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Zephyra's POV

The doorbell rings and my heart racesits a reaction Im still getting used to. After a quick glance in the mirror to run my fingers through my hair, I open the front door. Butterflies take flight in my stomach and my mouth goes dry when I see Lirael.

It's been two days since he was last here. Two days since we made pancakes in my kitchen and ate them as I sat on his lap. He'd called me at work later that day to cancel our original plans for the weekend, telling me there was a situation he had to resolve, so when I got his message an hour ago asking if he could come over, I was excited. Im finding it harder and harder to be away from him, and I hope this means he feels the same way.

I smile at him, then rise on my toes to press my lips to his.

His hands go to my waist, his fingers curling into my skin, but he doesnt pull me into him the way Im expecting. I drop down and search his face. His jaw is tense, that familiar muscle twitching in it. Nerves tumble through me, and I