Janine woke with a start. Her arms were wrapped around something warm, small, and breathing. Blinking the sleep from her eyes, she glanced down—and froze.
A boy. Curled in her lap. His head tucked against her chest.
Zoe. No, Zack.
Her stomach lurched. “What the hell, Zoe?!” she barked, shoving him off the couch before her mind could even process it.
The boy yelped as he hit the carpet with a dull thump. Luckily, nine-year-olds bounce. He sat up, rubbing his shoulder. “Ow… that hurt.” Then, grinning cheekily, he added, “Mommy.”
Janine’s blood ran cold. She crossed her arms tightly under her chest, glaring down at him. “Don’t call me that. I am not staying like this. I thought you were going to fix it—swap us back—now.”
Zack only stretched, like the whole thing was a joke. “Nah. I think I’m more of a ‘cuddle wake-up’ boy now. And it’s Zack, Mom. Not Zoe.”
Her jaw dropped. “Don’t you dare—”
He cut her off, wagging a finger. “I wished for everyone to swap genders. I wanted to be a guy, and I got it. So, yeah, maybe I’m younger now. Maybe you’re my mom. But hey—” he smirked, “—I don’t think it’s too bad.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Zoe—”
“Zack,” he corrected firmly. “I even hid the stone. Buried it down at the park. So don’t bother demanding I undo it. This is fine. I like being Zack. I’m cute, I get into trouble, I pee standing up…” He grinned, clearly enjoying the way she flushed at that. “And besides—you were the one who pulled me in last night. You liked cuddling me.”
Janine flushed harder, but couldn’t deny it. “That was—instinct. I didn’t mean—”
He waved her off. “Relax. You’ll get used to it. And I’ll probably get bored eventually and change us back. So just enjoy being an adult woman while you can. You look good, Mom.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated. “So this isn’t forever, right? You promise?”
“Promise,” Zack said brightly, climbing back onto the couch before she could object. He wedged himself against her side, head pressing into her ribs like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Now can we cuddle again? It was nice. Safe.”
Janine hesitated. Every fiber of her mind screamed wrong, wrong, wrong—but the small body against her side was warm, trusting. Her arm betrayed her, circling him automatically.
“I love you, Mom,” Zack teased, smirking up at her.
“Don’t say that,” she snapped, feeling her cheeks heat. “This is weird. Stop teasing me. I’ll never get used to this body—or to you like this.”
Zack just yawned, eyes fluttering shut. “Yes you will. I have. And I’m your happy, good-looking son now. You’ll see.”
He snuggled deeper into her, fast asleep within moments.
Janine sighed, staring down at him, torn between anger and a strange, treacherous tenderness she didn’t want to admit to. The brat.
Quietly, she reached for the remote and flicked on the TV, turning the volume low. Some football game was on. She sank back against the cushions, her hand unconsciously resting against Zack’s back.
“Fine,” she muttered. “If I’m stuck like this, I’m at least keeping the football.”
And though she hated herself for it, she didn’t move when Zack burrowed closer in his sleep.
