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“I get why,” Ster says quietly. “I get it, Noel. It’s hard enough to let go of toxic friends, but family is a whole different issue. You don’t need to be embarrassed or ashamed,” he adds. “And you don’t need to feel guilty.”

I swallow thickly. Sterling is not one for big words, and he usually doesn’t talk much at all, but when he says something, I always know he means it.

“I am terrified,” I admit.

“I know,” he says. “But you are still doing it and taking charge of your life. You are doing all of it despite your anxiety. That’s the only way you will be able to do things: accept your anxiety as what it is, and take the challenges of life despite that. Like you did when you entered a relationship with Aden. You are much stronger than you believe you are.”

“Aden said the same.”

“Aden is an incredibly smart man,” Ster says. “But that’s not all there is to him. He sees the world in a unique way, through a lens only he owns.”

“Like you do,” I say with a smile. “At heart, he is and will always be an artist.”

Ster chuckles. “Yeah, we are a special species.”

“I am just scared the other shoe will drop eventually,” I say.

“Things can’t remain perfect,” Ster says. “The other shoe will always drop eventually. You just need to figure out what you will do once it happens and how to deal with it. That’s how life is. It’s an up and down, and there are things you can’t influence, so the more important it is to take charge of the things youcaninfluence.”

“Now you almost sounded like a fortune cookie,” I mutter.

“Whatever. You know I am right.”

“I guess you are.”

“Now, go and meet your boyfriend,” Ster says. “You were on the way to meet him anyway.”

Not justmeethim. I grin to myself when I hang up the phone. Who am I even kidding? I just love Aden’s attention and his desire for me. It’s obviously not my style to play hard to get. The moment I am home I want to ride his dick, or better yet, have him fulfil his promise.

The subway brings me close to Aden’s place, but usually I’d need to take the bus for the last couple of stops. Obviously, it was impossible to catch the last one. It’s way too late already. I could bother Aden with picking me up, but tonight I actually enjoy the walk. Maybe, once everything is settled with my debt, I will buy myself a small, used car, or maybe a bike.

I don’t know yet.

Behind me, I hear some rustling, almost like footsteps. Turning around, I just look into the darkness of the night. Is someone following me? Not too far in the distance, I spot agroup of young students, chatting and laughing with each other. Well, I am not alone.

And this is not the type of area where creepy people hang around.

I decide to pick up my pace, though. Better safe than sorry. The small fence around Aden’s townhouse is already in sight. I can see the lights in the living room on, my heart taking a leap of joy to imagine that I have so much good news to share.

There is rustling behind me again, and footsteps, making me freeze. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence anymore–I am definitely being followed.

I turn around, studying the empty street. “Is someone there?”

Something moves in the shadow of some trees, before I can finally see a person step forward.

“No way,” I mutter. “It can’t be! How?”

My mother takes a few steps forward, her eyes narrowed, her expression grim. “I finally found you.”

twenty-six

*NOEL*

Ican’t fucking believe she found me! How did she do it? It’s impossible for her to track my phone, but she does know parts of my life. She knows I am friends with Mateo and Sterling. Maybe she stalked one of them.

The fuck, I don’t know how she did it. I just know she is here now, and I don’t want her to see me, or worse, see Aden.

Or even worse: Talk to him.