Page 78 of Faking with Three

“Yep,” she says. “Right there, down the street from Ethan’s place.”

I glance at Ethan, who gives a small nod of confirmation but doesn’t say anything.

We’re letting Olivia take the lead, and the entire series is going to be similar. We need the audience to sympathize with her.

The door to the house opens, and a woman who’s the spitting image of Olivia steps out. She’s older, with silver streaks in her dark blonde hair, but her sharp green eyes and confident posture are all Olivia. She hugs her daughter before turning to face us, her gaze practically boring into mine. I can feel my confidence evaporate.

“So these are the ones you’ve been talking about,” she says to Olivia, her tone amused.

“Mom,” Olivia mutters, clearly embarrassed. “Please don’t.”

But Mrs. Chase isn’t deterred. Her lips curl into a knowing smile as she descends the steps. “Ethan, good to see you again,” she says warmly, extending her hand to him.

“Good to see you too, Mrs. Chase,” Ethan replies, shaking her hand. His voice is easy, familiar, the kind of tone that comes with years of knowing someone.

“And you must be Jax,” she says, turning her attention to him. Her smile is still warm, though there’s a flicker of curiosity in her eyes. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“All good things, I hope,” Jax says, flashing his signature grin as he shakes her hand. Of course, he nails the charm without even trying. Olivia lets out a soft laugh, and I feel an uncomfortable twist in my chest.

Finally, her gaze lands on me. Her smile doesn’t quite fade but tightens, taking on an evaluative edge.

“Dr. Hawthorne.”

“Mrs. Chase,” I say, extending my hand. She takes it, but her grip is firm, and she doesn’t let go immediately. “Please just call me Marcus.”

“Yes, I know you’re not my doctor anymore.” She winks at me but I can’t help but shift my gaze away. Awkward is an understatement.

“You used to be my favorite,” she says. “I looked forward to all our appointments.”

“Thanks,” I say, even though I feel anything but thankful. Olivia is watching us, teeth biting into her lips.

“Always so thoughtful, so poised. And now you’re... what? A reality show star?”

“Not quite,” I reply, forcing a smile. “It’s more of a social experiment.”

She raises a brow. “A social experiment? Interesting choice for someone who used to preach about accountability and self-awareness.”

“Mom,” Olivia cuts in, her voice tinged with irritation. “Could you not?”

Mrs. Chase lets go of my hand but keeps her eyes on me, heavy with unspoken judgment. “I’m just trying to understand, sweetheart. It’s not every day you find your former therapist on WeTube.”

“Mrs. Chase, Marcus has been instrumental in making this project a success. We couldn’t do it without him,” Ethan says, glancing at me. “This whole thing started as a social experiment.”

“And now it’s all about winning my daughter’s attention,” Mrs. Chase chuckles. The camera pans in on us. I know this is the good stuff, and Ethan definitely won’t be cutting it off.

“Can we go inside, please?” Olivia asks.

“Sure,” Mrs. Chase says, cueing us to step into the house.

“Don’t take it personally,” Ethan says with a smirk. “She’s protective. Olivia is her only child.”

“Yeah, I got that,” I mutter, sinking into the couch. My voice comes out rougher than I intend, but the truth is, her words cut deeper than I want to admit.

Olivia is talking to her mom, and their conversation drifts over to us. “I just want what’s best for you, sweetheart. I hope you know that.”

“I do,” Olivia says, glancing at the three of us. “And I’m happy. So please, trust me on this.”

Jax pulls up on my other side. “Yeah, Marcus, don’t let it get to you. You’re not exactly the guy she’d expect Olivia to—” He stops short, a grin tugging at his lips. “Well, you know.”

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