"So I've been meaning to ask, Ethan. What do you want to do for your birthday?' Kia asked, Annie started to eat, listening to the mother and son chat happily. "Do you want a big party like Kyson had for his 18th?"
"God no, there is such a thing as to many people," Ethan shook his head, remembering Kysons birthday two months prior. Kyson had demanded a big birthday bash where he could invited the high schooler, and college kids. Even some 'fun' adults, as he put it. The party was so big that they had to do it in a field and food trucks were hired.
The party was so big and loud that Ethan stayed on the outskirts of the party and left fairly early. There long enough to say he was there.
Kia laughed at Ethans remark, "then what do you want? I can't just not do nothing for you."
"Just a dinner would be nice," Ethan shrugged, "I really don't care about big crowds."
"Okay, do you want a restaurant dinner? Or a home dinner? Who is invited?" Kia started listing questions.
"A home dinner sounds perfect," Ethan said, leaning back as he toyed with his fork. "Keep it simple. Just the family... and maybe one or two people I know for a fact are obligated to spend the evening with me."
He didn't look at his mother. Instead, he let his gaze drift slowly toward Annie, catching her eye with a sharp, knowing glint. "I'm actually really looking forward to it," he added, his voice dropping into a low, velvet hum that felt like a physical touch. "I've been counting down the days since I secured my... guestofhonor. She knows she's not allowed to have other plans." The way he lingered on the word 'plans' was barely a whisper.
Kia, completely missing the heavy subtext vibrating across the table, beamed at her son, delighted he was finally showing some enthusiasm.
"Oh, a guest of honor! How mysterious," Kia teased, reaching for another pancake on her plate. "Is it someone from your lit class? Or maybe that girl you mentioned from the track team last semester?"
She didn't wait for an answer before turning her helpful, motherly energy toward Annie, who was currently red-faced and reaching desperately for her water glass.
"Are you okay, honey? That spice must have caught in your throat," Kia said, hovering for a second with a concerned frown before pivoting back to the guest list.
"Anyway, Ethan, if this 'guest' is that important, I should probably make something special. Does she have any allergies? Or is she a picky eater? I don't want your special guest to feel uncomfortable."
She looked between the two of them, her expression pure and helpful. "And Annie, since you're his friend, you'll have to help me keep him focused on the menu. You'll be here too, obviously, so tell me, what kind of cake do you think he'd want for a night like that?"
Ethan's smirk only deepened as he watched Annie struggle to swallow her water.
Annie managed a strained nod to Kia, her face a bright shade of crimson that she hoped could be blamed on the seasoning. "I- yeah, I'm fine," she managed, her voice a little higher than usual. "Just... went down the wrong pipe." She cleared her throat and tried to focus on Kia's question about the cake, avoiding Ethan's predatory gaze. "Um, for the cake? Maybe just... something classic? He doesnt seem to be a 'fancy cake' kind of guy."
"See, Mom? She knows me so well," Ethan chimed in, his tone light and conversational, though he was leaning just an inch or two closer to Annie. "But I think Annie knows I've developed some very specific tastes lately. I'm sure she'll help you pick something I'll find... satisfying."
He reached out to grab the salt shaker near Annie's hand, but let his fingers brush against hers, a touch so brief it could have been an accident, yet lingering enough to make her heart skip.
"Don't worry about her, Mom," he added with a boyish grin that looked perfectly innocent to Kia but felt like a dare to Annie. "She's already promised to be on 'party duty' for the whole night. She knows exactly how important it is to me that everything goes exactly according to plan."
Kia chuckled, heartened by their closeness. "Well, it's nice to see you two so dedicated to each other's birthdays. Annie, you're a saint for putting up with him."
"I wouldn't say a saint, maybe strong-willed," replied Annie, doing her best to settle her ever flipping heart. 'Why did I think it was good idea to have breakfast with them?' Annie sighed to herself. The growing tension between them was getting harder and harder to ignore.
Kia stood and put her plate in the sink, at the same time Annie took a bite of her egg, some of the yolk dripping onto her lower lip. Ethans hand shot up, swiping the yellow yolk from her lip with the pad of his thumb before taking his thumb to his mouth.
Annie's mouth was agape at the boldness of what he had just done- right behind his mother's back. Annie fought the blush that threatened to find its way to her cheeks. "The eggs are delicious today mom, I'm not sure what you did different, but they're tasty."
Annie let out a shuddering breath as she stood from her chair, handing Kia her empty plate.
"I didn't do anything differently dear, maybe you just missed my eggs," Kia shrugged, "or did you add something to them Annie?" Kia asked, turning her attention to Annie, who stood beside her.
"No, I didn't add anything to them," Annie said as she bit her lip, looking away from the prying eyes of Ethan and his mother, "I probably should get going though, I have to hit the store before school starts."
Annie made her way to the door when she heard Kia speak from the kitchen, "maybe Ethan can drive you? He also needs school supplies, go together!"