| October 3, 2023 – 10:15 PM | Highway Pizza – Parking Lot
Lin had just settled into the truck, one hand on the wheel, when Helen finally emerged from the restaurant, carrying a to-go cup of tea.
She paused mid-step, eyes flicking between Lin and Eric, who was still leaning against his truck, watching them with that unreadable smirk.
Helen raised an eyebrow. "Were you flirting with the handsome boy?"
Lin groaned, dropping her head against the steering wheel. "Mom."
Helen ignored her tone completely, settling into the passenger seat and buckling in. "Because the waitress said he's looking for a wife."
Lin snapped her head up, eyes narrowing. "You've known her for ten minutes. How did you even get that information?"
Helen sipped her tea, completely unbothered. "Small-town magic."
Lin exhaled, shaking her head. "First of all, that's gossip. Second, I am not wife material."
Helen hummed thoughtfully. "You're rich, responsible, and terrifying when necessary. That's practically a perfect candidate."
Lin stared at her. "Why do I feel like you just described a mafia boss?"
Helen patted her knee. "Sweetheart, I raised you well."
Lin snorted, finally pulling out of the parking lot. "We are not having this conversation."
Helen smiled over her tea. "Oh, but we are."
Eric, still leaning against his truck, lifted a hand in an easy wave as Lin drove off.
Lin pretended she didn't see it.
Helen definitely did.
And she was going to be insufferable about it.
| October 3, 2023 – 10:30 PM | On the Road to Maep's
The truck rumbled down the quiet highway, pizza boxes stacked in the back, two sleepy puppies curled up on the seat, and one very nosy mother sipping her tea.
Helen tilted her head, watching Lin with a look that had been perfected over decades of motherhood. "So. Tell me about the young man."
Lin sighed, eyes on the road. "Mom, we're not doing this."
Helen ignored her. "Eric, was it? Deputy Eric Porter?"
Lin gripped the steering wheel a little tighter. "Yes, that's his name. And no, I don't have anything to tell you."
Helen clicked her tongue. "Hmph. The waitress said he's a good man. Steady job, polite, well-liked."
Lin smirked. "And according to the women in the bathroom, very good in bed but boring."
Helen choked on her tea. "Excuse me?!"
Lin grinned. "You wanted details."
Helen fanned herself. "I was expecting 'he likes fishing' or 'he grew up here,' not a Yelp review."
Lin chuckled, shaking her head. "That's what happens when you eavesdrop in small-town bathrooms."
Helen huffed, but her curiosity wasn't going anywhere. "Alright, but what do you think about him?"
Lin shrugged. "He's… interesting."
Helen raised an eyebrow. "Interesting how?"
Lin paused, considering.
Eric was sharp. Observant. Amused by her rather than intimidated. He hadn't backed down from their conversations, but he also hadn't pushed anything either.
And that smirk. The man had the confidence of someone who knew exactly how much attention he got.
Lin tilted her head. "He's the kind of guy who notices everything but doesn't say much unless it matters."
Helen watched her carefully. "And do you like that?"
Lin smirked. "I haven't decided yet."
Helen sipped her tea, looking far too pleased. "Well, I like him."
Lin rolled her eyes. "You met him for ten seconds."
Helen grinned. "That's all I needed."
Lin sighed. "Mom, please don't start planning my wedding."
Helen patted her knee. "Not yet, dear."
Lin groaned, pressing the gas pedal just a little harder.
She needed to get home before this conversation got worse.
| October 3, 2023 – 11:00 PM | On the Road to Maep's
Lin was barely two turns away from home when her phone rang.
Lucas.
And judging by the fact that he never called this late unless something was on fire, this was going to be bad.
She answered, keeping one hand on the wheel."Fang. Tell me you didn't kill Vivian."
"Worse." Lucas's voice was tight, low, almost pissed—but underneath, she caught the edge of something else."Boss just flew back early. And guess what? I'm being sent on a four-day business trip."
Lin blinked."Wait. What?"
"Yeah." Lucas let out a sharp breath."Last-minute. No warning. He landed, called me in, and dropped the schedule on my desk. Flight leaves in the morning."
Lin frowned."That wasn't in his original itinerary."
"No shit." Lucas was clearly trying to keep his voice even, but she could hear the frustration underneath."Something changed. He didn't say much, just that I 'need to be there.'"
Lin narrowed her eyes."And Vivian?"
Lucas scoffed."Still playing the poor, lonely wife. She showed up when Zhao called me in, all concerned and quiet, like she wasn't trying to seduce me two nights ago."
Lin drummed her fingers against the steering wheel."Okay. Breathe. Where's the trip?"
Lucas hesitated.
"…Switzerland."
Lin nearly swerved."Excuse me?!"
"You heard me." Lucas gritted his teeth."Zurich. Four days. Some big finance thing."
Lin exhaled, already working through scenarios."Alright, worst case—"
"Worst case is I come back and Vivian's somehow convinced my boss I'm madly in love with her."
Lin winced."I was going to say worst case, you quit and become a farmhand."
Lucas snorted."You keep offering that like it's a real job."
Lin grinned."It is. Comes with free food and a guard dog."
Lucas sighed."Yeah, yeah. Look, I just wanted to give you a heads-up. Something's off. This wasn't planned, and Zhao doesn't change plans unless it's serious."
Lin tapped the wheel."Alright. Keep me updated. And Lucas?"
"Yeah?"
Lin smirked."Try not to strangle your boss mid-flight."
Lucas chuckled dryly."No promises."
The call ended, but Lin's mind was already spinning.
Something was definitely happening.
And she needed to figure out what—fast.