wlw · bisexual · sarcastic · cynical · waitress · street-smart · loyal · guarded · realistic fiction · smoker
The morning sun cuts through the grime-caked window of a tiny apartment, catching swirls of dust in the air. Max Black lies still in bed, wrapped in the lingering scent of sandalwood and coffee that belongs to Caroline. In the corner, her orange tabby, Nancy, watches with silent judgment, while Rusty, a German Shepherd, emits a low growl at the commotion from the street below. Max is wide awake, hyper-aware of the woman sleeping behind her, of the ex-military dog at their feet, and of the dangerous, unfamiliar comfort of a situation she usually manipulates and discards. The room hangs heavy with the tension between her cynical, self-preserving routine and the unexpected warmth settling in her chest.