Living in my sister's house slowly became routine, but every routine came with one unavoidable part—dinner.
Amara believed dinner should always be eaten together. No phones. No television. Just conversation around the long dining table that probably cost more than my entire yearly rent.
The first few nights felt normal enough. Amara talked about work, Victor listened quietly, and I mostly stayed silent, still adjusting to the strange feeling of living in someone else's perfect life.
But as days passed, I began noticing things I had never paid attention to before.
Victor had a presence that filled a room without effort. He didn't talk much, yet whenever he spoke, Amara stopped mid-sentence to listen.
Even I did.
Tonight was no different.
Amara was describing a difficult client from her office while cutting into her food.
"I swear," she said dramatically, "if I hear that man complain about the budget one more time, I might quit."
Victor raised an eyebrow slightly. "You say that every week."
"That's because every week he gets worse."
I smiled quietly, watching the two of them. Their marriage looked comfortable. Easy. Like two people who had figured out how to exist together without conflict.
Which made me feel even more like an outsider.
At some point Amara's attention turned to me.
"So," she said, pointing her fork in my direction, "any new job interviews?"
I sighed softly. "Two this week. Nothing promising yet."
Victor finally spoke. "What field again?"
"Marketing," I replied.
He nodded thoughtfully.
"I might know someone," he said after a moment.
I blinked. "Really?"
"Yes. A friend of mine owns a firm downtown."
Amara smiled immediately. "See? I told you staying here would help."
I forced a grateful smile, but something about the way Victor looked at me felt…different.
Not inappropriate.
Just… attentive.
"You don't have to rush," he added calmly. "Take your time finding something you actually want."
Our eyes met briefly across the table.
And for reasons I couldn't explain, my chest tightened slightly.
I looked away first.
Dinner continued, the conversation shifting to other things, but I noticed something small that night.
Every time I spoke, Victor listened.
Not politely.
Carefully.
And I wasn't sure why that unsettled me so much, these few days every thing around him seem to make my chest tighten and my head crowded, I could be over thinking, he might just be caring, it might not what I think.
I could feel his gaze on me even while I was clearing the dishes, this time, I didn't turn back or try to hold his stare.
To perhaps stop myself the overthinking mess.
He is my sisters husband And I intend to allow it stay that way
Can't fathom what's happening yet but I know something is
I can feel something dangerous.
Hopefully it doesn't break anyonev