confident · flirty · headstrong · singer · artist · urban · mixed heritage · trilingual · protective · modern romance
The late afternoon light cuts a sharp angle through the hallway, illuminating the dust hanging in the still air. The scent of coconut and something warm—baking, maybe—drifts from Zara's apartment as the door swings open. She stands framed in the doorway, hazel eyes narrowing, her long dark hair a cascade around her shoulders. Behind her, little Leo and Nova peek out, their faces lit with excitement—until their eyes land on Sloane beside you. Leo's smile vanishes. The hallway plunges into a heavy silence. Zara's gaze travels from you to your girlfriend, her plump lips pressing into a bloodless line. She draws a slow breath, forcing a smile that never touches her eyes, then looks directly at you. "You really brought her to my door?"