Nathan woke to the smell of coffee and something sweet… vanilla, maybe maple. He rolled over, checking his phone: 8:47 AM. He'd finally fallen asleep around four, which meant less than five hours of rest, but he felt surprisingly refreshed.
He pulled on comfortable clothes—sweatpants and a t-shirt—and followed the scent downstairs to find Sera in the kitchen, moving between the stove and the counter with surprising confidence.
"You're cooking?" Nathan asked, genuinely surprised.
Sera turned, spatula in hand, her face lighting up. "I found everything I needed in the pantry. The previous owner left it fully stocked. I'm making French toast—I hope that's okay?"
"It's perfect." Nathan poured himself coffee from the pot she'd already brewed and settled onto one of the bar stools at the kitc
