“Valen!”

He’d barely shut the door behind him before I was standing in front of him. Yesterday, I’d thought about how I hadn't minded him avoiding me, but now that I was this close to him again, I realized that I had missed him.

“Why are you awake so early?” he asked, frowning down at me.

“Waiting for you, silly.”

It was partly true. I had no idea or expectation that he’d show up, but I had wanted to see him and tell him about Bethany. But mostly, ...