She dried her hands with the hand towel and looked at herself one more time.
“You are having one cup of coffee then leaving. No touching Brice.” She pointed at her own reflection. Her wolf wasn’t convinced. Keena unlocked the bathroom and walked out through Brice’s room.
She lingered in the hallway for a heartbeat before making her way back into the living room. The fire had grown into a lively blaze while she’d been in the bathroom. Brice stood in the kitchen with her back to Keena, pouring coffee into the mugs.
The old school holiday playlist drifted through the apartment. At the moment, the Jackson 5 was singing about seeing their mother kiss Santa Claus. The entire apartment felt as though Christmas itself had decided to move in.
“There you are.” Brice glanced over her shoulder. A small smile lingered on her lips as she picked up the mugs and came into the living room. She held one out to Keena. “I hope I guessed right.”
Keena accepted it carefully. She glanced down into it and held back her surprise. Black. No cream or sugar. Steam curled upward from the porcelain mug.
“You guessed black,” Keena said quietly.
“Yeah, you look like someone who thinks flavored coffee with all the additions are unnecessary.” Brice shrugged, but the twinkle in her eyes was bright.
“You’ve been judging me?” Keena arched an eyebrow at her.
“I mean you always have such a serious expression, I didn’t take you for a caramel latte with extra caramel and whip cream type of girl.” Brice giggled and tried for an innocent expression.
Keena laughed. The sound surprised both of them. Brice blinked before her grin widened even more.
“There it is,” she said proudly.
“What?” Keena took a sip of the coffee. It was perfect.
“Your laugh,” Brice said. She leaned against the counter and studied Keena.
“I don’t laugh that much,” Keena admitted.
“I’ve noticed,” she said. She took another sip and sighed.
Keena didn’t know what else to say at the moment. It wasn’t that often she put herself in social situations anymore. She preferred the quiet and the solitude of her cabin when she wasn’t working.
“Thank you,” she decided to say. The coffee was really good. It was rich and smooth. It was hot enough to chase away any lingering chill from outside.
Lizzie used to tease her relentlessly about black coffee.
One day I’m going to convince you to have some fun with coffee. Live a little, babe.
Keena’s fingers tightened slightly around the mug. Brice noticed immediately.
“Is it too strong? I can make you another cup,” she said.
“No, it’s fine.” Keena cursed mentally.
Brice studied her for another second before nodding. She pushed off the counter and crossed to the living room. Instead of sitting on thecouch, she grabbed two enormous floor pillows stacked neatly in a basket in the corner. She dropped one of them onto the thick rug before claiming one herself.
“Come. Sit with me. I never sit on the couch when the fire is burning,” she said. She tucked one leg beneath herself and leaned comfortably against the front of the sofa. “It’s much cozier down here.”
She patted the empty pillow beside her. Keena stared at it, then at Brice then the fire. Her wolf gave an eager little nudge.
Against every instinct that screamed she should leave, Keena crossed the room and lowered herself onto the waiting pillow. She just hoped that she looked normal while doing it. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been invited somewhere to socialize.
She realized that she was close enough to feel Brice’s body heat, but far enough to where their shoulders didn’t touch. Her wolf grumbled, she wanted to be closer to Brice.
“This is my favorite spot in the entire apartment,” Brice said. She curled her hands around the mug and took a sip. Her eyes shifted over toward the window.
“I can see why,” Keena murmured. Outside thewindows, snowflakes drifted lazily beneath the streetlights.
