Mina pressed her palms against the window glass as the SUV rolled past the black steel gate and into the driveway. From the street, the house had seemed modest, a clean, modern two-story home tucked behind tall hedges and a short brick wall. But the moment they entered, her eyes widened.
The property stretched far deeper than she expected.
Hidden from view was an attached four-car garage connected to the side of the house. Its sleek aluminum door slid open as Wes parked the SUV beside an elegant black Mercedes S-Class. Beside it was what looked like a minivan that had been lovingly transformed into a shuttlecraft from Star Trek, painted in silver and white, complete with the Starfleet insignia and mock thrusters at the back. On the far end sat a gleaming modern RV, its sides polished enough to reflect the soft glow of the overhead lights.
"Whoa…" Mina breathed. "This is amazing. You didn't tell me you lived like this."
Wes gave a short laugh, shutting off the engine. "It looks fancier than it is. I just like having space to work and unwind. Come on, let's get you settled in."
They stepped inside through the side door that opened into the main receiving area. The interior was a cool contrast to the warm air outside, soft lighting, smooth concrete floors, and a minimalist palette of wood, black, and steel.
The space opened seamlessly into a wide living room that made Mina stop in her tracks. A massive 100-inch LED screen dominated one wall, flanked by low wooden shelves stacked with vinyl records, gaming consoles, and a few hardcover books. Plush, wide sofas formed a semicircle around the screen, and a cushioned daybed sat under a tall window overlooking a large garden at the back.
Beyond the living room was a dining area with a long narra table that could easily seat ten. The farthest section of the open floor plan revealed a professional grade kitchen, stainless steel counters, hanging pots, and appliances that gleamed like they'd been polished that morning.
"Wow," Mina whispered, spinning slowly to take it all in. "This is like something out of a home design magazine."
"It's practical," Wes said with a shrug, setting her luggage down. "I travel a lot for work, so I wanted a place that felt easy to come home to."
"'Easy' looks expensive," she teased, and he chuckled.
He led her past the living room to a hallway branching to the right. There were three doors lined neatly along one side and another door across from them that opened into a shared bathroom.
"This is my room," he said, stopping at the first door. "The one next to it will be yours. There's an adjoining door between them. It was meant for my nephews who stayed over a few years ago and had to be under constant supervision, but I placed a lock on your side of the door so you can enjoy your privacy."
Mina nodded, peeking into his master bedroom through the slightly open door. It was spacious but simple. Large bed, clean desk, a treadmill by the window, and a bathroom tucked discreetly in the corner.
When she opened her own room, a faint scent of wood greeted her. It was freshly cleaned, the sheets crisp and new. A queen-sized bed, a sturdy desk, a wardrobe, and a tall mirror made up most of the space. Simple, comfortable and perfect.
"The bathroom across the hall is yours," Wes said. "Just one thing, the water heater's broken. I've got someone coming tomorrow to fix it."
"That's okay," Mina said quickly. "I'm fine with cold showers."
He smiled. "You say that now. Wait till the first one."
The last room at the end of the hall caught her curiosity. When Wes noticed her lingering gaze, he grinned. "That's my hobby room. You can take a look."
Mina stepped inside and felt her jaw drop again.
Rows of glass shelves filled the walls, each one meticulously arranged with statues, helmets, and action figures from every major franchise she could think of: Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Lord of the Rings, Transformers, Dragon Ball, even a few rare collectibles she'd only ever seen featured online. A life-sized Iron Man bust gleamed under a spotlight.
"You're a geek," she said, half in awe, half in delight.
"I prefer the term collector," Wes corrected with mock seriousness.
She laughed, circling the room slowly. "This is incredible. You've got everything here."
"It started as a stress outlet," he said, leaning against the doorframe. "Now it's an investment. Some of these pieces are worth more than my car."
"That explains the shuttle van," she said, grinning.
Wes chuckled. "Caught me."
As the tour ended and she began unpacking, Wes lingered in the hallway, talking to someone on his phone. Mina folded the few clothes she had into the wardrobe: two pairs of jeans, a couple of hoodies, some shirts, and one formal dress she'd brought for "just in case." Her toiletries fit neatly in a small pouch.
When she stepped back to look, her side of the wardrobe looked almost empty.
The truth hit her with quiet force, this was all she owned now.
Her parents' bitter divorce had left her stranded. Her mother in L.A. now refusing to pay her tuition, and her father moving back to Shenzhen and cutting contact. The life she knew, campus dorms, café study sessions, the noise of Berkeley nights, had all crumbled overnight.
She sat on the edge of the bed, running her fingers over the sheets. Wes's home was everything her life wasn't right now. It was stable, clean and quiet.
A soft knock came at the door. "Hey, Mina?"
"Yeah?"
Wes stepped in, glancing at the half-open wardrobe and the small pile of luggage by the wall. His brow furrowed slightly. "That's all you brought?"
She hesitated. "Yeah. I had to pack light. Couldn't afford to bring much… and most of my stuff's still in storage in California."
He nodded slowly, then smiled. "Alright. Let's fix that."
"Fix what?"
"Your luggage problem. Come on. We're going to the mall."
Her eyes widened. "Wait, what? Uncle Wes, you don't have to—"
"I want to," he said simply. "You'll need clothes, toiletries, things to make your room feel like yours. Don't argue."
She bit her lip, trying to hide her smile. "You're seriously too nice."
"Just practical," he said, grabbing his keys. "Let's go before the stores close."
The mall wasn't far, an upscale complex still open late on a Saturday night. Mina followed Wes through the brightly lit aisles of Uniqlo and Muji, picking out shirts, jeans, undergarments, and a few personal care items while he carried the baskets. When she hesitated over prices, he brushed it off with a calm wave.
"This isn't charity," he said gently. "It's family taking care of family."
Her throat tightened. "Thank you. Really."
He smiled faintly. "You can repay me later by teaching me what teenagers are into these days. My social media's a disaster."
She laughed through the lump in her chest. "Deal."
By the time they left the mall, Mina's arms were full of bags and her heart felt unexpectedly light. The city night shimmered with promise as they walked back to the car. For the first time in months, she didn't feel lost.
Somewhere deep down, she knew this wasn't just a new chapter in her life.
It was the start of something she couldn't name yet, something warm, adventurous, and full of possibilities.