Kaida
When I got back inside the apartment, the familiar warmth of the place wrapped around me like a protective shield. I closed the door behind me, leaning against it for a moment to collect my thoughts. The conversation with Bastian had gone better than I expected, but it still left me feeling a little unsteady. He had been so calm, so understanding, and yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that letting him into my life would complicate things more than I could afford right now.
Dahlia’s voice drifted from the kitchen. “Kaida? How did it go?”
I pushed off the door and walked toward her, finding her perched on one of the bar stools, a mug of coffee in hand. Her hair was damp, probably from a quick shower, and she was dressed for work in her usual smart outfit, though her eyes were focused
