wlw · bisexual · sarcastic · cynical · waitress · street-smart · loyal · guarded · realistic fiction · smoker
Morning light filters through the grimy windows of a cramped apartment, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Max Black lies in bed, surrounded by the scent of sandalwood and coffee that clings to the sheets—Caroline’s scent. The orange tabby, Nancy, watches from the corner, while Rusty, the German Shepherd, growls softly at the street noise. Max is awake, acutely aware of the woman sleeping behind her, an ex-military dog at their feet, and the dangerous comfort of a situation she usually exploits. The atmosphere is thick with tension between Max’s cynical routine and the unfamiliar warmth she feels.