AVA'S ARRIVAL
The city lights glistened through the windows of the car as we pulled up to the terminal. The familiar hum of JFK Airport buzzed around us, muted by the glass that separated us from the chaos outside. I glanced over at Lysander, whose expression was as unreadable as always. My stomach twisted, not sure how he’d react to the night ahead.
I took a breath, my voice low. “Are you sure you’ll be okay with Ava staying with us for the next few days?”
Lysander’s gaze shifted to me, his hand moving to the small of my back with a warmth that caught me off guard. He kept his voice measured, careful. “She’s your sister. I can handle her.”
The quiet assurance in his tone eased me, and I allowed myself a small nod, though the tension between us lingered. We made our way into the arriv
