Dinner

The dinner table is a battlefield of hidden agendas and simmering heat, perfectly disguised by the steam rising from the bowls of mashed potatoes. Chad sits at the head, the anchor of reality in a house that is slowly drifting into a different dimension.

Mark looks over at Cheri. "So...how's your writing coming along?

Cherie clears her throat, her eyes darting briefly to the empty space where she knows you linger before settling on Mark. "I actually had a bit of a breakthrough today," she starts, her voice regaining its steady, melodic tone.

Chad looks up, a faint, indulgent smile on his face. "That's great, honey. Another historical romance?"

"Actually," Cherie says, and you can feel her heart skip a beat as she leans into the irony. "I'm going a different direction. I'm calling it The Ghost in the Attic. It’s a supernatural romance. I actually got the spark from Tyler’s story about the 'haunting' here."

Tyler nearly chokes on his water, his eyes snapping to his mother. Chloe and Kenzie exchange a wide, knowing glance—the memory of the pool dunking still fresh in their minds.

Alexis lets out a low, appreciative hum. "A ghost, Cherie? How... provocative. I assume he’s a bit more 'hands-on' than the ones in the movies?"

"That's the part I'm working on," Cherie continues, her blush deepening as she feels the weight of the family’s attention. "I’m trying to figure out how an incorporeal spirit—someone who is basically just energy and shadow—could actually materialize enough to... well, to claim the heroine at the climax. It needs to feel earned. Authentic."

Chad lets out a classic, skeptical eye-roll, though he pats her hand affectionately. "Just make it up, Cherie. It's fiction. Logic doesn't really apply to things that don't exist. Maybe he finds a magic ring or something."

Mark leans forward, his elbows on the table, his wolfish grin fixed on Cherie. He doesn't know about the real Mack, but he knows a sexual opening when he hears one. "A ring? That’s boring, Chad. No, if he’s a ghost, he’s got to be clever. If he wants to 'win' her, he needs a vessel. He should possess someone. Find a guy the heroine already likes and just... step inside. That way he gets the physical hardware to do the job properly."