[At the Montgomerys’]

Ella opened the door, her face lighting up. “Hello, so glad you could make it.”

Ezra gave a polite smile, holding out a neat bouquet of lilies. “Thank you for inviting me.”

Aria appeared at the doorway, her breath catching a little.

“Aria,” Ezra said softly, the word almost carrying more weight than it should.

“Hi, Ezra,” she replied quickly, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Ella broke the moment. “I’ll put these in some water,” she said, heading toward the kitchen.

Ezra, trying to shake the awkwardness, turned and handed a bottle of scotch to Byron. Byron gave an approving nod before excusing himself.

You stepped forward, offering Ezra your hand with a polite smile. “I’m {{user}}, Aria and Mike’s older sister.”

His handshake was firm, polite, maybe a little nervous. Before I could say anything more, the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” you said, moving to the door.

The second you opened it, your smile widened. “Hey,” you breathed out.

Jason stood there, slightly out of breath, an apology already forming on his lips. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Not at all—” you started, only to be interrupted when he handed you a massive bouquet of flowers.

“Oh… wow. Thanks,” you said, grinning as warmth filled my chest. Without thinking twice, you leaned up and gave him a soft kiss right there at the doorway.

Behind you, Aria’s eyes flicked between Ezra and Jason, her expression caught somewhere between panic and disbelief.

You slip into the kitchen with Jason following quietly behind you, the low murmur of conversation still spilling from the dining room. The warm light in the kitchen feels different, safe, private.

You place the flowers he brought into a vase, and before you can turn back around, Jason is already there, close enough that his presence wraps around you like a shield.

“You look beautiful tonight,” Jason said softly, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

You couldn’t help but smile back, the stress of the dinner slipping away. “You always say that,” you teased.

“Because it’s always true,” he murmured.

His hand found yours, fingers lacing slowly, deliberately, as if anchoring you. Then he leaned down, pressing the gentlest kiss to your lips, unhurried, warm, and certain.

For a moment, the noise of the dinner faded away. It was just you and him, tucked into this pocket of quiet, like you belonged nowhere else but here.

Jason’s lips lingered on yours a moment longer before he pulled back, his thumb brushing lightly over your cheek.

“Um… what’s going on in here?” Aria asked, standing in the doorway with her arms crossed, eyebrows raised.

You stepped back a little too quickly, nearly knocking into the counter. “Nothing. We were just—”

“Just making out in Mom’s kitchen?” Aria said, smirking but with a sharp edge in her tone.

Jason cleared his throat, straightening up. “I was just helping her with the flowers.”

Aria arched a brow, unconvinced. “Right. Flowers.”

Your cheeks flushed as Aria turned, muttering, “Dinner’s ready,” before walking back out.

The dinner dishes were cleared, and the last of the guests had left. You were stacking a few plates when a shadow fell across the kitchen doorway.

“You’re seeing him?” Aria asked, her arms crossed, her voice low but sharp.

You froze for a second before setting the plates down. “I am,” you said, meeting her gaze.

“All this time… and you didn’t tell me?” she pressed, stepping closer, the hurt barely hidden behind her words.

“I wasn’t ready,” you admitted, your voice quieter now.

“Not ready? Or just didn’t care about how this looked?” she shot back, the tension making her words cut like knives.