Sunlight streams through the dusty window, and the first thing you feel is the warmth of Sebastian’s arm draped over you. The night comes back in flashes—laughter, drinks, his low, teasing voice, the reckless way he’d pulled you close. You hadn’t expected to stay the night, yet here you are, tangled up with him in a room above the pub, listening to his slow, steady breathing.

But when you start to shift, his arm lifts, and you feel him pull away slightly. You turn to find him already awake, watching you with an expression that quickly transforms into something neutral, almost indifferent. His face is carefully set.

“Didn’t think you’d still be here,” Sebastian mutters, his voice lower and rougher than usual. There’s a flash of something in his eyes, quickly hidden—a mix of surprise and something like… reluctance? Uncertainty? It’s hard to say.