For some reason, it smells like sin and temptation.
Joel watches me with a lopsided grin that I wish I could wipe off his stupid, smug face.
“You gonna drink it, or are you afraid it’ll make you start liking me?”
I drop the mug.Not on the floor—just on the counter a little too aggressively.
“I have places to be,” I announce.“I’ll get my coffee atBean There, Done That.You know, from an actual barista who knows what they’re doing.”
Joel snorts.“You mean you’re gonna pay five bucks for the same caffeine that’s right here?”
“It’s aboutprinciple,” I say, heading for the door.
If I have to cut my nose off to spite my face, I can at least push home the point.
Joel leans against the counter, fully amused, sipping his own coffee as he watches me actively avoid the free caffeine in my own goddamn kitchen.
“Suit yourself,” he says, voice far too smug.
I’m still mentally cursing him as I fling the door open?—
And nearly face-plant into Ethan’s chest.
His entire form blocks my getaway and the hand that’s poised to knock, drops to my shoulder.
“Jesus, Anna,” he grunts, steadying me like I’m some fragile thing.“Are you running from something?”
I smooth down my hoodie, straightening like I haven’t just been caught mid-escape.“Yes.You.”
But then I see who’s standing behind him.
My mother.
Oh for the love.
Every ounce of irritation, exhaustion, and general desire to commit crimes against Joel is immediately buried under years of ingrained filial obedience.
I smile.A little too tight.A little too forced.
“Hi, Mom,” I say sweetly, like I wasn’t just moments away from throwing a coffee mug at Joel’s head.
Her eyebrows lift, gaze flicking from me, to Ethan, to inside the house—where, unfortunately, Joel is very much visible and very much looking amused.I wanna throat punch that smug grin off his face.
I can feel the exact moment my mother spots him.
Because her entire expression shifts.
The smile sharpens, just a little.Like she knows something I don’t.
I don’t like it.Not one little bit.
Joel, the human disaster that he is, chooses that exact moment to walk up behind me, boxing me in.
“Morning, Mrs.Chang,” he says, all polite charm.Fake.Calculated.
I’m going to kill him.
Mom smiles back.“Joel, darling, It’s so great to see you.I heard you might be here.”