"By the way, where's Mom?" I asked Lily curiously.
"You don't know? Mom went to her new fitness club." Lily tilted her head, giving me a surprised look.
'Fitness club? When?' I thought to myself, feeling confused. I didn't remember her mentioning anything like that recently.
"You forgot? Mom told us yesterday." Lily said, still comfortably sitting on my lap.
I vaguely remembered now. She had mentioned something about wanting to exercise more, but I hadn't thought much about it, she was actually serious about it.
"What happened?" Lily asked, gently shaking my shoulder with her small, soft hand.
"Nothing." I replied with a gentle smile.
"Hm?" Lily suddenly leaned in closer, her small nose brushing against my chest. She started sniffing me all over. Her warm breath tickled my skin as she took deep sniffs, her face scrunching up in concentration.
"You smell… different, big bro," she said, pulling back slightly with a confused frown.
My heart skipped a beat. I quickly tried to act normal. "What? No, I don't smell different at all. You're imagining things, Lily. Maybe it's just the ice-cream we bought."
"But… it's a girl's smell. I'm sure of it." She tilted her head, not fully convinced. Her cute face looked so innocent yet suspicious at the same time.
"Come on, don't be silly. Hey, don't you smell something burning?" I forced a laugh and gently ruffled her hair.
"Oh no! My cookies!" Lily's eyes went wide with panic. She jumped off my lap in a hurry, her apron flapping as she ran toward the kitchen.
As soon as she disappeared into the kitchen, I quickly lifted my shirt and sniffed myself. Sure enough, there was a faint, sweet feminine scent clinging to my skin, must be Ashley's perfume mixed with the smell of her body. My face burned with guilt. I smelled like her. If Mom came home and noticed…
"I need to shower right now," I muttered to myself, standing up quickly before Mom gets back.
* * *
"Big bro! I'm back~" Lily's cheerful voice rang out from the hallway as she hopped into the living room, her small feet making soft thuds on the floor.
I was sprawled on the couch, lazily flipping through channels, my mind still half-lost in the chaos of the day. I turned my head toward her, a small smile forming despite everything.
"Look, look! I finally made them!" She beamed, holding up a big plate with both hands like it was the greatest treasure in the world. The cookies were shaped like little animals, some looked like wobbly cats, others like lopsided dogs and bears. They weren't perfect, a few were slightly burnt on the edges, but they looked adorable in their own messy way.
"Wow, Lily… you really made these?" I sat up straighter, genuinely surprised as she climbed onto the couch and settled right next to me, pressing her side against mine.
"Mhm! I tried really hard this time.!" She giggled proudly, scooting even closer until her head rested on my shoulder. Her soft hair smelled like strawberries and a hint of vanilla from the kitchen.
"Try one, big bro. The bear one is my favorite." I picked up one of the bear-shaped cookies, still warm from the oven. It was a little uneven, one ear bigger than the other, but I took a bite anyway.The taste was sweet, a bit crunchy on the outside and soft inside, with a simple buttery flavor.
"Mmm… it's really good. Lily, You did great" I said honestly, taking another bite.
"Really? You like it?" – Her eyes lit up like stars, and she hugged my arm tightly, her soft chest pressing warmly against me.
"Of course" I chuckled softly, ruffling her hair with my free hand.
"You're my favorite big bro in the whole world." She giggled and nuzzled closer, her small body fitting perfectly against my side.
* * *
We watched TV for a while as we ate the cookies. Lily didn't stop talking for even a second, chattering about her school, her friends, and how she wanted to make more cookies next time with chocolate chips. She could be really talkative sometimes, but I liked her silliness and the sweet sound of her voice. It felt comforting after everything that had happened today.
After some time, I started feeling thirsty. I gently shifted Lily a little as she had dozed off in my arms, her small body warm and soft against me. I laid her down carefully on the couch, pulling a light blanket over her.
Click!
As I walked toward the kitchen, the sound of the main door opening made me freeze mid-step.
A feminine, familiar voice drifted in from the hallway, light, cheerful, and filled with soft giggles. It was Mom's voice. She sounded happier and more playful than usual.
I stood still for a second, then quietly moved closer to the wall near the entrance, pressing my back against it so I could listen better.
'Who is she talking to?' I thought, my stomach tightening with unease. Mom rarely sounded this relaxed and giggly when she came home from shopping or her fitness club.
"Hahaha… really? He did that?" Mom's voice came clearer now. She was standing just inside the doorway, still laughing softly.
"Yeah… I'm not lying." replied a familiar deep, confident voice that sent a chill down my spine.
It was Mike.
My heart skipped a beat, then started hammering wildly. My mind spun with a thousand questions all at once. What the hell was he doing here? Why was Mom laughing with him like that? Did she actually go out with Mike today? The thought made my blood run cold.
I stayed hidden behind the wall, breathing as quietly as I could, ears straining to catch every word.
To be continued…
* * * * *
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