Right then, Serena walked out of the kitchen, holding two plates. But the look she gave Seth… it was off. Not her usual warmth. Not love. It was distant. Like she was conflicted. I’d never seen her look at him like that before. She didn’t say a word. Just handed the plates to Imani.
Right on cue, S3 came down the stairs, still drying his hands on his pajama shirt, his little feet thumping on the steps.
“Mommy Stormi, is it ready yet?” he asked, halfway down, eyes bright.
“Yes, baby,” I said with a soft smile, but my eyes didn’t leave Serena. Something in the air had shifted.
And I didn’t know why but I didn’t like it.
“Mommy?” S3 blinked as he reached the bottom of the stairs, his voice small but surprised. “What are you doing here?”
Imani crouched down and opened her arms like she was in a commercial. “Having dinner with my favorite person in the whole world,” she said, planting a kiss on his cheek.
S3 smiled politely but was a little confused and looked over at me.
“Stormi, are we still gonna watch the new Hulk movie tonight?”
I opened my mouth, then paused, looking between him and Imani. “Well... maybe you wanna watch it with your mommy instead?”
“Noooo!” he yelped, shaking his head fast like I’d suggested he eat broccoli for dessert. “She doesn’t like Hulk. She won’t even know what’s going on.”
I bit back a smile. Imani’s jaw tightened.
“Okay, okay,” I said gently, smoothing his shirt. “We can watch it later, promise. But for now, enjoy dinner with Mommy. She misses you.”
S3 gave a little nod and took the plate Serena had handed him, walking over to the couch with Imani trailing behind, still staring at me like she wished her eyes could cut skin. Across the room, Jo covered her mouth with her hand, clearly hiding a grin. Rich didn’t bother holding it in. He let out a low whistle like it was game point. Seth was leaning on the wall with a smirk so smug I almost lost it.
“Well damn,” Rich muttered under his breath. “S3 said ‘new mommy’.”
Seth chuckled. “That’s what happens when you only show up when your calendar clears.”
Imani said nothing, but the way she gripped her plate let me know she heard every word.
But I wasn’t smug. I wasn’t even trying to one up her. That wasn’t the point. S3 chose me with his heart, not out of spite and that was something no smirk or slick comment could buy. I just gave her a quiet nod.
“I’ll take him off your hands,” Rich spoke, stepping up and scooping Shiloh from my arms with practiced ease.
I turned toward Seth, my body leaning into his naturally. “You hungry?” I asked, already knowing the answer, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.
“Starving. What Mama cook?”
“Your wife cooked,” Serena cut in, her voice sharp as her stare. “Didn’t know she knew how to do that.”
My eyes shifted to her slow, heat rising in my chest.
“Is there a problem?” I asked, tone tight, the irritation lacing every syllable. I’d been swallowing her little digs since she came home and I was getting full.
“Not at all,” she said, sweetly.
“If you need me to cook more, I don’t mind,” I added, staying calm but checking her at the same time.
“That’s good to know, Stormi,” Serena said with a smirk. “Since you’re a wife now.”
Another shot fired.
I leaned close to Seth, voice low. “Get your mama,” I whispered with a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.
I tugged Jo’s hand and led her into the kitchen with me. We fixed the plates and joined everyone at the dining table. The energy was off, thick and cold. Rich had already taken his plate, Shiloh, and a few bottles to the guest house. Said he had the night shift.
