The Bombshell at Dinner
Lex had just opened his mouth to challenge Muri's cryptic answer when the front door swung open.
"Hey, anyone home?" came a familiar voice.
Lex froze.
Muri, for the first time all night, actually smiled.
Then into the dining room strode Sky Cartwright—Lex's younger brother, sun-kissed from Thailand, grinning like he owned the world.
Muri stood without hesitation. "Sky."
"Hey, beautiful," he said, pulling her into a warm hug and kissing her cheek. "Missed you like hell."
Lex's brain short-circuited.
What the—?
Sky turned toward the kitchen. "Mom? Where's the wine? And why does it smell like money and judgment in here?"
Eleanor swept into the room just in time, arms outstretched. "Sky, darling. Finally."
She hugged him tight, then swatted his shoulder. "You said morning. You show up after sunset."
Sky laughed, carefree. "Blame Muri. I had to buy a gift for my girlfriend before I came."
Silence slammed down like a dropped chandelier.
Lex blinked. "Your what?"
Sky threw an arm around Muri, beaming. "We're official now. Thought I'd tell you over dinner. Surprise."
Muri's hand rested lightly on Sky's chest. Her smile was gentle, practiced. Not one flicker of the fire she'd once shared with Lex.
Eleanor recovered first, lifting a glass. "Well. That is a surprise."
Lex just stared.
Muri met his eyes—calm, unreadable—and in that moment, Lex knew something was very, very wrong.