His apartment smells like him.Of course it does. It's his space, his specific warm presence distributed through every room, books on every surface and a record player in the corner and a kitchen that is clearly used by someone who actually cooks, and I stand in the middle of it in my thoroughly rumpled dress and look around and feel completely at home in a way that should be strange and isn't.He sets the Thai food on the counter.Then he turns around and looks at me."Hi," I say."Welcome," he says, sounding different from the elevator. This one is softer. More real. The one that comes after everything is said and done and you're both still here."Marcus." "Mm?" "I want a shower," I say. "And then I want you in a bed."He crosses the kitchen and takes my hand and walks me down the hall and shows me the bathroom and finds me a towel and I look at him."Come with me," "The shower?" he asks. "The shower," I confirm.He pulls his t-shirt over his head.I look at him properly for the
Last Updated : 2026-06-07 Read more