~CAKE~
I’m seated on the bench when the door opens.
I don’t need to look to know it’s him.
His presence changes the air—not the room, not the space. Me.
His scent reaches me first, familiar now in a way I don’t like admitting. Nico steps inside and closes the door behind him.
My pulse stutters.
I sit up instinctively, fingers flexing against my wraps, eyes lifting to him like my body made the decision before my brain did.
“You can take the mask off,” he says. “Only in here.”
I do.
The relief is immediate, like I’ve been holding my breath longer than I realized. I set it aside and meet his gaze.
“Your trainer is here tonight,” Nico continues. “The one I told you about. He’s back.”
So this is that. He didn’t come to wish me luck before I went out there risking my life for him.
“H
