée. Victoria looked at Maya. Then at the suitcase. Then back at Daniel. "Who is she?" Daniel said nothing. Maya answered for him. "Maya Cole." Victoria's smile disappeared. For a moment, neither woman spoke. Then Victoria looked at Daniel. "Your Maya?" Daniel's jaw tightened. "She's staying for two weeks." Victoria laughed softly. "I thought you said she was gone." "She was." Maya looked between them. "I can leave if this is a problem." Daniel looked at her. "No." Victoria's eyes hardened. "But she's your ex." "I know." "Daniel." "I said she's staying." Maya didn't understand why he was defending her. Five years ago, he had been the one to tell her she had ruined everything. He had looked at her with disgust. He had believed she had chosen another man over him. She still remembered his words. I never want to see you again. She had obeyed. For five years. Now he was standing there telling his fiancée that Maya could stay in his home. Nothing made sense. Victoria walked closer. "You know she's the reason we broke up the first time." Daniel looked at her. "That's enough." Maya felt uncomfortable. "I don't want to cause problems." Victoria looked at her. "You already did." Maya said nothing. Daniel took her suitcase. "I'll show you the room." She reached for it. "I can carry it." "I know." He walked upstairs. Maya followed. Neither of them spoke. When they reached the guest room, Daniel placed the suitcase beside the bed. He turned toward her. "You can stay here." "Thank you." His eyes remained on her. "You've changed." Maya gave a small smile. "So have you." "Do you hate me?" The question came so suddenly that she looked at him. Daniel waited. Maya didn't know what answer he wanted. "I don't hate you." "Why?" "Because I'm tired of hating you." Something moved in his eyes. Then it disappeared. "You should still be careful." "About what?" "About coming back into my life." Maya's chest tightened. She looked at him. "I didn't come back for you, Daniel." He nodded. "Good." He turned toward the door. Maya watched him leave. The door closed. She sat on the edge of the bed. Her hands were shaking. She hated that. She hated that five years could disappear so quickly just because a man looked at her. Maya opened her suitcase. Her clothes were still damp. She began taking them out. At the bottom was an old photograph. She froze. She hadn't seen it in years. It was a picture of her and Daniel. They were standing outside this same house. She was laughing. Daniel had his arm around her waist. She turned the picture over. There was handwriting on the back. Daniel's handwriting. She read the words. I'm going to marry this woman someday. Maya's eyes filled with tears. Then she heard a voice behind her. "Put it down." She turned. Daniel stood in the doorway. His face had changed. He walked toward her and took the photograph from her hand. Maya looked at him. "You still kept it." Daniel stared at the picture. "I forgot it was there." "Did you?" He didn't answer. Maya wiped her eyes quickly. "Don't worry. I won't tell Victoria." Daniel looked at her. "Tell her what?" "That once, you loved me." His expression tightened. "I did." Maya's heart stopped. Daniel looked away. "That was five years ago." He placed the photograph on the table. Then he walked out. Maya sat there alone. She told herself it meant nothing. She told herself she didn't care. But deep inside, one question wouldn't leave her alone. If Daniel had truly forgotten her... Why had he kept the photograph?