“Hello,” Cassidy answers.

“Ms. Clark, my name is Sebastian Lockwood, I’m Starling’s boyfriend, we met earlier.”

“Her boyfriend?” Cassidy says, laughter lacing her voice. “I thought you said you needed to speak to her about an assignment?”

“I’m sorry about the subterfuge, ma’am, Starling wanted to wait until tonight to introduce me. I’m calling because she passed out earlier and”

“She what?” she interrupts. “Is she okay? Where is she? What hospital?”

“She’s fine, she’s not at the hospital, she’s at my house. I’ve just texted you the address. Our family doctor was here so he checked her over, and he says she’s absolutely fine. He said it was more than likely exhaustion, which is probably from all the shifts she worked at the diner recently.”

“She works too much, I told her she works too much,” Cassidy mumbles, her voice cracking.

“I agree, which is why she quit her job tonight.”

“Good,” she agrees.

“I think so too.”

“I’ll come and get her. Thank you for calling, Sebastian.”

“She’s sleeping and honestly I think it might be better just to let her get a good night’s rest.”

“Sebastian, I don’t know you, or your family, hell, tonight’s the first thing I’ve heard about my daughter having a boyfriend. I’m not going”

“Ms. Clark,” I interrupt her tirade. “I was only going to suggest you bring an overnight bag and stay here too, so we don’t have to wake her.”

“Oh,” Cassidy gasps.

“There’s plenty of room and my parents would love to meet you.”

“Your parents? What did you say your last name was?”

“Lockwood, ma’am.”

There’s silence on her end of the call and I smile, knowing she recognizes who my family is.

“I wouldn’t want to impose.”

“There’s no imposition. Starling’s asleep and with how tired she was, I’m sure you’d agree it’s best not to wake her if we don’t have to. Since we haven’t gotten to know each other yet, it would be best all around if you just stay here tonight, that way if we need to call the doctor again, he can come straight over.”

She pauses again, but I know I’ve got her. She has no idea that I’m manipulating her, and that’s just the way I want it. Starling is mine and regardless of what her mother thinks, nothing will change that, but if I can get Cassidy to agree to my way of thinking, it’ll make it so much easier to get Starling to agree to the things I want too.

“If your parents are sure.”

“They are, I want to get back and check on Starling, so I’ll see you when you get here, just buzz the gate and someone will let you straight in.”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon, Sebastian.”

Ending the call, I slide my cell into my pocket and head back into Starling’s room. I know Clay, Evan and Hunter are somewhere in the house, but I don’t want them in here with her when she’s like this.