"My mother said that when you drink too much, you become clingy, and even held my brother saying you wanted a kiss. When my brother wouldnât give in, you got upset and had this look of utter distress on your face," Peter Gingery was beside himself with laughter. "I really shouldâve come back with you all last night. My parents knew that I was with you guys, right downstairs, yet didnât bother to call me. I missed such a great show for nothing."
"Me?" Jane Sampson wore a âare you freaking kidding meâ expression, pointing at her nose incredulously, "Me, clingy when drunk? Howâs that even possible?"
"Howâs that not possible!" Peter Gingery shouted, "My mom said the moment you saw her, you opened your arms wide and said, âAuntie, hug me,â then clung onto my mother, rubbing against her just like a little kitten."
Peter Gingery called out to James Black, "If you donât believe it, just ask my brother. Werenât you telling him you wanted to kiss him yesterday, and you got upset when he refused, then you wanted a hug, and even after he hugged you, you were still looking unsatisfied?"
Jane Sampson quickly turned her head to look at James Black, asking, "Is Peter making stuff up?"
Jane Sampson felt that she simply wouldnât have done something like that.
James Black set his chopsticks down on the desktop, looked up at Jane Sampson with a serious expression, and nodded, "Heâs not making it up, so from now on, youâre not allowed to drink anymore."
Jane Sampson felt as if she had been struck by lightning. So, what James Black said this morning about her making a fuss over kissing him last night was true? It wasnât just Gary Blackâs nonsense to fool her?
No wonder he was so adamant and unyielding in the morning.
"I wonât drink anymore, not even if Iâm beaten to death. If Iâd known Iâd behave that shamelessly drunk, not even ten times the braveness can make me dare to drink so heartily with Gary Black and Old Watson behind James Blackâs back."
Jane Sampson shook her head like a rattle drum, and James Blackâs expression finally softened a bit, as he grunted approvingly and picked up his chopsticks to offer her a piece of meat.
Peter Gingery, sitting next to them, listened to Jane Sampsonâs self-criticism, chuckling covertly, then teasing her with playful gestures, "Youâre all grown up; how come your way of acting spoiled is still the same as when you were a kid?"
"Itâs different from when she was a child," James Black explained for Jane Sampson.
Upon hearing this, Jane Sampson turned and gave James Black a sweet smile.
But that smile didnât last long, because she heard James Black add quietly, "Last night, when we got downstairs to our building, you didnât want to walk and squatted on the ground, telling me youâd left your legs in the car."
The expression on Jane Sampsonâs face when she said that last night, James Black would probably never forget for the rest of his life.
Peter Gingery spit out a mouthful of soup, fortunately turning away quickly where no one was, but he choked so severely that his face turned red.
Jane Sampson stared at James Black, "Since I donât remember anyway, itâs your word that counts, and whatever nonsense you spout, youâre right," she said.
Having said that, Jane Sampson lowered her head and focused on eating her meal, adamant in her denial that such behavior could ever be hers.
During dinner, Peter Gingery laughed so much that he returned home with a belly full of gas, while Jane Sampson, a bit upset from being continuously exposed by James Black, didnât feel like talking to him anymore.
After washing the dishes, Jane Sampson walked out of the kitchen, passing by the living room. She huffed at the sight of James Blackâs back on the sofa, then stomped her feet as she entered the bedroom.