I opened the door just as Dianne was raising her hand to knock again. She blinked, her knuckles mid-air.
“Oh—hey,” I said, voice a bit too light like I’d been caught doing something weird… which I technically had.
Dianne just smiled and nodded toward the hallway. “Lunch is served,” she muttered, casual as ever.
I nodded quickly, trying not to seem flustered. “Give me a sec to change?”
She stepped back without a word, letting the door fall shut between us.
Inside, I pressed my back to the door and let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My chest rose and fell once, sharply. I scanned the room like something might have changed—like I might’ve left a magical crater or melted another curtain rod without noticing.
Everything looked normal. My clothes… not burned. Still intact.
