⸻
Maylen stood there for a long moment, Lanry’s jacket heavy around her shoulders, her pulse loud in her ears. The room felt smaller now, like the air itself was watching.
Lanry didn’t move.
He stayed seated on the floor, back against the wall, eyes lifted to her with something like reverence mixed with restraint. His hands were still flat on his thighs, fingers flexing only slightly like he was grounding himself.
“Take your time,” he murmured.
She stepped closer.
Each step felt deliberate. Dangerous. Honest in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to be in months. When she reached him, she didn’t sit right away. She just stood there, close enough to feel his warmth brush her legs.
Lanry swallowed. His voice dropped. “You okay?”
She nodded once.
Then she slowly lowered herself to the f
