The rain hadn’t stopped for hours. It soaked the streets of the city in a silver sheen, and through the glass of the apartment window, Orla could barely make out the skyline. Blurred lights, distant thunder. It felt like the world was holding its breath.
So was she.
Stanley had been gone since dawn, and every ticking minute pressed harder against her chest. She’d tried to keep busy—making coffee, folding laundry, pacing the apartment—but nothing distracted her from the gnawing worry. Not after last night. Not after the things he’d told her.
A quiet click broke the stillness. The front door opened.
He was soaked to the bone. His hair clung to his forehead, his jacket hung heavy on his shoulders, and yet, the moment he saw her, something in his expression softened. She didn’t wait. She c
