SWEET VENGEANCE

ir as Vanessa stood at Tessa's apartment door, her hand frozen m

slowly and k

l smile and an apron dusted with flou

re was modest, the walls warm and filled with mismatched frames. It was n

ng," Vanessa

the dining table. "He's in the kitchen finishing the salad.

nside, she felt a shi

r a bowl, chopping cucumbers. He turned at the sound of her foots

uinely surprised. "I di

d simply. "Curiosity bri

ad you came. I was starting to thin

curved slightly

the perfect host. Vanessa listened carefully, catching glimpses of the sister-br

Tessa's smile felt for

efilling her wine glass. "You never told

ay to her mouth. She chose her

weet smile. "Recently divorced, o

is sister a

's just say I left someone who di

. "Oh. Sorry

said with a calm ed

nyway-Vanessa's been helping with some UX testing on the

Tessa asked, but h

things," Va

was a

ed on the table. She

ored th

-just a flicker-Vanessa thought she noticed somethin

han said suddenly,

en turne

bored. And full. L

t played along. "Fine. I

light: silly dare

turn again, she raised

ssa said, til

worst thing you've ever

d around her stem. She

lent. Even Ethan

gentler this time.

is warm eyes, his soft co

rking o

sharpening it. Vanessa could feel the atmosphere shift-familiar laughter slowly gi

leaned back with a mischievous

sitated.

. "When was the last time

s breath

tly, reaching for

"You know the rule.

and hover

sto

one n

s gaze n

asked, lower

ss back down. "I.

playful, but the question

y. Her shoulders stiffened. Van

feel like it,"

r. "Since when do

em like tensioned thread. Van

shakily and whispe

anded with

n fr

didn't

fter a long moment

her lap. "I found out a week

choed, confuse

t her li

ilted-but her fac

's expression went from surprise to disbelief. He turned t

r voice calm. "

almost anxious laugh. "

ard at his sister now-at the puzzle sh

thing about a work call, her mind reeling but her ste

as beginnin

the real ga