Author's Note: I'm behind again, but I'm still trying. Here's the word for July 22nd.

feign: to represent fictitiously; put on an appearance of.

Hopeful. Excited. Happy. Those were the words she thought as she looked around the Quartermaine mansion. Her first trip back in a year and Maya couldn't believe the change in atmosphere. This house used be filled with bitterness, loneliness, and anger. But not today.

She'd come home ostensibly to attend a party for Michael. Wanting to please his girlfriend and great-grandfather, the young man started working at ELQ the previous summer and realized he had a knack for corporate ruthlessness. Edward was almost giddy at the discovery. Now, with Michael's decision to continue on that path, Edward saw reason to celebrate. He loved getting his family together, and so, here she was. Sipping champagne in the city she'd left over a year ago.

Across the room, Ethan held a glass of dark liquid, probably from Edward's special stock. Eschewing his normal wear, or what she remembered as his everyday wear, he'd dressed for the occasion in a shirt and tie. While one hand held his beverage, the fingers of the other were intertwined with a blonde. A beautiful blonde who was actually swinging their connected hands. Therein lie the real reason she attended the soiree.

Shit. She felt like an idiot. When Edward called to check in, he'd casually mentioned Ethan's new relationship. Maya couldn't explain why, but she felt like she'd been stabbed in the heart. She was the one who ended their relationship. Left him for a man she'd only stayed with for a few months afterward. Yet, hearing that he'd found someone else, that it could be something real, hurt like a bitch.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Maya?"

She turned around to find Edward smiling at her. "Of course. I'm glad I could be here for this."

"I guess you are, since you practically invited yourself."

"Wh- You invited me to come up!"

The patriarch snorted. "After you blatantly hinted that you wanted to be here. I may be old, but I'm not stupid, young lady. I know you came here to check out Ethan's new lady friend."

"That's absurd," Maya denied. "I wanted to-"

"Please, dear, you don't have to lie to me."

There was no reason to argue with him when he was right and it was unlikely he would believe anything she had to say. There was no need to waste her breath. "Am I that obvious?" She hoped his answer would be no. She would hate to think that everyone could look at her and guess the real reason she'd come back to Port Charles. But whatever response he may have given was thwarted by the arrival of none other than Ethan and Blondie themselves. She could only hope Ethan wouldn't be able to see through her cheerful façade.

Ethan kept an amicable relationship with Edward, even after his marriage to Maya deteriorated. For some reason, the old man had a soft spot for him and Ethan felt the same. However, Edward failed to mention that the ex-Mrs. Lovett would be making an appearance.

A year later and it was still hard to see her. Ethan had been watching her from the time she entered the house about an hour ago. Maya was as gorgeous as ever, practically shining in the casual lavender dress. He did his best to give Rachel all of his attention, but his gaze strayed back to Maya often. Too often. Finally, he felt like he would go crazy if he stayed any longer.

It was simple to convince Rachel to go, and the two headed over to say goodbye to Edward. He could've cursed when he realized Edward and Maya's conversation wasn't about to end. He would have to speak to her. The mere thought of it made his heartbeat speed up, the organ pounding forcefully in his chest. He didn't want to feel like this. He didn't want her to know how much she still affected him. He had a new woman in his life now; Maya shouldn't be able to make him feel so damn much.

With tremendous effort, he pushed those feelings down. It was time to put those conman skills to use. He refused to let her see him sweat. Game on.