Mistletoe Miracle

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

The chime of the cafe door was sharp as they stepped out into the early evening air. The interaction at the table had been strange—a fragile, unspoken truce forged in the quiet spaces between bites of ramen and gyoza, but the moment they crossed the threshold, the old barriers slammed back into place.

Leo stood by his sleek Porsche, his keys jingling faintly in his hand. The car looked like an alien vessel parked against the weathered brick of the neighborhood. “Looks like the sun is about to set," he said, his tone still carrying that uncharacteristic, quiet concern. "Let me take you home. It’s the least I can do."

Serenity didn't even break her stride. She pulled her coat tighter, the fabric rustling in the wind, and shook her head before he had finished the sentence. "Abso