Chapter 37: The Circle Widens
The next morning dawned with a thin layer of frost on the ground, the kind that made the world look dusted in silver. Emery woke to the sound of Brent moving quietly around the kitchen — not restless, not tense, just… focused.
She slipped out of bed, wrapped herself in one of his flannel shirts, and padded down the hall. Brent stood at the counter, pouring coffee into two mugs. He looked up when he heard her.
“Morning,” he said softly.
“Morning.”
He handed her a mug, his fingers brushing hers. “You sleep okay?”
“Eventually,” she said. “You?”
He gave a small shrug. “Enough.”
It wasn’t the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie either.
Before Emery could say more, a car door slammed outside.
Brent stiffened.
Emery set her mug down. “Who—”
“Stay here,” he s
