Chapter 22

“He’s still in there,” I said, grinning. “But I think he’s… airing out. The kitchen incident broke some seal.”

“The kitchen incident you still haven’t given me explicit details about,” she pointed out.

“It was a touch,” I said, my face warming. “A very… clarifying touch. But yesterday was different. It was light. Easy.”

Maya studied me, her sharp eyes missing nothing. “You look different. Lighter. You’re not braced for impact.”

I realized she was right. The constant, low-grade anxiety that had been my companion since the blind date had quieted. It wasn’t gone, Adrian was still a puzzle but the pieces felt like they were fitting together instead of fighting each other.

“I think,” I said slowly, “we’re just going to be. For a minute. See what that’s like.”

“Good.” Maya nodded firmly. “Now, about this dinner. You need to cement this ‘warmer, fun Adrian’ vibe. We need music. Not stuffy classical. Something cool but accessible. I have a playlist.”

Of course she did.

We spen