"Don't be silly," Elena smiled, drying her hands and joining him at the bar. "Mark would never forgive me if I sent you to a hotel. Besides, I finally get to hear the real versions of those college stories."
Around 10:00 PM, the power flickered and then died, plunging the house into darkness. Elena gasped, but Julian’s calm voice immediately grounded her. "Stay put. I saw some candles in the hallway earlier." "Don't be silly," Elena smiled, drying her hands
A few minutes later, the kitchen was bathed in the soft, flickering amber glow of three thick pillars. The atmosphere shifted. The shadows on the walls made the room feel smaller, more intimate. They moved to the living room sofa, the chill of the power outage bringing them closer together for warmth. Elena gasped, but Julian’s calm voice immediately grounded
"I really appreciate you letting me crash here on such short notice," Julian said, breaking the silence. His voice was low and carried a warmth that made the chilly evening feel a little brighter. The atmosphere shifted