CHAPTER 277

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the window as I spotted Lena stepping through the front door, looking refreshingly radiant and a bit…well, dazed. I stifled a grin, noticing how she lingered at the door a little longer than usual, a tell-tale sign that she was trying to collect herself.

Jack’s car had just pulled out of the driveway, and I couldn’t resist the playful urge that bubbled up in me. I took a few steps closer, casually leaning against the doorway with a smile that I knew Lena would recognize as mischief.

“So…” I drawled, crossing my arms, my voice just loud enough to snap her out of whatever lingering thoughts Jack might have left her with. “How was your date?”

Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing with that unmistakable shade of pink. “It—it wasn’t a date, Margarette,” she stammered, hurrying to set her purse down as if that action alone might distract me from my teasing.

“Oh, really?” I raised a brow, leaning a little closer to her. “Because from what I saw, Jack see