I hear the car pull up at 10:47 PM.
I've been sitting in the living room for the past two hours, phone in my hand, checking it periodically even though I know he's not going to text back at this point.
He didn't respond to my message from this morning.
Didn't call back, didn't send anything to indicate he'd even seen it.
Just... nothing.
All day.
But he's home now, and I can tell him in person, which is what I wanted anyway.
I stand up, moving toward the entryway before I fully decide to, and I'm already forming the words in my head…*I placed second, the collaboration starts Monday, they might actually build it*...
The door opens.
Bael steps inside.
And the smell hits me immediately.
Sweet.
Cloying.
Unmistakable.
Xue Lian's scent, all over him, so strong it makes my stomach turn violently.
I stop walking.
Just stop completely, several feet away from him, and my brain is trying to process what I'm smelling while my body reacts on pure instinct.
