The air in the living room was heavy, not just with the rich aromas of our shared meal, but with the unspoken currents flowing between us. It was a deceptive comfort, a familial tableau masking the raw nerves and simmering desires just beneath the surface.
The twins, were curled like sleepy kittens on the larger sofa, their eyes glazing over as the cartoons on screen fought a losing battle against exhaustion. And beside me, close enough that the heat from her thigh seeped into mine, sat Charlotte. A soft, almost secretive smile played on her lips as she recounted the day's corporate victories, but her eyes—her eyes held a new, daring glint when they met mine.
