STAR STRUCK

Chapter Eleven

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Seline stepped into her apartment and paused, the scent of freshly baked bread and coffee catching her off guard. She inhaled deeply, a momentary wave of warmth washing over her. It wasn't the usual sterile smell of her apartment, where takeout containers and the faint aroma of lavender cleaning spray lingered. This was different. This was… home.

Frowning, she followed the source of the scent to the kitchen.

Her breath caught.

Standing at the counter, sliding a tray of golden-brown bread from the oven, was her mother, Mrs. Sylvester. She was in mid-conversation with Aaliyah, her voice carrying a familiar lilt that Seline had tucked away in a corner of her mind for far too long.

"Mom?" Seline said, her voice low, almost disbelieving.

Mrs. Sylvester turned, a look of pure delight softening her sharp features. She put the tray down with care, wiping her hands on a dish towel before stepping toward her.

"Oh, my dear," her mother said, her voice warm and thick with emotion. "Come here."

Seline's legs moved before her mind caught up. She closed the distance, falling into her mother's arms. The embrace was fierce, as if her mother feared letting go would shatter the moment. Seline pressed her cheek against her shoulder, the familiar scent of jasmine and yeast bringing an unexpected sting to her eyes.

"You're really here," Seline murmured, her voice muffled.

"I'm really here," Mrs. Sylvester replied, her hands cradling the back of Seline's head as though she were still a child. "I couldn't stay away any longer."

The words were simple, but they carried the weight of every missed holiday, every unspoken apology, every ache Seline had carried for years. She closed her eyes, letting herself lean into the comfort, but a flicker of unease stirred beneath the surface. Why now?

Aaliyah, standing quietly to the side, finally spoke. "I didn't mean to surprise you like this, Sel. Your mom reached out, and… well, I couldn't say no to her showing up."

Seline pulled back, brushing at her cheek quickly. "No, it's fine. I'm just… I wasn't expecting it."

Mrs. Sylvester cupped her face gently. "And how could you? I didn't give you the chance to expect me. But I'm here now, and I'm not going anywhere, darling."

Seline wanted to believe her. She wanted to grab hold of this moment and never let go. But the past had taught her to be cautious, even with the people she loved most. Especially with them.

"Sit down," her mother said, smiling as she ushered her to the small dining table. "I made bread. Aaliyah told me you've been so busy, you barely eat anything that doesn't come in a paper bag."

"Sounds like Aaliyah," Seline said dryly, shooting her friend a look.

"What? You know it's true," Aaliyah quipped, but her grin was soft.

As they sat together, Mrs. Sylvester poured coffee into the mismatched mugs Seline kept in her cupboard. They settled into small talk, the kind that danced around the edges of real conversations.

"How's work?" Mrs. Sylvester asked, her tone careful, as though feeling out the boundaries of what she could ask.

"Good," Seline said, taking a sip of her coffee. "Busy, but good."

"And Adams?"

The question hit like a sharp jab to her ribs. Seline hesitated, her grip on the mug tightening.

"Oh, um…" She glanced at Aaliyah, who immediately stepped in.

"Adams? He's fine, Mrs. Sylvester. But honestly, Seline's been married to her work lately. It's hard to pin her down for anything other than patients and paperwork."

Mrs. Sylvester raised a brow, clearly unconvinced but willing to let it slide. "Well, as long as you're happy."

Seline nodded, forcing a tight smile. But the truth sat heavy in her chest. She wasn't happy. She hadn't been, not since Adams left. And now, there was Jason—Jason, who was complicated in ways she couldn't untangle.

The rest of dinner passed in a blur of conversation that Seline struggled to follow. Aaliyah and her mother filled the silences easily, but Seline's mind kept wandering back to the suggestion Jason had made earlier: Meet me at Lake Avenue, No. 22 Valley Street. I'll be waiting.

She'd spent hours thinking about it. Jason wasn't just her patient—he was her puzzle, a man with layers of pain and mystery that she hadn't fully unraveled yet. He was also the one person who made her feel seen in a way Adams never had.

But meeting him outside of therapy? That was a line she wasn't sure she could—or should—cross.

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