I don’t normally enjoy manipulating my mom, but right now I need her to be completely on board with the whole Starling situation. My parents know she’s mine, I told them about her, I just never mentioned that I hadn’t told Starling at that point. Not that it matters now. I hate that she fainted, even more so because I’m ninety percent sure it happened because she was freaked out and a little scared of me.

But ultimately, I wanted her here in my house and here she is. I wanted my parents and her mom to understand how serious I was about her, now they do. I wanted to capture and cage her and make her mine, and now she is.

“Ms. Clark, I hope you’ll help me convince Starling that she doesn’t need to look for another job. GAA is a serious school and if she tries to work and keep up with her homework and studying, I’m worried she’s going to make herself even more sick than just fainting from exhaustion.” I pause, then offer Cassidy a sad, understanding smile. “I know she wants to help out and that money is an issue, but…” I trail off, waiting for Cassidy to fill the silence.

“I don’t need her to help out with money, I’ve told her this a hundred times. I’m not sure what she’s told you about my job, but I’m an author, I write thrillers and with publishing there are peaks and troughs in sales. Starling panics, but she really doesn’t need to.”

I nod, agreeing with her, even though I know she’s lying. I’m completely apprised of Starling’s family’s financial situation. The money Starling was earning was paying the bills her mother’s royalties weren’t covering, but that stops now. I want all of her spare time and so her mother will have to make alternate plans to cover the loss of Starling’s income.

“She’s so still. Normally she’s a light sleeper.”

“Poor dear, she must have been exhausted. Let’s leave her to sleep and we can get you set up in a guest room, Cassidy,” My mom suggests.

“I should just take her home,” Cassidy starts.

“Nonsense, what’s the point of having guest rooms if people don’t use them?” Mom says, waving away Cassidy’s concerns and ushering her out of the room and down the hallway to the spare room on the other side. “Sebastian, dinner’s going to be ready in ten minutes, the boys are all downstairs in the den, leave Starling to sleep, you can check on her later.”

“Cassidy, let’s get you settled and then I’ll introduce you to my husband and our good friends and neighbors who happen to be the parents of Sebastian and Starling’s friends.”

Mom’s voice trails off as she leads Cassidy away and I smile to myself, then down at the girl on the bed beside me. I’ve waited a year for this moment, and now she’s here in my house, in the room I had decorated just for her, my little bird is finally mine, and I can’t wait to make sure the rest of the world knows it too.