Sparked by Lili Valente

Author:Lili Valente [Valente, Lili]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Self Taught Ninja Inc.
Published: 2022-08-29T18:30:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Sam

“Jessica Allison Cho, what are you up to?” As we reach the parking lot, Jess’s mom props her small fists on her hips, shooting me a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. She quickly scans my face before returning her focus to Jess, making me guess she doesn’t recognize me even before she adds in a syrupy voice, “You didn’t tell me you were bringing a new friend.”

“You didn’t tell me Vicky and Steve were bringing a new friend,” Jess shoots back, motioning toward Vicky’s hugely rounded stomach. “Dear God, woman, how are you? That looks like…a lot.”

Vicky, who’s even shorter and more petite than Jess, laughs and rests a hand on her truly massive belly. “Yeah, next time Steve’s carrying the kid. They’ll have technology for that by then, right? Because if they don’t, I’m pretty sure Melissa is going to be an only child.”

“Sure,” Jess says as she leans in for a side hug, the only kind possible at this point in Vicky’s pregnancy. As she pulls away, she adds, “But if she ends up being an only child, she’ll be fine. Look how great we turned out, right?”

Vicky laughs. So does Mrs. Cho, but her breathy giggle quickly transforms to a disapproving grunt as she reaches out to rub Jess’s khakis between her fingers. “Are you shopping at the Gap again? I told you, you should come to Lady Spencer in town for khakis. They’re the only store that has the nice, thick ones that don’t wrinkle or shrink around the waist.”

“It’s fine, Mom,” Jess says, clearly fighting an eye roll. “I don’t mind a few wrinkles.”

“And your nails are a mess,” Mrs. Cho mumbles beneath her breath, gathering Jess’s hands and holding tight to her fingers when she tries to pull away. “Just because you don’t like colored nail polish isn’t any excuse to neglect your cuticles. These don’t look like they’ve been trimmed in months.”

“Thanks for the heads-up, Mom, I’ll get right on that,” Jess says, forcibly snatching her hands back to her chest before reaching for my arm with a smile. “In the meantime, you remember Sam. From high school?”

Mrs. Cho’s eyes widen and her already pale skin blanches so white, I’m worried she’s going to faint. But after a beat, she sucks in a breath and rests a steadying hand on her chest. “Samuel. Well, well, you certainly have grown. Does your mother know you’re coming? She didn’t call me, and I really think Maria would have called. She’s very considerate that way.”

“Mom is out of town,” I explain. “Visiting some family in Miami. And no, she doesn’t know I’m here. It was kind of a last-minute thing.”

“When I heard Vicky and Steve were coming to dinner, I figured it would be best if I brought a date, too,” Jess says, sending a rush of electricity across my skin. “I’ve had enough of being the fifth wheel.”

“Well, we’ll just have to hope we have enough food for everyone,” Mrs. Cho says with a sniff, shooting another critical look up and down my frame.

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