Page 22

Mom asked me if I wanted to have lunch with her and Victor in a restaurant, I politely declined. I mean... I really didn't feel like seeing a happy, loving couple.

And I wasn't even hungry. I hadn't touched any food since that chocolate soufflé, which only brought up ONE memory.

The feeling of Maya's finger on my lips.

It still lingered—like a soft trace.

I still didn't get why she did that or why it left me so stunned. And insecure.

But she knew exactly that with that small gesture, my face would flush with embarrassment. And it did.

Damn.

I went downstairs, and that's when I saw the surprise—a bunch of Taco Bell bags laid out on the table.

That's VERY WEIRD.

A weird coincidence.

No one was around... and I was starting to feel hungry again... so I started eating. And I actually enjoyed it.

After a while, someone opened the door, and I almost flinched. My emotions were all over the place, thinking it was Maya.

It was Nelly, though.

"Ah, thank God you ate it, Grace, I'm glad!" she exclaimed.

I almost choked on it.

"Nelly... didn't you get it?" I asked nervously.

"No," she smiled at me, winking excitedly.

And that's when I realized Maya was the one who bought it.

Now that I think about it... it was pretty clear...

"Don't tell her I liked it, okay?" I asked Nelly rhetorically, biting my cheek to stop myself from smiling like an idiot.

Anyway, I still didn't get why she bothered leaving all this food...

There are a lot of mixed signals going on.

I don't know... maybe this is just her way of showing things. In her own weird Maya-style.

She's confusing. And kind of... nice? Which is worse, honestly.

Because now I can't stop thinking about her again.

~

I spent the afternoon drawing, something that always helped me escape my thoughts and just focus on the moment.

No one dared to disturb me.

No one, until... someone texted me.

It was Nick.

Grace, I'll bring you to dinner, you'll enjoy it. Be ready in one hour ;) >>

Oh.

He showed up again.

I was still confused about him. There was something that didn't quite sit right with me.

Starting with the fact that he's giving me nothing.

Like his words are mostly dodging, never straightforward. There was something off about the way he avoided answering any questions.

It feels like he's done something he shouldn't have.

Maybe I just needed to figure him out on my own, since Maya won't tell me anything about him.

A dinner could be a good way to start—what could go wrong?

I texted him an 'okay' and started to get ready. I wore a simple pink shirt with a red edge on it, high-waisted light jeans, and white converse.

No heavy makeup, just something natural: a bit of mascara, blush, pink lip balm. I let my brown hair cascade down my shoulders in waves.

Nick texted me in that moment:

I'm outside. I tried ringing the gate, but no one answered.>>

Weird.

I left my room, headed downstairs, and Nelly was there... so why hadn't she opened the gate yet?

She suddenly looked at me with an already apologetic expression I couldn't quite understand.

"Hi, sorry to bother you, but can you please open the gate?" I asked. "My friend is here and I still don't know the code."

"I'm sorry, Grace, but I can't..." she replied, pursing her lips.

"What?"

"I can't..." she repeated.

I smiled nervously. "Don't worry, Nelly, I already told my mom. It's okay with her..."

She froze. "It's not about your mum, Grace..."

"Then who are you talking about?" I asked bluntly.

Nelly gave me another apologetic look and sighed slowly. "It's not about you, believe me..."

So... it's clear Nelly couldn't open the gate for Nick. But of course, she got that instruction from someone else, and if it's not my mom...

Then it's pretty obvious who gave the order.

I clenched my jaw.

Insane.

"Where is she?" I asked, crossing my arms.

Clearly, Nelly wanted to protect her, but once I understood what was really going on—she couldn't help but point to Maya's room.

Oh, she'll have to answer for this.

I had all the patience to wait, to endure her reckless behavior, but now it's done—I'm done.

I quickly headed back upstairs and rushed into her room without even thinking.

I didn't even knock—I just stormed in with zero good intentions.

Maya was in the center of her room—changing clothes...

I froze.

She was standing there in nothing but a black lace bra, fidding with the buttons of her jeans.

She looked up at me, narrowing her eyes and raising both eyebrows in an amused expression.

She seemed to be enjoying this.

Yeah—because the world clearly revolves around her.

I mean, seriously, who could be so confident in just a bra and jeans?

I turned around to face her... closet.

My cheeks were on fire, and I crossed my arms, trying to act like it wasn't affecting me.

FOCUS on the bad thing.

"What game are you playing?" My voice came out way too embarrassed or way too eager.

Damn.

"What are you talking about?" she shot back, and I could hear her little amused laugh.

"Quit it right now, Maya, I'm dead serious. Tell Nelly to open the gate, immediately." I warned her.

"Planning on having fun tonight, huh?" she asked, her scoff way too sarcastic.

"None of your business. Open the gate," I ordered.

"No."

I was about to turn around to snap at her, but I stopped myself, remembering she was still wearing that damn bra...

"Why are you being like this, huh?!" I demanded. "I need an answer. You can't just act like that and expect me to deal with it!" I bursted out.

Maya let out a dramatic groan.

"As much as you wish it was all about you, Grace..."

I suddenly felt her presence right behind me, which made me panic. She leaned in, close enough to make me jump.

I turned around to figure out what the hell was going on, but I found myself looking her up and down—

The black fitted bra on her round, full boobs...

The jeans hugging her hips just right...

I suddenly felt warm up all over my body.

Maya still had that amused smirk on her face as she stubbornly stood in the direction my embarrassed gaze was pointing.

The guts to do that on purpose.

But, apparently—she also needed something from her closet, and I was blocking her way...

Her hands squeezed my hips gently, nudging me to move since I was still standing there like an idiot.

There's something about the way she moves so effortlessly, the way she always commands the room that—

I don't know...

It's crazy.

I moved aside. Her back was to me now as I took it all in—her tan skin, her shoulders, the way her spine curved down to her waist.

I turned around again.

I needed to look away.

"This isn't about you. It's about him," she said, finally picking up the conversation. "I don't want him near... my house."

This was all kind of infuriating.

And worse—it was distracting.

But I have to get it over with.

"As much as we both hated it, I happen to live in this house too, and you can't... I mean... you can't do this..." frustration got the best of me.

"Yes, I can, and I did." She dared to say in the most casual way.

"Seriously?!" I snapped turning again to face her.

She didn't put on a damn t-shirt.

So what was the point of nudging me before?!

"What is wrong with you?!" I demanded.

My eyes had trouble figuring out where to look.

Maya stood there, eyes locked on mine, one eyebrow slightly raised.

That look...

That lethal mix of challenge and venom. The kind that doesn't kill me but makes me burn inside.

She steps closer. One single step, but it was enough to feel her skin close to mine, until her usual perfume surrounds me—until I feel overwhelmed.

"I make the rules, Grace."

Her eyes darken, her voice steady, careful, not a single hint of hesitation—yet burning with something I can't quite place.

"And I'll break them when it suits me."

I swallowed hard, acting like her words didn't affect me. But they did.

"Does that means I have to follow your damn rules?"

She smirked in satisfaction. "Oh, yes, Grace, it's better to follow them. I bet you're not that kinda of girl who breaks rules, don't you?"

It was silent between us for a moment, our stare challenging one another.

My pulse quickened, my face burning, my whole body tensing and protesting. I tried desperately to hide how my body was reacting to her—it was impossible.

"Stop doing that, Maya. You overstepped my boundaries. Don't provoke me more."

Her smirk deepening. "Or?"

"You know what?!" I snapped. "I'm not playing your game and I don't care about your fucking rules—go ahead, I'll find a solution on my own."

"What do you mean?" she asked right away, her voice wavering for the first time.

I didn't bother to answer her and stormed out of her room. I stormed out of that damn house as well, and approached the gate, which was miles away.

With every second that passed, I just got more frustrated with her.

I was mad as hell.

I couldn't even get my head straight—how could she.

She crossed the line.

She wanted a reaction—she got one.

And I wasn't even done.

Her damn rules? Already broken.

War has been fucking declared.

A/N

That was chaotic... and fun... but everything is still ongoing, so... see you soon ????