I handed it to him.
“A little surprise,” I said, smiling calmly.
I watched him drink.
One sip.
Two.
Three.
He finished it without hesitation.
That stung more than I expected… he hadn’t rushed anything I gave him in a long time.
“So where are you going all dressed up and smelling like that?” I asked, leaning casually against the frame.
“Meeting,” he said, grabbing his keys. “Important one. Strategy… projections… synergy.”
He threw those words around like they meant something.
“Synergy with lace?” I muttered.
But he was already gone.
The door shut.
Silence.
I looked at the clock.
One minute.
Two.
Five.
I sat at the table, waiting.
Ten minutes passed.
And then…
perfect timing.
“DAMN IT!” came a shout from outside.
I smiled.
I stepped onto the porch, wearing my most innocent expression.
There he was—bent over beside the car, clutching his stomach like it was about to betray him at any second.
He stumbled toward the house.
