[For Mature Audiences]
"What?" I asked.
Mom's wide eyes have been tracing me for a long minute since I entered, pausing cutting green onions in the kitchen. Alec was beside her, chopping up red peppers, fixed on not cutting himself to notice me. I ran a hand through my hair in case of gum, patted myself down like a cop, found nothing, but then—
"Oh no," I gasped, slapping a hand over my neck.
Her face shined like a star in the night sky, a smile spouting on her face. I hadn't seen her this happy since I get my period and became a 'woman.' "My baby girl got a hickey!" she exclaimed, catching Alec off guard.
"A what?!" he barked, dropping the knife on the counter.
Mom bounced like a cheerleader in glee, prying my fingers off my neck to get a good look, but I stepped away, embarrassed.
