The soft hum of birds outside the window filled the quiet morning. Sunlight spilled through the curtains, casting a golden glow across the room. Maya stirred under the blanket, slowly blinking her eyes open. She reached for her phone on the nightstand, rubbing sleep from her eyes.

Three missed calls.

One from her mom.

One from her dad.

One from Colton.

Maya couldn’t help but smile.

“This love is getting out of hand,” she whispered to herself with a small laugh. “But I like it.”

Her heart felt warm. After so many years of feeling alone, of thinking she had no real family—now they wouldn’t stop calling her. They checked...