Again with all the support, I am floored! You guys are the best! Like always, thank you for taking a chance on me! This space is for all the reviewers, too many to name but it means SO much to me!

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Chapter 3 Wealthy Futures?

2018

"Where's Maya?" Josh asked.

"And a very Merry Christmas to you too!" Riley answered as she took her coat off and then tried to smooth the static from her hair.

"Sorry. Merry Christmas!" Josh replied quickly. "Where's Maya?"

"She had other plans," Riley said vaguely. "But she's dropping by later. She wouldn't miss this party for the world. She loves it."

"Is she angry with me?" Josh asked. "For not showing up at all this year?"

Riley looked at Lucas and then shrugged. "I think she understands. I wouldn't worry about it too much though. Is dinner ready? I'm starving!"

Josh grabbed Lucas by the back of his jacket. "What's going on?"

Lucas cleared his throat. "Why would you think anything is going on?" he asked.

"Maya usually comes with you guys. What on earth would she have going on to keep her from doing it tonight? If it were anything too important, you all would be there instead of here."

Lucas looked guilty. "Listen, if I could tell you then I would. But Riley swore me to secrecy."

Josh pretended to look offended. "Are you telling me that you're really putting your girlfriend before me? What about brotherhood?"

Lucas laughed. "Well. I do declare, I believe you're in love with lil' Miss Maya!" he said in his best Texas drawl.

"I am not!" Josh protested. "It's just. . . she has such a presence, it's so easy to tell when she's not around."

"I thought it was quieter than usual!" Lucas teased. "Don't worry about it, she'll be here soon."

"But what are you not telling me?" Josh asked Lucas's retreating back.

A couple more hours passed. He played Candyland on the floor with the kids, keeping one eye on the door the whole time. Waiting for her to show up. He had to talk to her, had to tell her what had happened to prevent him from coming to New York to see her.

And then, she was there. Looking lovelier than he had ever seen her before with her blonde hair piled on the top of her head in an intricate up do, a designer, black sequined and tulle dress and strappy red sandals with bows at the ankles. She looked like a million bucks.

Josh stood up, disrupting the board game as he made his way over to her.

She smiled at him through red lips and shrugged out of the fur coat she was wearing. "Hello Joshua," she said as she shrugged out of her coat and handed it to him.

"Maya," Josh answered, frowning. "Where have you been?"

Maya frowned too. "You mean Riley didn't tell you?"

"No. Riley didn't tell me anything. Was she supposed to?"

"Well. . ."

The door opened again and this time, a tall young man with blonde hair and handsome features came in. "Babe, there is nowhere to park the limo."

"Who-who's this?" Josh sputtered.

"This is Asher Crawford," Maya said. "He's my boyfriend."

.

"Okay, so maybe I should have warned you. But what was I supposed to do? Text you and say 'you better get over to New York City because Maya's seeing somebody and your window of opportunity is about to close'? She would have hated me for interfering."

She, Josh and Lucas were all sitting on the stairs watching Maya with Asher. Josh was getting more and more annoyed.

"She's not just seeing somebody. Asher Crawford is on Forbes list of Most Eligible Bachelor Under 30!" Josh told them.

"It seems to me that somebody is a wee bit jealous," Lucas said. "Are you sure you're not in love with her?"

"In love!?" Josh scoffed. "With Maya? No! I mean, maybe I'm a little bit in like with her. But any single guy would be crazy not to be a little bit in like with her. She's beautiful and she has a way of drawing you out of yourself. Even if you don't want to talk. Somebody like Crawford. . . of course he'd notice her."

"Dude, did you know Maya's dating Asher Crawford!?" Andrew asked, coming up the stairs with his college girlfriend, Jasmine at his heels.

Josh rolled his eyes. "We all heard about it."

"You guys are more obsessed with the Most Eligible Bachelor list than us girls are," Jasmine said, laughing a little bit.

Andrew held up his hand. "Honey, it's only because we want to be them."

"That makes me a lot less worried," Jasmine teased. "What's wrong with you, Josh? You seem a little down in the dumps."

"He's in love with Maya," Andrew said. "It's probably driving him crazy that she has a boyfriend. Especially one who doesn't have to do anything to make his money. He's still selling pup tents and battery-operated lanterns."

"Asher is still going to school. When he graduates, he has to go and work with his father. He doesn't come by his cash as easily as you think he does," Riley said.

"He's also not selling camping equipment every day of his life."

"You guys really need to chill out!" Jasmine instructed.

"But why do you think he's interested in Maya?" Andrew asked. "It can't be for any reason deep or anything long lasting."

Jasmine narrowed her eyes. "Andrew."

"Maybe we should go and talk to them instead of hiding out on the staircase," Lucas suggested. "Who knows how long he'll be around? We might as well try and make him feel comfortable. Welcome him to the family."

"That is an excellent idea, Lucas!" Riley agreed. "Come on Uncle Josh, you might actually wind up really liking him if you give him a chance."

"Fine. But not because I want to," Josh said.

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"We almost didn't make it," Maya was telling Amy, Topanga and Katy when they joined them. "Asher's father wanted him to stay for some sort of business meeting. But I told him, fair is fair. I went to his family Christmas Eve party, so he had to come to mine. We had an agreement. We got to the train station, but the next train coming to Philly wasn't until midnight. So, he insisted on having his driver take us. His driver!"

"Only the best for you, sugar plum!" Asher said, snaking his arm around her waist and pulling her closer.

"So, how long have the two of you been dating?" Amy asked.

"About 9 months," Maya answered.

"We met at my brother's fiancée's senior art show. She was helping host the event. There was something about her. Something that wasn't like any of the girls who run in my social circles," Asher added. "I just had to get to know her better."

"He took me to see Hamilton on our first date!" Maya told them.

"My father's one of the producers," Asher said modestly.

"You're happy?" Josh interjected, looking at Maya.

Maya nodded. "I am."

.

He caught her alone when she was getting ready to leave. He helped her into her coat and she smiled at him, gratefully.

"Maya, I have a question," Josh said.

"Yes?" Maya buttoned her coat up and looked at him expectantly.

"If I'd showed up in January, would things have turned out differently? Would Asher Crawford be here tonight?"

"I honestly don't know," Maya answered. "It isn't like we ever promised each other anything. We've only ever been friends and frankly, that's all the interest you've only ever showed me. Asher like likes me. It isn't just for shock factor, it isn't sex, it isn't to make his family upset. I'm his plus one at his sister's wedding on New Year's Eve. We might not be together forever but we're together right now. I'm sorry if you're jealous, I just can't drop everything because you are. You do understand, don't you?"

"Ready babe?" Asher asked before Josh could reply, putting on his long wool coat and leather gloves.

"I am!" Maya said, going over to Josh and kissing him on the cheek. "Merry Christmas, Josh. I-I'll see you later. Okay?"

Josh gave her a hug. "Merry Christmas," he replied.

And then he was all alone.

TBC. . .

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Author's Note:

Longer chapter later! I wanted to get something out because I know I have a lot of ground to cover before Christmas comes next week. If you have any questions or anything, let me know. I'll be very glad to answer them. Please tell me what you thought!

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Holly, 12/18/2016