Chapter 4

This time, I leaned in closer, my hand resting on the table for balance. I kissed her — not a nervous peck, but a real kiss. Her lips were soft and warm, and to my surprise… she kissed me back.

It started awkwardly, but after a tiny adjustment, it felt… nice. Too nice. My mind kept screaming that this was Mom, but my body didn’t seem to care.

When we finally pulled back, Mom’s cheeks were faintly flushed, and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“I think…” she said softly, a small laugh escaping her lips, “I think I’m getting a little drunk.”

She reached for her glass again, but then shook her head and placed it down.

“Let’s… stop for now.”

Aunt Jessica let out a soft laugh, swirling the last of her drink before knocking it back. “You’re getting sloppy, Julie ,” she teased, leaning lazily against the counter. “I remember when you could actually hold your liquor. Guess those librarian years softened you up.”

Mom shot her a look but smiled faintly.

Jessica , however, wasn’t done. “But don’t get the wrong idea,” she said, her voice dropping into something smoother, more playful. “We are not stopping now. We’ve barely started.”

There was something in her expression — that wicked little smile, the glint in her sharp green eyes — that made me shift uncomfortably in my seat. She had one of those faces you couldn’t help but notice when she was being mischievous, with lips just full enough to make you… notice other things. I took another sip of my drink, realizing maybe I should slow down before she started noticing where my eyes kept wandering.

Mom glanced at Jessica , then at me, and I found myself looking between them, unsure of where to focus. The air in the kitchen felt… different. Thicker somehow. Almost electric.

Jessica broke the silence first, flashing me that same teasing grin. “Look at Julie ,” she said, nodding toward my mom. “Didn’t I tell you she’s hot? She’s got that whole naughty librarian vibe down perfectly — strict-looking on the outside, but I know there’s plenty hiding under that little shell.” She winked at me.

“I know,” I said seriously, before I could stop myself. “My mom’s a goddess.”

That earned me a surprised laugh from Jessica . “Well, aren’t you just the cutest thing,” she said, eyes sparkling. “I wouldn’t quite go that far, but… yeah, she is pretty stunning.”

Mom shot her a sharp look, and Jessica just sipped her drink innocently, pretending not to notice.

I turned back to Mom and instantly regretted it, because she was looking at me differently now — her expression softer, her eyes a little more focused, as though she was… assessing me somehow. I quickly looked away, but my ears burned under the weight of her gaze.

She cleared her throat, finally breaking the moment. “Maybe,” she said carefully, “we should… change roles for a bit?”

Jessica perked up. “Sure.” Without hesitation, she slid into the chair beside me, close enough that her knee brushed against mine. “Okay,” she said, smiling at me in that infuriatingly inviting way. “Flirt with me a little, David . You can do it.”

I froze, my glass halfway to my lips. “…Right now?”

“Mhm,” she hummed, leaning in slightly, the soft scent of her perfume making it impossible to focus. “Pretend I’m just some girl at a bar. Say whatever comes to mind.”

I was about to open my mouth when she suddenly leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to my lips — just a feather-light touch, gone almost as soon as it happened.

I blinked at her, startled. “W-Wait, wasn’t I supposed to take the initiative? I thought we were practicing me flirting with you.”

She smirked, clearly enjoying herself. “Couldn’t resist,” she said simply.

Mom, on the other side of the table, raised her eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Her silence felt heavier than any comment she could’ve made.

I set my glass down and swallowed hard. “Okay… so, uh… how exactly am I supposed to flirt with her?” I asked, looking between the two of them.

“Just talk to her,” Mom said softly, though there was something unreadable in her tone. “We’ll help if you need it.”

I nodded and turned back to Jessica , forcing myself to look straight into her eyes — because, apparently, that’s what you’re supposed to do when flirting.

“You… look really beautiful tonight,” I said finally, the words awkward but surprisingly sincere.

She smiled slowly, her head tilting just slightly. “Thank you,” she said, her voice a little softer now. “I feel pretty too.” Then she giggled, covering her mouth with her hand.

I couldn’t help but notice — really notice — how good she looked up close. Jessica was dressed more casually than Mom, but she had this effortless kind of style: fitted tights, a cozy sweater that hinted at curves without trying too hard, and that same sharp sparkle in her eyes that always made her feel more… alive. Her figure was slimmer than Mom’s, her chest smaller, but there was still something undeniably attractive about the way she carried herself.

Am I really thinking this right now? My thoughts tangled uncomfortably in my head, but I pushed them aside. This was practice. That was all.

“You really are beautiful,” Mom said suddenly, looking directly at her sister. “Honestly, Jessica , I think you inherited most of the looks in the family.”

That threw me off. I turned to glance at Mom, just in time to catch her staring straight at me — an intense, unblinking look that sent a strange rush through my chest. For some reason, I couldn’t look away.