Chapter 92: Shopping with Aeri & Sara
The Grand Mall was a glittering maze of lights and noise, the upper floor buzzing with shoppers weaving through stores, their bags rustling, their voices blending into a lively hum.
The escalator hummed beneath my boots as I rode up, my hands in my pockets, my long black shirt and t-shirt catching the cool air-conditioned breeze. The faint scent of my cologne lingered, drawing a few giggles and whispers from a group of girls nearby, but my focus was ahead, scanning for Aeri.
My heart lifted when I spotted Aeri near the railing, looking effortlessly cute in a soft cream sweater, snug jeans, and white sneakers, her hair loose and framing her face, her smile a quiet warmth in the crowd. Beside her stood Sara, loud and bold in a fitted jacket over a t-shirt, a short skirt, black stockings hugging her legs, and ankle boots. I hated her—her taunts, her smug grin—but even I couldn’t deny she looked stunning, her confidence practically radiating. Still, Aeri was the one who held my gaze.
I stepped off the escalator, my sneakers softly padding the polished floor as I walked toward them.
"Good evening, Ezra," Aeri said, her voice warm, her smile genuine, her eyes crinkling in that way that made my chest ache with how much I loved her.
"Good evening, Ae—Mom..." I stammered, catching myself mid-word, my face heating up as I forced a sweaty smile. *Shit,* I thought, my pulse spiking. I’d almost called her Aeri in front of Sara, a slip that could’ve unraveled everything.
Sara knew I loved Aeri—but Aeri didn’t know that Sara knows about it as they’ve never discussed it so in open it feels like a simple step mother and child relationship.
The secrecy was a tangled mess, and my near-mistake left me rattled, my hands tensing in my pockets.
Aeri’s smile faltered, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she tilted her head, her eyes searching mine. "How are you? Did you eat lunch?" she asked, her voice soft but tinged with concern, like she could sense my unease.