That’s it.
He goes back to his phone. No mention of the bathroom. No mention of me on the floor with a plate in my lap at 3am. Nothing.
Why would he do that?
“How’d you sleep?” Vaelor asks, not turning from the counter.
I hesitate. “Fine.”
“Liar,” Kyron says, almost amused. He’s pouring coffee. “No one sleeps the first night.”
“Kyron didn’t sleep for three days when he got here,” Rane offers. “Just sat in the corner like a suspicious cat.”
“That’s not—” Kyron stops. “Okay, that’s mostly accurate.”
“I slept fine,” Locke says.
“You sleep like the dead,” Rane says. “It’sunsettling.”
“There’s food,” Vaelor says, gesturing to the counter. “Help yourself. Donuts, or I can make eggs if you want something real.”
I look. A box of donuts that smells heavenly. Not just that, but it’s something I can take with me if I need to leave.
“Donut’s fine.” I take one with colored sprinkles. Hold it in my hand without eating it yet.
Vaelor sets a mug of coffee in front of me. Black. I set the donut down and wrap my hands around the cup because it’s warm and I don’t know what else to do with them.
I stare at it.
“I’ve never actually…” I stop.
“You’ve never had coffee?” Rane looks genuinely wounded. “Ever?”
“It wasn’t exactly a priority.”
“Damn.” He shakes his head. “Okay. Sip it. Tell us what you think.”
I take a sip. Try not to make a face. Fail.
“Too bitter?” Vaelor asks.
“Little bit.”
He takes the mug back without comment, dumps half of it, adds something from the fridge. Slides it back to me.
I try again. Not great, but drinkable.
Vaelor watches me. “Better?”
“Yeah.”
“We’ll figure it out,” he says, and turns back to the stove.
No one watches or comments. I let myself relax just a little.
Beckett comes in from the hallway, still looking half-asleep. He makes a straight line for the coffee without acknowledging anyone, pours a cup, and leans against the counter with his eyes closed.
“He’s not a person until the second cup,” Rane says to me, like he’s sharing a secret.
