Kelly The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the warmth of the blanket covering me. It smelled faintly of Adrian—clean, Oud, and grounding. I sat up, rubbing the dull ache in my temple, trying to remember how I ended up here. The memories came back slowly: Adrian bringing me home, his firm hands steadying me when my legs wobbled from exhaustion and maybe just a little wine. Stretching, I got to my feet and strolled to Adrian’s room to check on him. His room door was slightly ajar, and the bed was neatly made, untouched. He wasn’t there. The kitchen was my next stop. A hangover demanded caffeine and something strong to fight off the sluggishness. But as soon as I walked in, I saw the plate sitting on the counter, carefully covered with a lid. A note peeked out underneath the plate.

