Heartburn Pt. 1 Rachael Cavalli -

"Good," Rachael whispered, a small smile playing on her lips. "Then let's see what else we can do to make you feel at home."

"Hello?" a deep voice called out. It was Tyler, her son’s best friend. He’d been practically living at the house since graduating college, crashing in the guest room while he "figured things out." Normally, his presence was just background noise, but today, Rachael felt a spark of something different. Maybe it was the boredom, maybe it was the glass of wine she’d been nursing, but she found herself smoothing her hair before walking into the hallway.

Then came the sound of the front door opening, followed by the heavy thud of a gym bag hitting the floor. heartburn pt. 1 rachael cavalli

She stared at the screen. Her thumb hovered over the delete button. Instead, she typed: Safe pays the rent, Luca. How’s Chloe? Delete. Delete. Delete.

Brief teases of sexual action early on hint at the infidelity that becomes a central focus later in the saga. "Good," Rachael whispered, a small smile playing on her lips

The heartburn started then. Not a fiery sizzle, but a low, gnawing ember lodged just below her sternum. She pressed a knuckle into the spot.

"Starving," he said, dropping his gaze to the floor for a moment before looking back up with a sheepish expression. "Actually, I was wondering if I could borrow some Tums or something? I think I pushed too hard on the pre-workout. My chest is killing me." He’d been practically living at the house since

“Cancel the chard order,” she said, her voice flat and cold as a freezer door. “We’re keeping the cavolo nero. And tomorrow, I’m reworking the entire menu. From scratch.”